Rensselaer Republican, Volume 21, Number 26, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 February 1889 — DOWN IN DIXIE. [ARTICLE]

DOWN IN DIXIE.

Editor Republic-ait 'Diking advantage of a moments leasuie time 1 thought it wqubP hot lx* ahii» to inform my many friends of a (‘hol t sojourn in Suhuy Soiitlihind. I .lived in the Kotitli in 1862 and therefore had some idea what I would see but I was surprised to sec the improvment over the devastated South, of -twenty-seven years ago. Well might this be termed the “New South.” with its building and manufacturing interests assuming such colossal dimensions.the tremendous inflex of capital, and its brainy and go-a-head jieople. “Brunswick l>y-the-sea” lias a population of nliout 10,000 and is a growing, wide-awake, progressive little city, destined at'no distant day to rank with the best cities in Georgia. “The Oglethorpe” a beautiful ♦200,0(8) hotel looks over the majestic waters of Ogletliorjie Bay. It is situated upon the site of the first table or concrete building built during Oglethorpe’s stay, which was shot down (luring the war of 1812. It was also a hotel and bore the name of Oglethorpe. Two national banks with a combined capital of over 1250, 000 besides other less pretentious I>anking institutions handles the people’s money. My greatest delight is to watch the incoming and out going cotton steamers and vessels, the former are of tremenduous size and take cargoes of cotton varying from 6000 to 10000 bales each. The vessels are usually stored with cargoes of rosin, turjientine or lumber, and are from every known country in.'the'world. The docks for miles along the bay out to the ocean” can be seen lined witji vessels and each day heralds the coming of from two to four others to swell the list I could write for hours about this lovely region, its moss covered oaks and beautiful scenery and the half then would not lx? said, so I will confincjnyself to a few things and after tfiey have bebp told allow them to suffice. 1 In compunyl with my- son-in-law and Louie 1 topk-a short trip over to lone of the many" islands that abound tin this region, \SL Simons is situated 'ten miles distant from Brunswick and guards the entrance into the harbor from the broad Atlantic. A lofty light house rears its top into the sky on one end and lias served to gladden the heart of many a poor mariner who has lost his reconning and knows not where he is. A ride along the hard packed sand of the lieautiful beach brings us to the improvement made by the Brunswick Company who have erected a handsome ♦50,000 hotel and about twenty-one cottages for the comfort of the many visitors who flock to the sea shore in the summer to enjoy the exliilerating sea breezes and the health giving sea baths. After spending some time in “picking up shells along the sea shore” and watching the grand swells of the old ocean as they came and went we drove up to look at the large lumber mill on the other end of the island. It is said to be the largest in the South. Two or three tremendous logs are cut into merchantable lumber in the twinkling of an. eye. It is upon island that John Wesley the founder of Methodism held his first services, and the tree under whose spreading branches he exhorted, known far and near as the “Wesley Oak,” is still here. I could write 1 page after page but do not want to tire your readers, so with best wishes to all enquiring friends, Yours **Truly,

R. FENDIG.