Sunday, July 30, 2017

FROM DAYS GONE BY July 25, 1919

July 25, 1919.

The following is a letter to the editor by local Wrightsville man, Ben Hill Moye, concerning the biggest issue of the day, better roads for Johnson County and the state of Georgia.

Scores of counties in Georgia have already blazed the trial toward permanent roads, and the Federal Government is truly living up to its obligations in matching dollar for dollar in making these much needed improvements.
There is not a man in our county that would refuse to invest his money in a private enterprise if his government would give him half the purchase price and then when the purchase was consummated give absoulutely and in fee simple the title to the jointly purchased property. That is exactly the proposition our government is making to us as a county. If we will only take an interest in the development of our own county and will show our interest by voting bonds for permanet good roads our government will give to us outright free from the treasury of the country a sum equal to the amount of bonds floated for that purpose. That seems to us a most liberal proposition.
From a strictly business standpoint Johnson County is very foolish indeed to longer delay going "over the top" in the movement for permanent good roads. It cannot be denied by any man that has given the matter any thought at all that permanent roads in our county will immediately enhance the value of all our property from twenty-five to fifty percent. Then again permanent roads will eliminate the expenditure of large sums of money in carrying on and keeping up our present obsolete and inadequate road system, and it will reduce by seventy-five percent the enormous cost and expense that our people are annually paying out through wear and tear on buggies, wagons, mules and horses pulled to death, and automobiles, the one item of time saved by good roads will more than pay the interest on the bonded debt.
Now the question arises, what are we going to do about the matter, and what and how can we do if we take any action? If we are willing to let well enough alone there is nothing to be done, but if our people have the proper interest in this most necessary public improvement we should begin the movement by holding a mass meeting for the people of the whole county and agree on the amount of bonds to be floated, and then organize and appoint a bond committee to put the machinery in motion to hold an election. The first and initial thing to be done is to hold the mass meeting. That will bring the minds of the county together and then the necessary organization can be had and the details of the campaign worked out.
Now would be a good time to inaugurate this very helpful and progressive campaign. We need to meet at the court house immediately so we can start something. Permanent roads are coming. Why not hasten the day?
B. H. Moye

FROM DAYS GONE BY July 18, 1919

July 18, 1919.

The Headlight editor, Mr. C. D. Roundtree, Messrs Gainor Fulford, B. Vickers and Col. H. T. Hicks visited the oil district in Washington County recently. This district lies on the northwestern side of the county, about three miles off the Sandersville-Milledgeville road beyond Brooks Spring, or two miles beyond Deepstep.
The finding of this prospect for oil is all fresh in the minds of people. The vein was struck by the county gang of convicts when they were opening up a new road across from one public road to the other. Water coming from the vein carried an oily substance on its top which attracted those present and the news ran from one side of the county to the other.
A person not familiar with oil districts, and not knowing anything about a discovery of this kind, can hardly be called upon to give a definite and certain opinion regarding same, one that is authoritive, but one who has a smeller that is in use can go there and see for himself that there is something to it. Oil and gas seem to be in the ground, is there, but nobody knows the quantity.
The Globe Reality Company, Messrs. H. T. and R. P. Hicks, of Wrightsville, have the counties of Johnson and Laurens in which to sell the lots, anyone in these two counties can secure their lots through them. The company is known as the Middle Georgia Oil & Gas Company.
The Globe Reality Company has contracted with MGA Oil & Gas to sell the lots. These lots are located close around the seepage discovery in Washington County and deeds will be made in the order those coming first getting closer to the seepage. The lots are yours in fee simple. The owner can bore an individual well on them, if you desire, sell them at a profit, or do whatever else you see fit to do with it. The company will not bore wells on your lots but obligates to the lot owners to apportion among them the entire net profits accruing from all wells or other operating leases or minerals that maybe acquired through their operations in proportion to te number of lots held or owned, as they bear to the entire number of lots to be sold by the company, to-wit: 35,000.
Men from Texas and California who have vast experience in oil wells, have examined this seepage and say its the most pronounced evidence of oil they have ever seen, and are excited over the propects and are investing large sums in these lots.
There is only two sides to this proposition. If you buy these lots and the tests of the company fail to discover oil or other minerals, your money is absolutely gone, with the exception of what a lot of land 25 by 25 feet is worth, and you will certainly have no one to blame for it but yourself. On the other hand should the company be successful and strike oil, you would have an income for the balance of your life, and your lots would be worth from $1000 to $10,000 or even more, according to the amount of oil produced.
The lots will be sold at $35 each, either for cash or on monthly payments of $10 down and $10 a month until are paid. The most reliable and conservative businessmen of Washington County are buying lots in large numbers. This is proof of their belief and confidence in the gas company. This should be conclusive proof of the sincerity they have in this company.
Needless to say, even rich men are fools.

Wednesday, July 12, 2017

FROM DAYS GONE BY July 11, 1919

July 11, 1919.

The Wrightsville Baseball Club has struck the admiration of the lovers of the national pastime and game throughout Georgia by its continued success on the diamond against the most formidable opponents in the state of the amateur aggregations. And the locals haven't been jarred none of the time. Wrightsville went at it right, like she goes at everything she undertakes. So Midville, Eastman, Tennille, Wadley, Dublin and Hawkinsville have all seen their Waterloo by the Imortals and Invincibles of Idylwild at the pass of Thermopylae, and have been beaten to a frazzle.
Let the record show, up to last Thursday, of 36 games, Wrightsville won 28, lost 6 and tied 2. Best record in the entire state. Therefore Wrightsville claims the Amateur Baseball Championship of Georgia. This is to say nothing about the figures in runs, hits, errors, and everything that enters into the game.
Then there never has been a cleaner, nicer, higher-aimed bunch of ball players than is now on this Wrightsville line-up. And now if Macon, Savannah, Augusta, Albany, Valdosta, Waycross, Atlanta, Rome, Athens or any city in Georgia, or any city that plays anywhere in Georgia just wants to see the real article delivered on any Georgia diamond the way is open if they think they own a team that can interest us. Having made monkeys of the countryside Wrightsville challenges any baseball team in the entire Empire State of the South.
In the last game of the 6 game series with Dublin, Wrightsville won 5 to 1. It was the deciding game of the series. The features of the game were the heavy hitting of the local bunch, who forced an old timer from Charleston to hunt the shade, the fielding of Martin and the excellent pitching of "Baby" Bedgood, who had the visitors at his mercy the full 9 innings. Errors were the outstanding feature of the visitors. So "the little town some 20 miles away" cleaned up for the Hale and Hearty Irishmen who hail from the shores of the Oconee, and whose domicile is where its Dublin all the time.
Mr. Henry Clay Tompkins has retired from business after selling his mammoth store to the Hauger-Hobbs-Davis Company. He began as a clerk here about 32 years ago with 20 years of that running his own business. Mr. C. H. Moore is making extensive improvements at all of his large ginnery outfits. He was at Kite looking after the building of a large seed warehouse. Mr. Nat C. Wheeler is in charge of the Kite gin. Mr. Charlie M. Schwalls is recovering from a bad sun-stroke that overcame him 3 weeks ago.
Mr. Walter N. Powell has decided to run for County Treasurer. He was born in the Ivey District but reared in Powell's District near New Home and is a farmer. There is talk that Mr. G. S. Kight of Kite may also run. The local banks released their statement of condition. The Bank of Adrian, $207, 868.85; Exchange Bank, $427,298.52; Bank of Wrightsville, $452,640.84; Citizens Bank of Kite, $194,184.64; Scott Banking Company, $100,543.94.
Mrs. Ida Crawford and Mr. C. A. Shealey were married. She is the daughter of Mr. & Mrs. J. M. Crawford. He is a son of Mr. & Mrs. Seaborn Shealey of Washington County. Mr. Lamar Moss lost 15 hogs, 2 sows and 13 pigs by lightning. Mr. J. C. Tharpe grew a 38 pound watermelon. Tressie Robinson, an industrious colored woman brought to town a freak of nature in the shape of a 4 legged biddie about 10 days old. She was asked to donate it to the fair this fall.

Sunday, July 9, 2017

FROM DAYS GONE BY July 4, 1919

July 4, 1919.

The Farmers Bank will open its doors for business on July 15th, in the building between Gannon's Barber Shop and Tompkins Furniture Store will serve the bank at this time. The vault in the barber shop which was once used by the Exchange Bank will be utilized. Mr. Louie Johnson, son of Mr. & Mrs. Billie Johnson will be the assistant cashier and bookkeeper.
The largest merchantile deal ever pulled off in Wrightsville happened last week when the Hauger - Hobbs - Davis Company purchased the city's two largest dry goods and clothing stores, those of Messrs. Hayes Brothers and Mr. Henry Clay Tompkins. The deal was something along $150,000 it is estimated. Mr. C. D. Hauger of Louisville, Kentucky is president of the new firm. They will be run in the separate stores for now but will eventually combine them. It will be the largest store of its kind in eastern Georgia.
Mr. M. E. Woods who recently purchased O. A. Sumner's garage has rented a space to George Mull of Sandersville who is opening a first class vulcanizing plant. This item will be welcomed by local auto owners who will now not have to send to Dublin for repair work on tires. Mr. L. E. Parker bought the Wrightsville Bottling Company from Mr. C. M. Dent. It will now operate as Parker's Grocery & Bottling Works. Tonight at the Vivola Theatre will be D. W. Griffith's "Hearts Of The World", the sweetest love story ever told.
Wrightsville captured the first game of the series this week with Dublin at Dublin Monday when George Clark split the corners so thick and fast and close that it fooled the umpire and all those nice Irishmen. In the 5th Dublin's star, Asbury, outshone himself and got knocked out of the box. The famous Mac Moore relieved Asbury after the latter had allowed 5 hits and 2 runs in one inning. Dublin didn't score. On Friday Wrightsville got a 9 inning game at Tennille and won it 3 to2 with Culpepper giving up 5 hits. Koneman of Savannah pitched for Tennille.
Judge J. L. Kent declined to announce at this time whether or not he will run to succeed himself as judge. However, Judge J. S. Adams, a prominent Dublin attorney has definitely decided to run for the judgeship. Mr. Milledge Meeks made a formal bid to run for County Treasurer. Johnson County voted on the question of fence or no fence and results show that the no fence or stock law carried by an even majority of 100 votes. The law provides that the county voting in stock or no fence law shall put same in effect in six months after the date of the election.
Mr. W. C. Pope of Adrian stood an examination last week before Judge Kent for the practice of law. Mr. Quinton J. Renfroe of Wrightsville and Miss Myrtice McLain of Cobbville were married Monday. Renfroe works with Dublin Buggy Company. Mrs. M. M. Burnett of Ashville, North Carolina died. She had been in failing health for several years. She leaves a husband and one son, Mr. Charlie, who was out of the states at the time of her death. She resided in Wrightsville for 13 years.
Corpral Beverly B. Hayes has arrived from France aboard the S. S. Conneticut and will be back home soon. Honorable Hugh Manson Dorsey was inaugurated for his second term as Governor of Georgia. Lewis Hutcheson left for Emory College.
Wrightsville is on a moving and building boom if the boll weevil doesn't play havoc with the spirit. But then its no use to worry over such a situation. Ground peas, hog and hominy will still be with us.