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From the LaGrange Reporter, 1912.

Front Page News

All Three Bond Issues Carried In Monday’s Election — In the election held on Monday to determine whether or not the city of LaGrange should issue bonds for waterworks, for a municipal gas plant, and for public school additions, all three issues were carried by a much larger than the required two-thirds majority.

The results are summarized as follows: total registered to vote - 388; total votes cast - 349; vote for waterworks - 349; votes against waterworks - 0; votes for gas plant - 330; votes against gas plant - 19; votes for school bonds - 327; votes against school bonds - 21. Votes required for two-thirds majority - 256.

A total expenditure of $230,000 was authorized. This vote marks a decisive advance step in the progress of LaGrange.

The Fair — The Troup County Fair, which opened Thursday morning, will in all probability be the most interesting show of its kind ever held in LaGrange or Troup County.

The opening brought a goodly crowd in attendance to see many splendid exhibits. The people of LaGrange and Troup County have taken a great deal of interest in bringing about this year’s fair. Merchants and business men of the city have been exceptionally generous in their offers of prizes for the different departments.

The fair is given under the auspices of the LaGrange Chamber of Commerce, Troup County Poultry Association, and Mr. L. C. Davis, Government Farm Land Demonstrator. The Woman’s Club also has assisted in many ways and their exhibit is being much admired.

A full list of prize winners will be given in next week’s Reporter.

Depot Street Excavated For Paving — The city has a force of men at work on Depot Street, excavating and grading the road for paving. The sidewalk on both sides has been cut away to the level of the road and by this time the street is widened about 25 feet.

A spur track on the A. B. & A. road has been raised two and a half feet and the dirt road graded accordingly. This breaks the sharp descent to the A. and W. P. Road.

Depot Street, when paved, will be a wide boulevard reaching from Main Street to the front of Pike Brothers’ building. The street running north, next to the A. B. and A. Road will also be paved as far as Broome Street.

Farmers Can Carry Pistol On Own Plantation — An interesting action of the Court of Appeals was a recent decision that a farmer has the right to carry a pistol on his own plantation. This will be of far reaching importance to every farmer in the state of Georgia.

The law is based on a construction of the law that a farm is a farmer’s place of business, and that the rules hold on the farm as those giving a bank cashier or a storekeeper the right to keep a pistol in his desk.

Editorials:

Next! An Auditorium — Now that we have voted the bond issues for waterworks, gas plant and public schools, got the Depot Street paving started and elected Wilson President, let’s all pull together and supply one of LaGrange’s greatest needs – an auditorium.

There is perfect unanimity on the point that we need the auditorium. It is “up to us” to get together and do it.

Let’s put an end to apologizing for not having this necessary facility in an enlightened and progressive city. Let’s unite on some plan and put it through.

The Speed Mania — There is a speed law in LaGrange requiring automobiles and other vehicles to be run at a speed of not more than 15 mph. Every day this law is broken. Some of the very best people in our town are flagrant violators, and it is a very rare thing to hear of an arrest for exceeding the speed limit.

Fifteen miles an hour appears to be a very low rate of speed to the motorist. As a usual thing, the motorist waits until the last minute to go to his destination and then, to his greatest pleasure, he has an excuse to “let ‘er out.”

The speed maniac, very often can not stop quickly, and he not only endangers his own life, but the lives of many others. It is for this evil that the law was enacted.

Officer are expected to use discretion in all things, but when a policeman sees this law flagrantly disregarded, he should endeavor to punish the offender.

Not the least of our blessings at this Thanksgiving season is that last summer’s suit is still doing duty and the coal pile is but slightly diminished. Happy Thanksgiving!

Julia Dyar, a retired journalist, is active in the Troup County Historical Society.