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THU CARROLL FREE PRESS. CARROLLTON. CARROLL COUNTY, GEORGIA THURSDAY. DECEMBER 2S, 1922 AGRICULTURAL PROSPECTS FOR THE YEAR 1923 jiffw Yoar's Statement and Resume of Agricultural Conditions and Pros pects from Secretary of Agri culture Wallace. Twelve) months ago most of the sic million farmers of the United Htatc*i were starting on the long hard climh out of the valley of economic, depres sion. They have not yet attained the heights which arc bathed in the grate ful sunshiue of prosperity. Home in deed, have fullen by the way. Others are still in the valley. Nevertheless, aa we stop a hit and look backward wo can see that very considronble ground has boon gained by the great majority, and wo can enter the New Year with renewed hope and with that courage, el ich comes from the realization that we are really making progress. A year ago, when speaking of the prospects for farming in 1922, 1 said that while there was no reason to ox- poet boom times for the farmer in the i ear future, there was promise of bet ler times, both for the farmer and for those whose business is largely depend-, ent upon him. The year has brought fulfillment of that promise. Speaking generally, times are better, much but ter, than a year ago, both for agricul ture and for industry. Crops have been good, on the whole. I’rieos of the mnjor crops are mostly considerably higher. While there hns been a corresponding advance in the prices of tho things the farmer must buy, the total sum which farmers will receive for tho crops of this year is greater by a billion and a half dollars or more thou that which they received for the crops of last year. This will certainly monn better times on the farm, and farm folks will be able to oaso up a little on the grinding economy they were forced to practice tho pre coding year. The labor cost of producing the crops of 1922 was still .further reduced. There were some substantial reductions in fjeight rutes. Much helpful legislation has been enacted and more will bo this winter. Interest rates are lower and the credit strain has benu eased. This hns made it possible for many, farmers who wore rather heavily involved • to refund their obligations and get them selves in condition to win through. There are still some dark spots. In some sections weather condiions wore unfavorable and crops were short, and farmers in those sections are having a very hard tirno of it. Freight rates are FIRESTONE TIRE AND RUB BER COMPANY MAKES FINE SHOWING FOR THE YEAR. Sales $6-1,607,301 in Twelve Months— Hoad of Concern Says Government Should Encourago American Cap ital to Develop Rubber Plan tations In Philippines. With the lowest prices experienced in the history of tire making, and in the face of keenest competition, the Fire stone Tire and Rubber Company’s sales for the fiscal yenr, ending October 31, were $61,607,301.77, representing an in crease of 23 per cent in pieces sold over tile previous your, according to a state ment made the other day to stockhold ers, at their annual meeting in Akron, 0., by Harvey H. Firestone, president of :he company, The company’s earnings, aftor provid ing for depreciation, interest, taxes and other charges, were $7,318,421.59. Aft er payment of preferred dividends and miscellaneous charges thcro was shown n net increase of $16 per share in the common stock equity. The company’s bank indebtedness was reduced from $21,680,000 at tho begin ring of tiie fiscal year to $12,775,000 lit its close, moaning a reduction of nearly $9,000,000. During tho year the Firestone Canadi an Company financed itself through the sale of a $1,500,000 7 per cent bond is sue, according lo Firestone, tho parent company owning the entire outstanding preferred und common stock. Tho On- undian plant has a present capacity oil 1,600 tires doily, and is so planned that additional production nan readily be procured when required. Mr. Firestone expressed optimism re garding the outlook for the coming yenr. “Wo enter the now year,” ho said, “with our factories running at undi- n inished production, operating at the highest point of efficiency yet attained and producing the best quality tiro in our history. Sales and distribution methods have been simplified, resulting in marked dccrcusc in cost; our, dealer organization enlarged and stfengthen cii. Inventories have lx*n very con servatively valued, ad our commitments for raw material are on a most favora ble basis. “Howovcr,’’ snid Mr. Firestone, “un less the action taken by England and certain colonial governments rolativc to still too high, especially for those who# 1 production and exportation of crude "must pay for a Tong haul to' market/ Taxes arc high, but this is largely duo to tho increase in local taxes, over which farmers themselves must exer cise control. Thoro has been gratifying growth in farmers’ co-operative marketing asso ciations, and more of them are being organized on n sound business basis. Aside from the help which has beon riven by legislation and by administra tion activities, strong economic forces are at work to restore a more normal relation between agriculture and other industries. Tho peril in the agricultural depros- lion is more keenly realized by other groups than eVer before, and on every hand a sincere desire is being evidenced lo do what can bo done safely to help the farmer better his condition. Everything considered, we have good reason to expect still better tilings for agriculture in the year 1923. FARMERS’ INSTITUTES. To get the full benefit of the money being spent by sute and federal gov ernments for popularizing scientific ag riculture, tho fnrmers ought to make every effort to attend the farmers’ in stitutes. It costs just as much to hold such a meeting with 25 present as if 250 turn out. If 225 who could be present decide to stay away, tho whole district may suffer as the result of failure to learn about more productive methods. One state, Indiana, has 500 of these institutes this winter. That common wealth is no exception, and probably a lot nf others have as many relative to populaion. That shows what the nublie authorities are doing to help improve production, and now the farm ers should do their share by attending tnese useful gatherings. One of the best features of these institutes is the practical exchange of experience that so frequently follows the addresses given by experts. It in interesting to see how carefully the rpeeialists listen to these individual ex periences. They, too, are learning ail the time as well as their listeners. The foolish man learns by his own experience ,tho wise man by others. Romo people fbllow just the sum. methods year after, year, and thev are likely to remain stationary or fa!) behind. Th e man with a scientific mind wants lo know about he methods that .-(her people aro using, and which method has produced the best results. Jio may got useful ideas in a single rubber is rescinded or modified in a drastic, manner, the effects of this un called for legislation will bo far-reach ing. Tlu* limiting of production and exportation already has caused an in crease of 100 per cent in tho eost of thi) crude product sineo announcement of tho now program was made in Octo- bor. “This present advance represents an increased cost to tho United States of over $100,000,000 on its estimated consumption for 1923. This must bo passed on to the tire user. “This Is the time for tho United •States lo pass such legisnlinn as will encourage American capital to de velop rubber plantations in the Philip pine Island.s, where the soil and climatic conditions are equal to any in tho rubber producing belt, and negotiate with .South American republics to develop production in their rubber regions. •Rubber is growing each year to be more important to the economies of commerce and raiisportation, and great opportunities are before us to make tho Philippines one of our most valuable possessions anil have a secure supply of this very important product.’’ The Firestone Company’s assets, ac cording to the statement given out. include: Cash, $5,715,159.38; receiv ables, $9,852J762.72; inventories, $9,- 890,050.17; Coventry Lund and Im- ment Company, $3,013,708.80; other ac counts, $5,820,215.13; investments, $4,- 651,265 treasury stock, $171,028.78; real istuto, plautR, etc., $21,174,300.17; de ferred charges, $426,793.70, making a total of $00,718,631.45. Liabilities aro listed as follows: Notes and acceptances payable, $12,- 775,000; accounts payable (purchases, pay rolls, etc.), $2,539,533.99; accrued accounts, $320,066.22; reserve, $300,000; capital stock, $9,500,000 in preferred 6 per cent cumulative, this representing 100,000 shares authorized ($10,000,000) less $500,000 retired; 400,000 shares of 7 per cent cumulative ($40,000,000) less $30,000,000 unissued, leaving a balance of $10,000,000; common stock, $3,558,- 000, representing 3,500,000 shares au thorized $(25^0010,000),, less unissued and in treasury ($21,412,000); general surplus, $20,595,595.99, and insurance account surplus, $1,130,438.25. 1!' the young folks at college aro get ting tho right education thoy should have learned that their home town is ' just as good a place to start in as i.iiywhere, provided they work with enterprise and intelligence. The Georgia State Bank sf ATLANTA, GEORGIA Takes pleasure in announcing that it has opened an office in BOWDON, GEORGIA This new office of The Georgia State Bank is located in the building formerly occupied by The Merchants and Planters Bank In arranging for the addition of this new office to its organization, The Georgia State Bank has pur chased the assets and assumed the de posits of The Merchants and Planters Bank. This arrangement has been made upon a basis which assures to all depositors of the old bank full pay ment of their accounts at one hun dred cents upon the dollar, and to the stockholders all which can possibly be secured to them after providing for the liabilities. In other words, The Georgia State Bank has assumed this business upon a basis by which it hopes to enlarge the scope of service to .include every individual of this community and looking only to the business prosperi ty of the future for profit. Every depositor in The Merchants and Planters Bank will find that his interests and financial affairs are perfectly secure' and satisfactorily handled by the new bank. Letters have already been mailed to each asking that he visit the bank, to leave his sample signature and meet the new officers and customers.* The Georgia State Bank is an insti tution designed to serve the interests of every type of Georgia business man, farmer and industrial enter prise. Its offices are located in many cities and towns, which enables it to better serve its clients. With a central office in Atlanta, and with its individual offices thus scattered, it is enabled to mobilize the financial resources and credits of an ever-widening area of the state, in exactly the same manner, but upon a wider, and therefore more effective scale, than the bank which maintains but one office in one community, mo bilizes the money and credit of that community for the greatest service. * -it * 44 4t The men who direct the policies of this organization are men who have long been trained in understanding the financial needs of the various in dustries which go to make up the prosperity of our state. They know the financial needs of the cotton planter, of-the fruit grower, of the diversified agriculturist, of the manufacturer and of tiie business man. With an organization drawing its resources from-many communities such as this, and at the same time in closest personal touch with local con ditions, it is possible not only to thoroughly understand and cooper ate with the individual need, but to adequately provide for the seasonal, needs of the community. The Georgia State Bank is capital ized at $500,000. Its foundations are based upon such super-security as has been learned during times of financial stress and trial. It is, for Georgia, something new in banking nolicy, but it is a policy which has been successfully operated in other sections, without loss and without failure, for many years. In opening the Bowdon office, the officers of The Georgia State Bank confidently ask your business. They will at all times be glad to welcome, you at the bank, and will always ex tend that service and cooperation so essential to the steady growth of each individual enterprise and of the com munity as a whole, *The Georgia State Bank is also pleased to announce that the deposits, of The Merchants and Planters Bank, which at the re-opening of the bank last summer, were put on time certificates for one, two and three years, will be released on February 1st, 1923, and on that date, upon the surrender* of such time certificates and liquidating agents certificates, properly en dorsed, will become at once available to all such depositors, and the people holding these certificates will not have to wait one, two and three years for their money to become available. The Georgia State Bank J. G. Smith, Cashier, Bowdon, Ga. W. D. Manley, Pres. L. R. Adams, Vice-Pres. John D. Russell, Gen y l. Cashier ATLANTA, GEORGIA Offices now heated at Baxley, Bronwood, Cordele, Cummins, Douglas, Dcuglasville, Chatsworth, Dublin, HfivkinsviUe, Hogansville, Ocilla, Omega, Richland, .Montezuma, and Bowdon, Ga. “A Big Bank with the Personal Characteristics of Home Folks for Your Town"