US Army Infantry School - Doughboy Yearbook (Fort Benning, GA)

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The Y. Nl. C. A. has several tennis courts near its famous marble home, the gift of George Foster Peabody, a native of Columbus. Sev- eral fresh water bathing pools are near the city and the Y. lvl. C. A. has a swimming pool as well as a large gymnasium. A number of dances at several halls with large floor space are given often. The Elks home has one of the best dance floors in the South. lVIany army officers and their families have taken advantage of the Chatta- hoochee Valley river trip as the means of finding recreation. The trip to the Gulf of Mexico and back requires about live days to make, the comfortably equipped steamer carrying the passenger through a panorama of scenery offering ten varieties of Nature's own art works, ranging from craggy cliffs to semi-tropical forests. Columbus is 'lwell organized . Four civic clubs, an Ad club, many fraternal and patriotic organizations and a real Chamber of Commerce, together with a number of other organizations, gives an outlet for ex- pression of one's civic, fraternal or patriotic spirit. The Elks, hflasons Knights of Columbus, lVloose, hlodern VVoodmen and other organizations have their club rooms centrally located. The American Legion post, one of the largest in the South, has many military men as members and the commander of the post this year is a captain of Infantry. Several hun- dred ollicers and enlisted men at the fort belong to the Legion post at Columbus. The civic clubs, Rotary, Kiwanis, Civitan and Lions, as well as the Ad Club, are big factors in making life in Columbus most pleasant for the people of the army circle. The several civic bodies work with the Chamber of Commerce in promoting the friendliest of feeling between the military personnel and the civilians. Matters of mutual interest to both city and fort are handled by the Camp Activities Committee of the Chamber of Commerce. The incoming officers are carried on tours of inspection of the city, being shown the great cotton mills, the lumber plants and other industries. The proximity of a great hydro-electric power development has given in- dustrial development in Columbus and vicinity great impetus. One mill covers more than 30 acres and is the largest cotton mill under one roof in America. The largest commercial furniture and hxture plant in the South is located in Columbus. The civic clubs are anxious that every arrival for duty at Fort Benning know Columbus and this year the plans for show- ing the city to the new arrivals will be handled by the Ad Club and the Chamber of Commerce. There are a variety of industries and the abun-

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COLUMBUS, GEORGIA OLUMBUS, GIQORGLX, like lfort Benning, should be of interest to the ollicers of the Llnited States Army as thousands of the com- missioned otlicers will visit both places as The Infantry School grows older. Columbus, located at the head of navigation on the Chattahoochee river, is 360 miles from the Gulf of blexico and is separated by the stream from Alabama, the city being the metropolis of XVestern Georgia. Steamers on the river carry the sportsman to the Great Deadlakes Region, noted for its hunting and fishing possibilities. The city is famed for its wide and beautiful streets, laid out loo years ago by state engineers who made the avenues and streets from 99 to 164 feet in width, allowing for beautiful parkways. Of special interest to the army oliicers are the schools, churches, highways and living accomodations. The Columbus public schools rank with those at the top. Two high schools are a part of the system. There is also Lorena Hall, a private school for girls, Chase Conservatory of hlusic and a parochial school. Churches of practically every denomina- tion are to be found in Columbus and these are conveniently located. One of the most beautiful squares of Columbus is the Church Square, also made possible by the foresight of the men laying the city out Ioo years ago. Beautiful drives, with an all year climate allowing automobile drives at any time, together with many points of interest in and near Columbus, offer an opportunity for many interesting trips. The Andersonville cem- etery is only 5o miles away. Six good hotels and a number of tea rooms, cafes and cafeterias offer Southern cooking and provide Columbus with the best eating places to be found in the South. A street car system, one line making the famous Wyiinton loop, and taxicabs make transportation easy. Fort Benning is reached by train or a bus line operating on regular hourly schedule. Amusements suiting those of any age are to be found in Columbus. Numerous moving picture theatres and an opera house Where the lead- ing productions are presented, are facilities for entertainment. A Country Club located on a hill-top with beautiful golf links is just beyond the sub- urbs of Columbus. Athletics find a place at the Driving Park Where many of The Infantry School athletic contests are staged. The park is the home of the annual Georgia-Auburn football classic when thousands of people visit Columbus.

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dance of power, together with transportation facilities and other advantages will, no doubt, make Columbus one of the greatest industrial cities of the na- tion. At the present time it is known as one of the South's great indus- trial communities. Columbus wants her army friends to see these in- dustries. The transportation service into and out of Columbus is helping more than the industries as the tourist now Iinds it an easy matter to reach Columbus. ilihere are two all l'ullman trains between Columbus and St. Louis and Chicago. Sleeping car service, at desirable hours for night travel, is afforded between Savannah and Columbus while Pullman service on two lines may be had to NVashington and New York. Atlanta, scarcely more than loo miles away, may be visited in comfort by use of parlor car service. Jacksonville is in easy reach of Columbus via use of good train service. There are a number of historical and interesting places in and near Columbus. Some of these are the scene of the last Battle of the Civil XVar. at the Fourteenth street bridgeg St. lilmo, the ante-bellum home where Augusta Evans lvilson secured her scenes for the novel bearing that name: the house where the beautiful custom of Southern blemorial Day originated is still standing at l7iOLl1'Ui4:'l1fl1 street and Fourth avenue, an interesting place for a visit on the part of any Southern womang the Oglethorpe table, foot of Broad street, the stone on which General Ogle- thorpe set foot on his visit to this section and many others. Nearby resorts, a matter of 40 miles, reached by good roads offer interesting trips along the lines already mentioned. Columbus is on two main highways, the Dixie Overland and the Florida Short Route. In addition to being an interesting city and one most delightful for a home, combining many of the customs of the old South with the con- veniences of the modern day, Columbus is well policed and has a modern motorized fire department With several sub-stations located in residential sections. The efficient city commission-manager government is past its experimental stages and is doing much to provide further conveniences for the citizens. The Columbus Chamber of Commerce is ever ready to be of assist- ance to the army officers and their families and will cooperate in any Way to make the stay of these people pleasantn The organization cheerfully sends literature or specific information to any inquirer.