Whitfield County GaArchives History .....Chapter VIII - History of Whitfield County 1936 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 October 3, 2004, 12:53 am CHAPTER VIII Greater Whitfield County With all the splendid forces mentioned in preceding chapters at work together with the wonderful progress that has been made in the last ten years, all these assure a greater future for the county. The advancement in every line of endeavor has given the county a momentum that will project its progress into the years to come. The vast amount of constructive work done in the past few years has been a powerful factor in the tremendous strides that the county has taken and the gains that have been made in taxable wealth, even during the years of the depression, have been considerable. ROAD BUILDING About the middle of the year 1925 a plan originated by W. C. Martin was presented to the Civitan Club for the paving of five county roads all centering in Dalton. The estimated cost of this road building plan was $1,600,000 and the cost was to be borne one-fourth by the State of Georgia, one-fourth by Whitfield County and one-half by the Federal Government. The plan was promptly sponsored by the Civitan Club and at their request, it was presented by W. C. Martin to the Board of Roads and Revenues of Whitfield County, and adopted by it and an election was called in October, 1925, for a bond issue of $400,000. At the election the vote was practically solid in favor of bonds. Soon after that the bonds were issued and from time to time sold as the funds were needed to pay the county's part. The roads are now all paved under this plan. It was only necessary to use $350,000 of the county's bonds. The county has on hand $265,000 in highway certificates and approximately $35,000 sinking fund, making a sum sufficient to pay the entire bond indebtedness thus leaving the county free of debt. ------------- p. 172 Thus it will be seen that all paved roads in Whitfield county have been built since 1925. The county maintains these roads and is well equipped with modern road-building machinery and maintains an average of fifty convicts on the roads all the time. These roads penetrate a beautiful and picturesque country, crossing clear streams spanned by concrete bridges, then winding around mountains bringing the traveler suddenly to green meadows and rich farming lands. There is no highway in the county that will not repay the tourist with wonderful mountain scenery, views of smiling valleys with here and there springs of pure sparkling water. INDUSTRIAL LOCATION The county is located in the busiest industrial zone of the south on the main Dixie highway with two great trunk lines of railways leading northward and southward. It is close to raw material of almost every kind and has abundant labor. It has unlimited electric power and is in the district of the Tennessee Valley Authority and will receive the benefits of this gigantic development. The county has a rare all-the-year-round climate, pure mountain water, splendid drainage, scenic surroundings and a wholesome moral and religious atmosphere. EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES The entire county outside of Dalton is organized into seven consolidated school districts—each being provided with a modern up-to-date school building, readily accessible to all the children with the aid of about 30 school busses. The advance in facilities for education has been notable and the system of schools is equal to that of any county in the state. The erection of the consolidated school buildings and the) large amount of money spent on education is an index of what Whitfield county will continue to do along that line. The teachers are always paid promptly and the schools are rated A-l in scholastic standards. ------------- p. 173 DALTON, THE COUNTY SEAT The city is situated in the northern extremity of a triangular plain with just enough undulations to give good drainage and a fine variety of scenic beauty. On the west is a towering range of mountains, many of the peaks having palisades extending for many miles. On the east in the distance there rises the tall peaks of the Cohutta mountains. From the summit of Mount Rachel immediately north of Dalton and almost within the corporate limits, there may be seen a picturesque valley, through which a number of streams wind their way. The city, too, has steadily advanced in the last few years. The extension of water, gas and electric lighting facilities have gone forward with vigor, as have street paving, sidewalks, and sewer extensions. Large numbers of new nouses have been constructed in city and county in the last few months and many others are being planned for in the near future. A new city hall is in the process of building which will be a credit to the city, and a new school is being erected on Fort Hill as a part of the city system of schools. Business houses almost without exception report substantial gains in volume and profits during the past year. The banks show largely increased deposits. And the city's increasing population, estimated now at 14,000 including the immediate surrounding territory, is looking and working toward ever greater fulfillment of Dalton's destiny as one of Georgia's leading cities. WHITFIELD CITIZENRY The population of Whitfield County is approximately 20,000 and more than nine-tenths of pure Anglo-Saxon lineage. Sound economical government has made the tax burdens of city and county unusually light. Those who feel most interested in the county's welfare and who think most of her future growth and development are men ------------- p. 174 and women of moral worth and high intellectual standing and their reputation for hospitality, friendliness and courtesy is known far and wide. No city or county in the south can boast of public-spirited men that are more zealous advocates of every measure that looks to the moral, physical and financial betterment of the people. Looking the entire nation over, it may be confidently stated that no better place can be found anywhere to make a happy home than here in Whitfield County. Additional Comments: From: OFFICIAL HISTORY OF WHITFIELD COUNTY, GEORGIA BY WHITFIELD COUNTY HISTORY COMMISSION File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/whitfield/history/other/gms194chapterv.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/gafiles/ File size: 6.8 Kb