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UNION RECORDER, MILLEDGEVILLE, GA., JULY S. 1*2*
Georgia’s Old Capital
I .I f. Beautiful Capital City at Mil«J|eviU* ia 1M7
* F<J sSf£ w-* ^^t y Ye "‘ rf Pr#F " “*
by ED A. TliiNER
Ga. Fev: cities i®
into existence with
^conception or wiser planning
kin T , ^ h ich preceded the budding
ITiV-Ul'. » ,,ich MrV ' d The
,iM s t»» for sixty years. The
' . lf ons back of the cho.e.
P ;i '” c , ‘ wcr e that it was located
£^rs«=;
*nd that it was n
I iiBviea blr stream. , nn
l a Uh i \.ar 1803 our state nad so
.’lit-If that the time was ripe
S T. | cation of a permanent seat
eminent. Two very import-
,actions had just taken place,
, affecting Georgia territory.
, ing rise to the question ol
anent capital,
first was the fiual se
v a • reaty between the state
and the United States, 1
riginal territory i> ,n »* .
hattahoochec river ami comP"™
present states «f Alub
which
Ithi
|\!i -issippi.
This settlei
the dispos
izoo land contentio
. brought
fo
•ouble-
-educed bit-
d and it also reduced the
of the state to its present
The other transaction was
^1*. a treaty and an outgrowth of
• mentioned.
It was one of the terms of this
that the United States
fcuuld extinguish, for the use of
vrgia, the Indian claims to the
«3s ><»uth of the headwaters of the
palachee and Alcovy river* and
:»een the Oconee and Ocmulgee
Com«ni*MO“*rs Chosen
Towards promptly fulfilling this
reemenl the president r{ htc United
ates appointed Jumes Wilkinson,
lenjamin Hawkins and Andrew Pick-
commissioners to treat with
ntatives of the Creek nation,
u commsisioners, after days of
ation with forty chiefs .and
rs, brought the negotiations to
psj-ful conclusion. This meet-
urred on top of a high, rugged
cnee near the banks of the
river two miles south of
now Milledgeville. The place
n in history as Fort Wilkin-
med for General Jumes Wilk-
The 1
of t hi
{. erected a granite
bronze tablet on the
ago. On the occas-
eiling of the marker
place of this important trans-
Ur. Kdmund Vittuni, then head
department of English at the
a State College for Women de-
accurate and most
overing this period
•, ever heard in this
H tfa<
with
pictures
oper
the :
iettiqg, should
icted
repo
•!i June. 1802. <j 0
- treaty not only provided that
idian claims to the lands be-
the Oconee and Ocmulgee be
ruUhed, but that their claims to
it'-r lands within the state be
fed null and void.
I II i-h all of this .assured Georgia
• United States .the state was
in the clear and immediately be-
»think of future arrangements
ivemment,
| The first treaty, ratified by the
••f Georgia, June 16, 1802,
■rt Wilkinson treaty ratifi-
h.ngton, D. C., January 11,
-tried by Thoma* Jeffer-
'•■ i. gave Georgia liberty
-1 just five months tb the
1'. 1803, in special session
assembly held at Louis-
1 state capital, the ques-
• rmanent site came up.
for Governor Milledge
" nitration of the mutter , nd created
not appear to have been
dissension about the selec-
I'lace or the name it should
■m . ’^ tre is chronicled, in the
L rn J ! " of the legislature, an act
ft e specifying that
^ ' w'r boundar y lJnes o{ Baldwin
t ' “kinson counties had been fix-
r ‘ e * counties having been creat-
session of the legis-
ing 3,240 acres, or, sixteen lots of
202 1-2 acres each, to be reserved
and set apart for a town to be called
and known by the name of Milledge-
ville in honor of Governor John Mil-
ledge.
The act gave further directions to
the commissioners to be named, to-
wit, that they should, in what section
of the town they saw fit, lay off lots
containing one acre each und that
they should lay a plat of said tract of
land together with a plan of the town
before the next general assembly
which would convene in early Deoei
her, 1804.
Immediately following the pass-
age of this .set in fact on the same
day. May 11, 1803. there was a joint
sesison of the house and senate—it
seem* us if legislation truveled fast
er in those days than now—and the
senate journal of this joint session
reads as follows:
Senate Journul 1803 (Extra Sess
ion), pp. 127, 130: "May 11, 1803.
The senate repaired to the representa
tive floor und being Hi-uted, proceed
ed by joint ballot, agreeably to a
concurred resolution, to the appoint
ment of the several surveyors for the
districts in the three counties lying
southwest of the Oconee and Atama-
ha rivers . . . (Baldwin, Wilkinson,
Wayne). .mm
"They also proceeded to elect five
commissioners to have laid out, and
fix on a fit and proper place for a
town, on the *outh west side of the
river Oconee to be called and known
by the name of Milledgeville, and on
counting out the ballots it appeared
that General David Dickson, General
John Clark, Lieutenant Howell Cobb,
of the artillery in the army of the
United States; Major David Adams
and T. U. P. Charlton were duly
elected.”
Letter to Governor
The following letter is evidence of
how this commission worked out its
arduous taak. It was written to the
governor as a report of the progress
made, two months prior to the time
that the finished report was to be
made to the legislature:
. "Milledgeville, 27th Sepr. 1804.
"Governor John Milledge, Louisville,
Ga.
"Dear Sir: The business upon
which 1 came here, we have found to
be etremely troublesome. To do it
with accurucy and to the best advan
tage required much time and laborl
We have agreed on a plan and laid
it to the ground; mude reserves of
three squares of sixteen acres each;
which I think .are eligible and well
chosen. Say one for .a state house,
one for the governor’s residence and
the other for a penitentiary or such
other public purposes as the legsiln-
ture may please to apply them to.
Two main streets of 120 feet wide;
intended to front the state house;
the lots laid off in squares of four
acres, which are to be checked
to acre lots, the other streets loo
feet wide. The surveyor is to fini.4i
laying off the lots and when he is
ber 12, lb04, Milledgeville the perm
anent seat of government.
Movements were promptly inaugu
rated for the clearing and develop
ment of the site, erection of the state
and other buildings. All of
this required time and heroic service.
Ceater of State
Attention is called to u few of the
diKinguished features and patriotic
gestures incorporated in the capital
site scheme as worked out by
•pioneer citizens. First take the boat
landing which meunt so much
•heavy transportation and commerce
—the broad thoroughfare leading
from the main transportation depot
up to higher ground where the seat
of control is located in the center of
the first sixteen-acre preserve Capital
uquare. The street leading from the
river to the capitol was the import-
GEORGIA’S OLD CAPITOL Tag
tnnt street made 120 feet wide and
graced with the name, "George W’ash
ington." The street crossing Capitol
squure in the opposite direction
the same width and bears the great
name of Thomas Jefferson,
point of intersection of these streets
the state house was erected as if to
say "On this foundation we build our
state.” This spot, the middle of the
capitol building, where the hall lend-
nig through from the east to west
entrance of the capital crossed the
hall running between the house of
representative* and the senate cham
ber, was spoken of and designated as
the center uf Georgia.
In 1807 Georgia felt permanently
settled down as she moved into her
new home, and her people’s hearts
were filled with satisfaction and pride
to see their government occupying a
handsome and commodious Kate
capital.
Encouraged by these accomplish
ments and as eager in the spirit of
’76 as any of the thirteen orginal
states to help build this republic,
Georgia plunged in and established
a high mark for material progress.
Her Katesmen held high rank in the
counsels of this nation. During this
era she gained prowess und earned
the name of "The Empire State of
the South.”
ber* of said corporation held In ac
cordance with the charter and by
laws of the same on the 9th day of
June, 1928, a resolution was un
animously udopted directing that the
charter be renewed as authorized and
provided by law, a certified abstract
from the minutes of the corporation
showing that the application for. re
newal and amendment has been au
thorized by proper corporate action,
is here to attached and marked Ex
hibit A and made a part thereof.
Petitioner shows that as provided
by law and before the expiration oi
id charter, it files this its petition
L E O A LS
APPLICATION FOR RENEWAL
OF CHARTER
GEORGIA Baldwin County.
To The Superior Court of said
county and Hon. James B. Park
Judge thereof, at chambers.
The petition of the Rock Mill
Christian Endeavor Society, a corpo
ration of raid State and county, re
spectfully showsCs
1.
That on the 15th. day of July. 1908
at the regular July term of the
Superior Court of Baldwin county,
u charter was issued to it by said
court at and for the term of twenty
years, which appears in Minute
Book J. Pages 535-537 in the Super
ior Court, clerk’s office of said coun
ty; and that said charter will expire
on July the 15th, 1928 next-refer
ence is made to said record an may
he necessary in this procedure.
That said corporation is a bene
volent institution having for its pur
pose and object of giving aid ta the
sick and needy of its membership, to
j properly ami decently bury the dead
the office of the clerk of the
Superior Court of said county, signed
with the corporate name of the corpo
ration whone charter is sought to be
renewed.
Wherefore, the raid ROCK MILL
CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR SOCIETY
prays that its charter be renewed for
the term of twenty yenrs from July
the 16th., 1928, with all :he powers,
privileges and immunities hereto
fore vested in it, in its original char
ter and as may be allowed by law
for corporations of similar character
under the luws of Georgi
Rock Mill Christian Endeavor Soceity
By its Attorney* Sibley & Sibley
P. O. Box 273 Milledgeville,
Georgia
Exhibit A
At a special meeting called for thi
purpesu, it was brought to the at
tention of the Lodge that the present
charter of the corporation would ex
pire on the 15th, day of July 1928,
and that in order for u continuation
of its operation, it is necessary that
the charter be revived. Upon motion
made and unanimously carried, the
trustees were directed to employ le
gal counnel for the purpose of having
proper steps taken in the Superior
Court of Baldwin count) for the re
vival and renewal of such charter.
I, Ola Ford, secretary and custo
dian of the minutes of ROCK MILL
CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR SOCIETY
do certify that the foregoing is a
true and correct copy thereof as it
purports to be.
This June the 12th, 1928.
OLA FORD
GEORGIA Baldwin County.
I, J. C. Cooper, of said State and
county, do certify that I am the
clerk of the Superior Court of said
county and that the foregoing is a
true and correct copy of the original
application for a renewal of charter
of the ROCK MILL CHRISTIAN
ENDEAVOR SOCIETY as filed in
the office of the clerk of the Superior
Court
Witness my official signature this
13th, duy of June, 1928.
J. C. COOPER
Clerk of the Superior Court,
6”x36” cement concrete gutter or
2730 lineal feet of G”x30” combined
concrete curb and gutter, 90 lineal
feet of concrete header curb, 340
lineal feet of s'.orm sewer pipe lines,
one manholes, six catch basin 1 , and
4400 square yards of pavement.
' Bids are asked on all of the raid
work and materials for said improve
ment. Each bid must be accompani
ed by a Cashier* Check in the sum of
$1000.00 made payable to the Treas
urer of the City of Milledgeville, Ga.,
as a proposal guarentec.
The plans and specifications may
be inspected at the office of the
Clerk and Treasurer of the City of
Milledgeville and at the office of the
Engineer in Milledgeville. The right
is reserved to reject any and all
bids.
By orders of the Council this the
25th day of June, 1928.
THE MAYOR AND ALDERMEN OF
THE CITY OF MILLEDGEVILLE,
THE HARWOOD BEEBE CO.
Municipal Engnicer*
Spartanburg, S. C.
: ’*his um
and o
cupying all the lands be-
l( '°nee and Ocmulgee
mmissionefs should be
the legislature who
the most eligible and
at or near the head of
the Oconee river in
unoccupied territory
1 tract of land contain-
structed by the commissi*
port to the legislature.
"Since my arrival here I have had
a severe bilious attack so much so
as to be confined to my bed for eight
or ten days; but being able to pro
cure the constant attendance of a
pretty good physician I am now quite
recovered and shall set out in the
morning for Wilkes. I cannot ascribe
any part of the cause of my indispo
sition to this place. It is as well
watered with good springs as any
place I ever saw, und every other
appearance in in favor of its being a
healthy situation.
"With much respect I am,
"Your Excellency’s Hble, Servant,
"JOHN CLARK.”
In my opinion, history writer* of
Georgia have not given sufficient
praise and credit to these public serv
ants who, by hard labor, conceived
i a beautiful plan
and wrought it in every detail so well
for the purposes desired. Their
names, as associated with this effici
ent work, have gone unmentioned.
Indeed, the writers of the intimate
hsitory of Milledgeville have passed
by the fact that in the location and
the planning of this state’s old capi
tal site no finer treatment, nor more
appropriate and artistic considera
tions were given to Washington as
•Jte for the federa clapita! where
about a decade prior, it waif laid out
in the backwoods along the Potomac.
Their fellow Georgians who
members of the general assembly
greatly admired the plans and
plimented the committee by adopt
ing them formally, making on Decem-
.:
•and I am in- : un j propagate the teaching of the
Christian religion and therefore it'
not for the purpose of pecuniary gain
and has no capital stock.
lineal feet of storm sewer pipe lines,
one manhole, two catch basinR. and
2700 square yards of pavement.
Bids are asked on all of the raid
work and materials for said improve
ment. Each b.d must be accompani
ed by a Cashier’., Check in the sum of
$625 made payable to the Treasurer
of the Cty of Milledgeville. Ga., as a
proposal guarentee.
The plans and specifications may
be inspected at the office of the
Clerk and Treasurer of the City of
Milledgeville and at the office of the
Engneer in Milledgeville. The rgiht
is reserved o reject an* and al!
bids.
By orders of the Council this the
25th day of June, 1928.
TIIE MAYOR AND ALDERMEN OF
THE CITY OF MILLEDGEVILLE,
THE HARDWOOD BEEBE CO.
Municipal Engnieer*
Spartanburg, S. C.
NOTICE TO BIDDERS
Sealed proposals for the paving
and other wise improving of Street
Improvement Section or Zone No.
45 in the City of Milledgeville, Geor
gia will be received oy the Mayor
and Aldermen of said City ut their
office in the City Hall at twelve
o’clock M. July 12, 1928.
Said Street Improvement Section
Zone No. 45 consists of that por
tion of Green Street lying and being
between the west property line of
Clark St. and the East Property Line
of Jackson Street.
Bids will be received on 2” War-
renitc-Bitulithic wearing surface on
5 inch cement concrete base with
the necessary curb, gutter, storm
sewer pipe lines, manhole* and catch
basins. Approximate quanities are
as follows: 1933 lineal feet of 5”xl8”
granite curb with 1933 lineal feet of
6"x36” cement concrete gutter or
1933 lineal feet of 6’’x30” combin
ed concrete curb and gutter, 30 line
al feet of concrete header curb, 474
WANTED-Pupil. to coach. b.,ia-
•a, Jul, 15th. Eitell. St.mbrU,..
Look at Youi Shoes
NOTICE TO BIDDERS
Sealed proposals for the paving
and other wise improving of Street
Improvement Section or Zone No.
46 in the City of Milledgeville, Geor
gia will be received b) the Mayor
and Aldermen of said City at their
office in the City Hall at twelve
o’clock M. July 12, 1928.
Said Street Improvement Sectioi
or Zone No. 46 consists of that por
tion of Wall Street lying and beinj
between the west end of the bridg<
over the Central of Georgia li. R
and the East Property line of th«
Street known as the Mucon Highway
Bids will be received on 2” War
renite-Hitulithic wearing surface or
a 5 inch cement concrete base will
the necessary curb, gutter, atom
sewer pipe lines, manhole* and catch
basins. Approximate quanities art
as follows: 2730 lineal feet of 5”x!R’
granite curb with 2730 lineal feet or
"SUDDEN SERVICE"
Phone 373
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