The Lee County Journal, 1904-09-30

o ; Neknwn ._Situaté'd in one of the moit Tritile se" | tions of the stat~ and with inereasin: mi}-l road facilities for the convenience of her sturdy and industrions farmers. Lg:e Coun-i ty is destined to hecome the banuner coun county - ty county of South West s i Cc{nnt:y; is 70 miles- from thie, boundrey fine off Florida and 48 mils fromn the 'Alebama | iine This is s'ightly below that section ! of the state known as *he Peach Belt,g though in fact the best grade of Peachesi are rais>d hiire, capable of being marketed fromr 3 to 7 days earlier than in the Peach Belt. The sotl varies from sand to-loom ' and heavy clay, giving a divensity of land | or tag varied crops that are reised. The ! bottom lands along the creeks and river contain sufficient organic matter to make tiiem extremly productive. : LABOR CONDITIONS AND FARMS, ' The labor ¢omditions ars all that could | haasked. The laborars arer-chi fiv ne ' aroes of an inlestrions dis- l position. They are e )l svalto Ay thel oreater amonnt of work .n large and' emall farms. T.ee Conntyiza ssction of large farms, manv of th-m raicin i f-m l 1000 to 5000, and even to 10,7C0 *CT2A, Where the farmsisso large, the owners are often willing to sell pa t of heir land i though offering splergdid dudvcemerts to i thosa who wish te come from other pl;u_'es i to' Lee County. As a mls extremelyv| large farms are not so w 1l cuaitivated as thev should be, because thev ar» =0 large that thev cannot be well manage!! Py making large farms smaller the furmer here as well as the settler from elsewhere would be benefitted." Crors l The assertion has often been made, and l is essentally 'true, that practicallv every-, thing that can be raised in Georgia, can } be raised in Lee County, thovgh this sei seition, - tion, seition, like the whole state of Georgia is! prominently a cotton producing region, i nevertheless many .other valuable crops such as, corn, hay, potatoees. oais, peas, ' sugar. cane 'and sorgaim, are raised in abundance. i Lee County is unserpassed as a fruit ra'sing section. Watermellons and canta cantaloupes - loupes cantaloupes of the finest varieties are harvested at splendid profits, Peaches, as has been said before, may be shipped from here ahead of the orchards in the Peach Belt. Large orchards of pecans are being plan planted - ted planted throughout the country. Two variet varieties - ies varieties of pears LeConte Kieffer, grow on Lee County soil and Produce large crops of splendid fruit. Apples, Figs, plums and many other fruit of less importance, are easily grown. : ' STOCK-RAISING. : Although it is common in sections where cotton is the principal crop to neg neglect - lect neglect stock-raising, the farmers of Lee County are realizing the importance of this, industry, Mules and horses that and driving are - now being raised by the progressive farm farmers - ers farmers of the Connty, Hogs and Cattle are raised extensively for stieat, most farmers raising 41l the . meat necessary for them themselves - selves themselves during the years. This is an indus- ] try whose rapid' dévelopment is meaning much for the county in many ways. ~, FOREST AND LUMBERING. l The Forests of Lee County are composed mainly. of pine trees, but there are ilso' many oaks. Among the forests trees there are also hickory, sweet-gum, maple, popularand sycamore. The pine tree how

' .HON. ,H LL,ONGS PEAR GROVE, R _ ly by water power, which furnish most satisfactory products of \'béii' kind.,_,Puh kind.,_,Puhlic - lic kind.,_,Puhlic ginneries are common, furnishing ample means for the preparation of cotton for the market. There is also a kiln for the manufac:uring of lime from lime limestone, - stone, limestone, which occurs in abundance throug througout - out througout the country. : DRAINAGE, : Lee County is well drained naturally byFlint River and two large creeks, Mucalee and Kinchafoonee, besides num numerous - erous numerous other smaller creeks 2nd streams. This natural system of drainage has been ' supplemented and improved by the cut cutting - ting cutting of ditches to drainponds and swamps which otherwise 'wonld cause malaria. This has meant very much for the im improvement - provement improvement of | the health of the entire county. 5 : ' ARTESIAN WATFR AND HEALTH. Another factor which has accomplished a vast amount of good in making the health of Le¢ County equal, if not su superior - perior superior to that of any other county in Southwest Georgia is the,. drilling, of ar artesian - tesian artesian wells an d the use of the water throughout the entire county. Practi-

ever is the most important of all, for from this obtained, besides Lumber, turpentine .and naval stores, usually groaped under 'the general term, pine. - products, There are many saw-mills situated at ya ya'rious - 'rious ya'rious places throughoutthe county which !fumish lumber sufficent for home con con| - | con| sumptions, and also for shipping to vther points. Though saw-miils have been operatec throughout the country for many vears, there is still an abundance of pine timber available. ' PINE PRODUCTS » Luml{er is by no means the most impor important - tant important product of the pine. There are several turpentine distelleiries operated in the county, which furnish a superior }quah'ty of turpentine and naval stores. 'Only a few years ago the pine forests "of Lee were practically uhtouched by the axe of the turpentine distiller, but now there are only a few woods that have not been turpentined. This industry now is one of the most profitable employments which the fosests offer. . OTHER MANUFACTURING INTEREST. There are distributed throughout the county various grist mills, operated main- |

every town bf whatéver size has a :least one or two artesian wells, a 4 gre ! 'many of which dow coutinally, 'Il ~water of these wells is of the pur t | kitid as hus beel shuyn by repeated che. - f'ical analyses. Many wells furnish ws ; r !, which contains minerals, such as sulpl % magnesium, ir6n etc. The inaugy - | ation of artesian wells has resulted in 1 u ui - i ui told henefit to the' health of th'e coun: , for by means of them as pure water is « | - ; tained as can' be gotten any where. iis t has been a patent factor in reducing the | death rate in Lee County. to énly, TR ieveny 1000 of the povulation. .. No Cot - ty in Southwest Georgia can show a L. - ' ter record as regarss health and sanite: conditions. - These conditions do not cx ixt in one part of the- county on., 'but in all parts; as ever fatii of any .. has at least one artesian well far its o, .. use,