All these years Murray had been without a railroad, and the products of her fertile soil went to swell the trade of Dalton, the metropolis of Whitfield.
The Dalton and Alaculsy R. R. was begun in 1902 and for a time went rapidly forward. The grade was almost completed and the road had come to be considered an established fact, when it was suddenly abandoned.
The L. and N. In 1905 another road was begun, which did not prove to be a disappointment. It has now been in operation three or four years. Several thriving little towns have sprung up along its route, Crandall, Oran, Ramhurst, Carters, Eton, Cisco, Tennga and Chatsworth,
Stock Law has been before the people prominently for a number of years. It seems to be gaining, but as yet has not carried more than one or two districts.
Local School Tax to supplement the public school fund has been warmly recommended by the State School Commissioner and adopted in a few districts.
Statewide Prohibition was passed by the last legislature. Although there is yet much whiskey made and sold in the county, there seems to be an awakening of the good people all over Murray to the importance of driving out the whiskey and cigarette nuisance. His honor Judge Fite has done much to discourage many of the common evils of the day.
A New Registration Law has practically disfranchised the negroes of the State. The list of registrars for 1910 shows 1,934 white voters and two colored voters in this county.
The Farmers' Union has taken a firm hold in Murray. They have a warehouse and gin at Chatsworth.
Sheriff Keith while attempting to arrest John Harper was shot by him and died a few days later. Great indignation was felt all over the county. Harper was convicted of murder and sentenced to be hung. The gallows was erected and stood in readiness for quite a while, but finally the sentence was commuted to life imprisonment.
Rural Free Delivery. Oct. 1, 1904, three routes were installed from Spring Place with Ben F. Bates, Wm. Lowrey and M. W. Shields as carriers. A county service was established May 1, 1909, covering practically the entire county. The Murray routes, with the carriers at present are: Spring Place, R1, E.W. Shields; Spring Place, R2, Wm. Lowrey; Spring Place, R3, M.W. Shields; Carters, W. E. Everett, Ramhurst, J. A. Hemphill; Chatsworth, R. J. Barnett; Eton, Chas. M. Harris; Crandall, Jeff Wood; Fairy, Chas. M. Howell; Cisco, Giles Dunn.
The Recent Primary was perhaps the most orderly and quiet that has ever been held in the county, Political excitement seems to be giving place to quiet judgment and practical common sense.
Murray County History 1911