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The Camilla Enterprise.
VOLUME XXIV.
NEARLY HALF MUION POUNDS OF TOBACCO SOU) HERE THIS WEEK
CAMILLA MARKET PROMISES TO EXCEED
LAST YEAR’S RECORD AND TO LEAD ALL
MARKETS IN THIS SECTION ON AV. PRICE
Daily Sales Are Now Running Close to 100,000,
Pounds With the Prospects of a Decided In¬
crease in Volume Next Week.
With tobacco sales on the Camilla market averaging close to
100,000 pounds each day and the prospects of a still greater vol¬
ume of leaf next week, the local market seems secure in the pros¬
pect of distancing its last season’s sales by at least a half million
•“pounds in spite of the fact that six new markets were established
this year within a radius of thirty miles of Camilla. The Camilla
market will not only beat its own record for last season, but will
sell more tobacco than any of its rivals in this territory and will
show r a higher average price for the season’s sales. Those who
are backing the Camilla market feel that the above facts have vin¬
dicated the claim made by local promoters that the Camilla mar¬
ket is best situated to serve this territory and has the facilities and
warehouse personell necessary to give the tobacco growers the best
possible service. record chalked in the
The present week will probably see a up that
local market for a week’s sales. The present indications are
close to a half million pounds will be sold here this week, judging
by the volume of sales during the first three days of the week.
The Camilla warehouses have not been filled to capacity any day
this week, but there has been sufficient tonnage every day to re¬
quire afternoon sales and to cause the warehousemen to wonder
they have sufficient floor space for the big rush which is expected
next week. The two Camilla warehouses can easily handle 150,
000 to 200,000 pounds of tobacco a day if the need arises and it
is not believed that the volume of business will hardly exceed
these figures this year.
A considerable per cent of the tobacco sold in Camilla this
week has come from outside Mitchell county. The tobacco is
brought here on trucks which carry an average load of above 2,000
pounds. Practically all of these growers have tried from one to
three or four markets and they are familiar with the range of to¬
bacco prices in this section and understand the grades of tobacco
grown this year. Those selling on the Camilla market have al¬
most invariably been well pleased and have announced that they
intend to market the balance of their crop in Camilla. This is
not because of any sensational sales made here, but on account of
the excellent averages made on all the tobacco sold. A great
many who have not made an extra good average here have stated
that their sales on the local market were considerably better than
on any other market they have tried. This is attributed to the
fact that local warehousemen are trying just as hard to get the
growers full value for their common tobacco as they are to get top
prices for the fancy tobacco. The fancy grades, of which there is
only a small amount this year, will practically sell themselves, but
the lower grades, especially when there is such a preponderance
of this type of tobacco, require the services of an expert ware¬
houseman who is a good judge of tobacco and who knows what
the tobacco companies can use.
The official report of the average prices paid on the Georgia
tobacco markets last week, which was issued by the Georgia De¬
partment of Agriculture Monday, again shows Camilla leading all
the markets reporting in this section. The average on the Camilla
market for last week was slightly under 15 cents and the official
figures show that no market in this section, which made the re¬
port, on weekly sales as required by law, made a higher average
than did the Camilla market. The average price for the state last
week was 10.50 cents per pound. The total number of pounds sold
on Georgia markets last week 7,562,715, according to the report.
The total number of pounds reported for the season, up to August
15th, is 15,689,937. The average nrice for the season has been
16.50 cents per pound. The total value of the crop sold to August
15th, was $2,602,981.43. ,
It will be seen from the above that the Camilla market is in'
line with the largest and best markets of the state and that while
tobacco is selling at a lower price than last year it is bringing as
much on the Camilla market as on the other markets.
There has been little or no improvement in the grades of to¬
bacco offered on the local market during the present week. There
have been a few extra good lots that brought fancy prices, but
there has also been an abundance of the common grades which sell
between ten and twenty cents and a considerable amount of very
low grade stuff that has sold below ten cents per pound.
Those who have watched the tobacco sales this season closely
are convinced that the low prices paid this season are due in large
part to the poor grades of tobacco. It is also apparent that the
market for good tobacco is lowep than last year and that the best
grades are selling considerably below the level for the same grades
last season. The weakness of the market is attributed by some
to the disturbed conditions in China. A large part of the Ameri¬
can tobacco crop for the past several years has gone to China and
the recent political disturbances in China are said to have practi¬
cally stopped the importation of tobacco from this country.
Despite the rather unfavorable market this year and the very
poor quality of tobacco produced in this section of the state, a
great many growers are not discouraged and nearly all will plant
tobacco next year. It is estimated that not more than twenty per
cent of the growers in the Camilla territory will fall below the cost
of production, while about eighty per cent will make expenses or
better from their tobacco sales. In spite of unfavorable conditions
this year a number of growers have made an excellent profit from
their tobacco. In most cases these have been small growers who
gave close attention to the crop and had plenty of labor to handle
the crop. There are colored half-croppers around Camilla who
have averaged $200 per acre from their tobacco crop after paying
demonstration and warehouse charges. These are exceptional, of
course, but each instance show the possibilities of the tobacco crop
in a normal year. There has been some talk of a reduction in the
tobacco acreage here another year, but those who are in touch
with the situation predict that there will be a larger acreage
around Camilla next year than Was planted this year. The condi¬
tions this year have probably saved this section from going “hog
wild” on the tobacco question, which in the end will be beneficial
to everybody.
CAMILLA, GA., FRIDAY, AUGUST 21. 1925.
TOBACCO SALES
Following are a few average
prices obtained by tobacco
growers who sold on the Camil¬
la market during the past week.
These figures were taken from
the warehouse books and are
correct, barring errors.
Duke Grissom, 458 lbs._$21.
C. B. Cox & Foster, 3644
lbs. _________________ 18.
W. T. Gray, 844 tbs_____15.
Cochran & Jackson, 814
lbs.__________—......21.50
M. J. Sanders, 2360 lbs.__15.
J. C. Wilson, 1192 lbs.— 23.
C. B. Bryant, 830 tbs.__ 23.50
J. T. Gray, 676 lbs_____20.
J. N. Cochran, 1030 lbs.__ 16.
C. G. Hughes, 680 lbs— 16.
L. O. Maxwell, 1920 !bs._ 14.
J. C. Moore, 664 lbs_____23.50
T. D. Vines, 764 lbs_____22.25
C. R. Battle, 434 lbs_____26.
Vines & Vickers, 428 lbs._ 20.60
J. H. Collins, 718 lbs_____26.50
| Isear Mills, 228 tbs_____30.
Dollar Farm, 114 lbs____30.
C. D. Bryant, 1280 lbs—_ 20.
J. C. Wilson, 690 lbs—_ 22.
J. M. Gox, 442 lbs_______24..0
J. M. Rawls and W. C. San¬
ders, of Searight, Ala., near
Andalusia, sold 6500 pounds of
tobacco here Thursday at an
average of 12 cents per pound.
This was their entire crop and
none of it was very good grade,
some of the tobacco molding as
a result of being in high order
and the long trip by truck
Haekett & Bennett
In Real Estate Game
Mr. Eugene Haekett spent several
days in Camilla last week getting
ready to move his family to West
Palm Beach, Florida, where he is en¬
gaged in the real estate business. Mr.
Haekett and Mr. Iverson Bennett, also
of this place, have formed a partner¬
ship and have opend an office at the
Poinsettia Hotel in West Palm Beach
and are connected with one of the big
development companies operating in
that vicinity. Though these gentle¬
men have been in Florida only a few
weeks we understand that they have
formed some excellent connections
and are doing a nice business. They
are very optimistic over the outlook
in the particular section of Florida
where they are located and in an ad¬
vertisement which appeared in The
Enterprise last week they invited
their friends in South Georgia who
contemplate making investments in
Florida to call upon them for what
ever service they can render.
County Policeman
Raids Shoe Shop
County Policeman Mart Poore raid¬
ed Middleton’s Shoe Shop in Camilla
last Saturday afternoon and confis¬
cated a small quantity of what ap¬
! peared to be a low grade of wine or
brandy of some variety. One or two
charred kegs and several bottles and
jugs which smelled of liquor were also
found. Mr. S. A. Middleton, proprie¬
tor of the shope shop, disclaimed any
knowledge of the liquor, according to
the officer. A case was docketed
against Middleton, however, and he
gave bond for appearance in court
at the proper time. The raid on Mid¬
dleton’s place occasioned much sur¬
prise and his friends hope that he will
be able to clear himself of the charge
at the proper time.
North Georgia Crops
Ruined By Drougth
South Georgia has a great deal to
be thankful for this year, especially
for the bountiful harvest of all crops.
Reports from North Georgia indicate
almost a complete failure in some
sections due to the unprecedented
drought. We have a card on our desk
from Mr. P. R. Cleveland, of Camilla,
who is spending a short vacation at
Greenville, S. C., and he states that
crops are burned up in that strip of
country lying between Macon and
Greenville. There are drought strick¬
en areas in South Georgia, but appar¬
ently the damage to crops has not
been as serious as in Northeast Geor¬
gia.
CAMILLA SCHOOLS
OPEN MONDAY
EARLY OPENING DECIDED UPON
THURSDAY. FULL CORPS OF
TEACHERS SECURED.
The Camilla Public Schools will op¬
en for the fall term on August 31st,
which is one week from next Mon¬
day. Although no announcement had
been made, it had been generally ex¬
pected that school would open on the
7th of September, but upon the arriv¬
al of Superintendent Attaway on
Thursday of this week it was decided
for good and sufficient reasons to open
school on August 31st.
Prof. Attaway announces that a full
corps of teachers will be ready
the opening. There is one
on the faculty at present but it was
expected that this place would be fill¬
ed by Friday.
A matriculation fee of $5.00
be required of all pupils,
of age or whether they come from the
town or the country. This fee
be due when the pupil enters school
and all will be expected to bring
certificate from the City Clerk
ing that this fee has been paid.
The school buildings have been
in excellent shape for the opening
school and the janitor is already
cleaning up the premises. The
pects are that the attendance
coming year will break all
records and the Board of Trustees
already considering the advisability
employing an additional teacher
take care of the overflow in one
two grades.
Several changes have occurred
the faculty since the first
ment soon after school closed for
summer vacation. The following
a complete list as given out Thursday
by Prof. Attaway:
Prof. Eugene Attaway, Superinten¬
dent.
Prof. T. L. (Mark) Anthony,
Athens, Principal.
Prof. J. F. Reid, Teacher of Voca¬
tional Agriculture.
Mrs. J. D. Gardner, Latin add
French.
Mrs. E. N. Burson, History and
Domestic Science.
Miss Margaret Hendricks, of Tif
ton, English.
Grammar School.
Teacher of Seventh Grade to be
supplied.
Mrs. J. M. Spence, Sixth Grade.
Mrs. Belle Jones, Fifth Grade.
Mrs. Fred Medlyn, Fourth Grade.
Mrs. B. H. Hurst, Third Grade.
j Miss Evelyn Perry, Second Grade.
Miss Ruby Hartley, First Grade.
Mrs. Carl Gaulden and Mrs. J. C.
Turner, Instructors in Music.
Miss Mabel Hartley and Mrs. B.
L. Holton, Instructors in Expression.
Prof. Attaway announces that en¬
trance examinations for students who
have been doing summer work will
be held on Wednesday, Thursday and
Friday of next week. All students
who have been making up work this
summer will be required to stand en¬
trance examinations in order to get
credit for the work done since school
closed.
Mr. J. J. Sapp’s Home
Destroyed By Fire
_ ’
The residence of Mr. J. J. Sapp
South Harney street was completely
destroyed by fire on last Tuesday
evening. The fire was discovered
about eight o’clock and had gained
considerable headway when the alarm
was sent in. Mr. Sapp was out of
town and Mrs. Sapp had gone over to
the home of a neighbor and no one
was in the house when the fire was
discovered. Only a few articles of
furniture were saved from the blaze.
Mrs Sapp had been canning some
fruit during the afternoon and it is
believed that the fire started around
the stove flue. The loss is estimated
at above $8,000 dollars and was par
tially covered by insurance.
Local Market.
(Thursday)
Middling cotton, 22 1-2 to 22 3-4.
Cotton seed, $35.00 per ton.
PROPOSED COUNTY COMMISSIONER BILL
WILL PROBABLY NOT BE PASSED AT THIS
SESSION, ACCORDING TO DR. J. M. SPENCE
LEGISLATION JAM
IS RESPONSIBLE
Bill Could Not Be Introduced
Until This Week On Account
of Requirement of Thirty
Days Notice to People.
The present indications are that the
new county commissioner bill for
Mitchell county has been “lost in the
shufflle,” and that the bill will not be
passed at this session of the legisla¬
ture. This inferance regarding the
fate of the proposed legislation was
gained from a conversation with Dr.
J. M. Spence, one of the representa¬
tives from this county and sponsor of
the proposed measure, during his re¬
eent week-end visit home.
Dr. Spence stated that under the
law the bill could not possibly be in¬
troduced until Monday of this week,
which was thirty days after the first
advertisement of the proposed local
legislation appeared. He had expect¬
ed to be able to rush the bill through
in the six remaining days that the
legislature would be in session. But
on Friday of last week the chairman
of the Rules Committee of the House
made the announcement that no new
bills would be acted upon by the com¬
mittee after Tuesday of this week,
and under the regular routine
measure, if introduced Monday, would
not reach the committee until Wed¬
nesday. So the ruling of the commit¬
tee, according to Dr. Spence, removed
all chance of passing the bill at this
session. The outcome of this propos¬
ed legislation has been a great dis¬
appointment to Dr. Spence as well as
to hundreds of people throughout the
county who favored the measure and
were urging him to secure its pas¬
sage.
The proposed bill provided for a
board composed of three county com¬
missioners, nominated and elected
from the county at large, instead of
six, as the board is now constituted,
and which members are nominated
from their respective districts and the
voters of the county do not have a
voice in their selection. The propos¬
ed bill provided for the formation of
three commissioner districts, instead
of six, as follows: Camilla, Eleventh
and Twelfth in district No. 1; Pelham,
Cotton and Hinsonton in district No.
2, and Sale City, Pebble City, Bacon
ton and Raiford in district No. 3. The
bill also provided for the calling of
an election immediately after the pas¬
sage of the act in which three com¬
missioners would be selected, one
from each of the districts above men¬
tioned, by the voters of the entire
county.
Dr. Spence stated that the bill met
with more general approval on the
part of the people of the county than
any measure that he had ever pro¬
posed. There was some opposition to
the measure, it is true, but this was
due to misapprehension on the part
of certain parties who feared that
I some particular section of the county
! would gain some advantage from the
I passage of the bill, when, as a mat
| ter of fact, the object of the bill was
to do away w jth that very thing and
to give all of the pe 0p i e of the county
a chance to express their wishes in
the matter of expenditures of county
funds for pub]ic improvements and
the marmer of distributing these im
pr0V ements in such a way as to bene
fit the i argest number of citizens of
tbe coun t y j n a ]l sections of the coun
by ‘
| It was po j n t e d 0 ut by those favor
ing the pro posed bill that under the
presen t system, where each commis
s j oner ; s responsible only to the peo
ple of his own district, that the prac
tice 0 f trading or “log rolling” has
grown up an d that the result of this
practice has been to deprive certain
sections of the county of their share
of the public improvements undertak
en by the county, while at the same
time heavy and unnecessary expendi
tures were being made in other
j tions. The practice, in constantly it is claimed, increas- has
j also resulted a
NUMBER 19
ing tax rate, a heavy floating debt
and a general looseness and extrava¬
gant manner of handling the county’s
business.
The key to the situation, as many
people see it, is a board of commis¬
sioners elected by all of the people of
the county. This would make every
member of. the board directly res¬
ponsible to every citizen of the coun¬
ty, the same as the other county offi¬
cers are, and it would give the voters
of the county an opportunity to ex¬
press disapproval of the entire board
if the actions of the board were con¬
trary to the wishes of the people of
the eounty. The system of electing
commissioners by districts, it is ar¬
gued, sets aside the Democratic prin¬
cipal of majority rule and makes it
possible for a minority to control the
affairs of the county.
Those favoring a change in the
method of electing county commis
i sioners and who charge extravagant
expenditure of county funds under the
present system, are not making an
attack on the present members of the
board, either individually or collec¬
tively. The point is made that under
the present system the members are
forced to look out for their own dis¬
tricts without regard for the other
sections of the county or the general
welfare of the county as a whole and
that regardless of who may be placed
on the board under the present sys¬
tem the disadvantages to the county
as a whole will remain.
Though the bill which would have
changed the pdesent system will prob¬
ably not pass at this session, the dis¬
cussions which have arisen as a result
of the announcement of the proposed
change have done good in that public
attention has been directed to the al¬
leged evils of the present system and
in the end public sentiment will se¬
cure such change as is needed.
George Sawyer And
Family In Accident
Mr. and Mrs. George T. Sawyer and
their children were in a serious ac¬
cident in Jacksonville, Fla., last Fri¬
day afternoon when a tree uprooted
by a severe windstorm struck the car
in which they were riding. Annie
Laurie, the eleven months old daugh¬
ter of Mi-, and Mrs. Sawyer, was the
most seriously injured of anyone in
the party. Her skull was fractured
and she received other injuries. She
was rushed to a hospital and after
an operation the attending physicians
announced that she would recover.
Mr. Sawyer had one hand badly lacer¬
ated and other members of the party
received cuts and bruises. Mr. and
Mrs. Sawyer were hurrying home in
their car when a storm came up sud¬
denly and they’ passed the spot where
the tree was uprooted just in time
for it to strike the car. The car was
badly wrecked and the entire party
had a narrow escape from death. Mr.
and Mrs. Sawyer were both reared in
this county and have many relatives
and friends here who will be concern¬
ed in the news of the accident and who
will be glad to learn that the injuries
of none of the party are likely to
prove serious.
New Service Station
Will Open This Week
Another handsome new automobile
service station will be opened for
j business in Camilla on next Saturday,
August 22nd. The new station has
recently been erected by Cullens
Bros, at the Atlantic Coast Line de¬
pot and represents the last word in
convenience of arrangement and in
the equipment provided for rendering
prompt and satisfactory service for
motorists. The structure is of stucco
and concrete and is very pleasing in
appearance, effecting a decided im¬
provement on the corner opposite the
depot. Mr. P. C. Cullens, manager
of Cullens Bros.’ business will have
j supervision of the service station and
j will see to it that the public receives
the best service possible. Special in
! ducements are offered on the opening
{day. Look up their ad in this paper.