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McCORMlCK Aki) McCORMlCK COtJkTY, s. o, essa ttYfi jg&sm and while there is even now a move toward starting a new paper in the county it is beyond question that the citizens will not soon forget the untiring efforts and patriotic expenditure of time and labor made by Mr. McCracken, in maintaining a newspaper for the purpose of furthering the interests of this section. The Messenger is and should continue to be looked upon as the “County paper” and now that we have a county of our own and consequently must have a newspaper, and as a newspaper can not exist without the support of the public, it is right and proper that every citizen should lend his support, both morally and financially, to the Messenger, the paper that should come first by every rule of ethics. New improvements are being made in the Messenger’s equip ment. A large new press and new type are being installed and new and better quarters will be occupied soon. A better paper will be furnished and the publics interests will dominate its policy. Arrangements have been completed for the transfer of W. O. Sturkey’s interest in the paper to be taken over by E. J. McCracken, a son of the editor, and the establishment will become “The Mes senger Publishinger Co.” THE DAVIS REALTY COMPANY. No other business concern, nor individual has done more to bring this section of the State into prominence and cause its pre sent development, or has been more instrumental in bringing to a successful termination the move that recently resulted in the for mation of McCormick County, than has the Davis Realty Company. This enterprising realty concern opened offices in McCormick about eight years ago and at once set about to bring to this com- OFFICERS OF THE DAVIS REALTY CO. A. J. Davis, Pres, on right; 6. Allen Banks, Vtce-Pres. and Treas, center, J. E. Ashmore, Secretary, left. munity the better class of facets from other sections of this and other States, and were so successful that Within the past eight months it sold over $121,000.00 worth of farm land, and in doing so brought into our mldBt good, substantial Southern farmers whose citizenship is an asset to the community. Recently the Davis Realty Company increased its capital stock by public sale of stock in the company, and now have offices in McCormick, Greenwood, and Laurens, all of which are proving of great worth to the several towns and surrounding territory. A recent campaign put on by the company has resulted in the listing for sale vast acreage of both developed and undeveloped farm lands all along the C. & W. C. Railroad from McCormick to Greenwood and have for sale any kind of farm the heart may desire. The officers of this company are men who not only know the value of real estate but who are practical farmers and wide awake business men of unquestioned integrity. They are: A. J. Davis, president, resident of Laurens and in charge of the company’s busi ness there; G. Allen Banks, vice-president, now residing in Green wood and in charge of the business there, and J. E. Ashmore, Secre tary, resident of McCormick, and in charge of the company’s in terests at this point. Mr. Davis, the president of the company, had been in the lum ber business a number of years in this section before going into the real estate business. And while his activities carried him to several southern and western states and covered a period of over fifteen years, he never lost sight of the fact that the soil, climate and social conditions were better in Western South Carolina than in any other part of the United States. Nor did his interest in farming lag. He studied conditions and soil and also kept posted as to modern methods of farmnig. Thus taking his early training on a farm, his travels through other states, his experience in real estate and its valqe, and his having kept himself well posted upon modern farm ing methods, renders him an expert in his line of endeavor that has proven a blessing to all who have had dealings with him. The Davis Realty Company is truly a boon to this entire sec tion of the State and McCormick is justly proud of its presence. LOCAL TELEPHONE SERVICE—GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT. As evidence of the spirit of progress prevailant in McCormick, no institution lends more weight than does that of the Local Telephone Co. This company was organized by M. L. B. Sturkey, one of the leading business men and community developers in this territory. The undertaking was begun in 1905 and the stock was all sold, lo cally, and an exchange placed and thirteen telephones installed during that year. Mr. Sturkey was made president and general manager of the company. Under his able management the tele phone became of great service and soon grew in popularity to the extent that new phones were installed in many of the homes and business houses that at first could not be induced to use them. After a time it began to dawn upon the populace that telephones were an absolute necessity and then our local company came into its own. The farmers of this section began to see tl^ benefits to be de rived from telephone service and came to realize that without a phon they were a long ways from the commercial centers and up on poor social relationship with other farmers living at a distance from them, while with a phone they were practically right in the heart of the commercial activities of the towns and could “visit” their friends, by phone, every day, even though those friends lived many miles distant Lines were run through the country districts and the service became highly developed. At Plum Branch an ex change was put in and connected, by a line along the country road, with McCormick. Connections were also made with Troy, Bordeau, Liberty Hill, Double Branches, Ga., and Lincolnton, Ga., thus bring ing the populace of these neighboring towns, and the farmers in this entire territory, in close touch with McCormick. Several years ago J. W. Wilkins, of Gaffney, S. C., came to Mc Cormick, invested largely in the stock of the Telephone Company and took over the management of the company’s affairs, Mr. Sturkey retiring from that position to devote his whole time to his large mercantile and other interests. Mr. Wilkins was a telephone man of broad experience, having spent years in that line of endeavor. Under his capable and effi cient management he brought the local telephone service up to the highest state of perfection by anticipating the constantly increasing demands made upon this public utility and to promptly supply the most satisfactory service to the public. Since taking charge of the affairs of this company, Mr. Wilkins, with a corps of able assistants, has kept abreast of the times and has doubled the number of phones in service over and over again. In the early history of the Telephone Company of McCormick, many obsticles had to be overcome and much work and many try ing ordeals were Imposed upon the manager, but the man at the helm steered a straight course ahead and overroad every breaker and came out of every storm stronger and better prepared to meet the requirements of his patrons. Much credit is due him for the service he rendered this community and possibly no man except the one who did it, M. L. B. Sturkey, would ever have stayed by his post of duty so faithfully and withstood all that was encounter ed by him in bringing the telephone service up to the standard reached when he retired from its service. The present manager, Mr. Wilkins, has added greatly to the service and kept it up to as near perfect as it is possible to make a telephone service and he, too, had to encounter many and varied obsticles which he overcame in a manner that is peculiar only to £hose of broad experience and perfect command of himself and ithose under his supervision. He is a thorough, practical business man and executive and is a broadminded public spirited citizen deeply interested in the moral and commercial advancement of the town and county. The finances of the McCormick Telephone Co. are in the hands of L. L. Rankin, Secretary and Treasurer of the company, a gentle man of exceptional business qualifications, an expert accountant and a citizen of substantial worth. He is interested in the com mercial activities of McCormick and is in charge of the business office of M. L. B. Sturkey Mercantile house. His interest in the progress and commercial growth as well as the moral advance ment of the community, is of the deepest nature. McCormick is proud of her telephone company as an institu tion of value to the community, and proud of the possession of the citizenship of the men who own and operate this necessary utility. M. G. AND J. J. DORN.—LUMBER. M. G. and J. J. Dorn, well known pianufacturers of rough and dressed lumber, are closely associated with the material develop ment and commercial enhancement of both the town and county of. McCormick. This firms manufacturing plant is located near the C. & W. C.