Atlanta Georgian. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, September 14, 1913, Image 2

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PROSPERITY EM SEEN 8YGE0RGIABANKERS Already Assured Fanners, While City Mer chants Are Jubilant. Continued From Precoding Page. males. Ill past years he has done this, but this year he will not. Georgia this year produced the largest corn crop in its history. The hay and oat crops also were good. It would be ruinous to spend the proceeds even from 14-cent, cotton for 77-een1 corn. For tunately, in 1913 Georgia will not. There is some difference of opinion .just now as to the proba- Ole size of the crop in this State. • Tentlemen otherwise oAlm and serene are wont to grow purplish of face *nd thump desks when the subject is argued. J. D. Price, Commissioner of Agri* ulture for the State, says Georgia will gin 2,000,000 bales of cotton. He believes dry' weather has lopped 100,000 to 500,000 bales from the early prospect. A. P. Coles, who has made the en- nmate for the Central Bank and Trust Corporation for seven years and missed it not more than 50,000 bales m the seven, puts the crop at 2,600,- 000 hales. A favorite estimate Is 2,- 300,000 balea. Other figures stand in order between these two extremes. GREAT PROFIT ASSURED Just to stay out of the argument, 2,250,000 bale? has been selected as the basis for computations given here It does not affect the argument. If rhe crop is 2,000.000 bales, Georgia still will make an enormous profit, (f Georgia’s crop is 2,600,00 bales all the better. As to 14-cent cotton—It is not an impossibility, but a probability Thirteen cents now is being paid at Savannah for middling That part of the crop which has been ginned Is being sold freely. Although little has been said about it, there undoubtedly is a good deal of “distress cotton” on the market—cotton sold to pay debts which are pressing. With continued reports of bad weather in the West, or anything like an early frost, and consequent shortened yield, the mar ket may Jump again. And there is little cotton left for the mills of the world to use. The visible supply at the end of the cot ton year, August 30, was in round figures only 2,000,000 bales. The crop has been estimated at 12,900,000 bales. That leaves 14,900,000 bales for the world to use, and the mills of Bu- rope, Japan, India, China and the United States want 16,000,000 bales yearly now, the best authorities agree It looks like a "bull" year. Georgia has been through the test of fire. The year has been an ordeal But harvest time finds sagacious business men in Jubilant mood. Cheerfulness amounting almost to exultation is the keynote of senti ment to-day among the shrewdest. Expressions of the city’s recognized leaders are unanimous in their fore cast of prosperity. 1 Georgia Is To Be Em vied, Dec lares Governor Slaton C E()I{< 11A is to be envied. The season now opening- will bring oats in large quantities as well, while the nation s Golds of all u to this most favored State the blessings of plenty and pros- these feed stuffs is short, because of drouth. perity dispensed with lavish hand. Every circumstance is in Georgia has every climate from the cold winters of North collusion to make this a record year. ilf < reorgia, which serve to perfect the apples of Habersham ( ounty, Georgia this year will make a reasonable cotton crop. The to the almost tropical mildness of the coast, where you can see other States will have short yields. Georgia’s, then, will be big rice fields. Between are corn and cotton, oats and hay, peaches in relation to the total, and every < Georgian should get good B Jt. Mm and melons, sugar cane, yams and potatoes. N\ e depend, not on prices for his cotton. ditches which may go dry, but upon the kindly rains from the But that is not all. The best part of it is that not all the mil- BiSHk Almighty, and are not disap]jointed. And in this wonderful lions which come into the State for cotton will go out this year State live the nation’s finest people. for hay, corn and oats. Georgia this year raised what seems con- H i ./jSPSBi What more could Georgia ask? ceded to be the largest corn crop in its history. It has hay and - - —GOVERNOR JOHN M. SLATON. Looks for Huge Crop, Easily 2,600,000 Bales A. P. Coles, of the Central Bank and Trust Corporation, Is convinced there will be a huge crop in Georgia, and he never before has missed it •far. He writes to the country banks: “We have made careful inquiry and onsiderable personal inspection of the crops of Georgia. Information ompiled from reliable sources leads us to believe that we are on the eve of harvesting a bumper crop in Geor gia, not only of cotton, but of com. We believe that with an open fall and a reasonably late frost the cotton crop in Georgia will easily reach 2.600,000 oalee and that the com crop is prob ably by far the best that has ever neen produced in this State, all of which mean* prosperity in Georgia, at least temporarily. "There is no reason why a suffi cient amount of funds can not be ob tained to move the cotton crop, pro vided the bankers, farmers and mer chants work in harmony. Country hankers, especially those located in the cotton districts, should endeavor to educate the farmers to the habit of depositing checks received for the sale of cotton and paying their debt* by check. This would go a long way toward relieving the currency strin gency during the cotton-moving pe riod “We confidently expect a prosper ous fall and good business .” City Banker’s Views Give Cheerful Analysis ( see no reason,'' ways Robert F. Maddox, vice president of the Amer- can National Bank, "why 1914 rhould not find the whole United States en- ering upon a period of unsurpassed prosperity. “Now, Just take stock of tire year rosl closing Notwithstanding the fact that the cotton crop for 1912 was 1,000,000 bales short of the 1911 crop, there have been no failures of Im portance among banka or business houser. The failures were few and. In Georgia, of comparatively little im portance. That shows the bank* and mercantile houses were in good shape financially and could take care of their customers who have gone through a period of depression which was more or less world-wide. “The fall season opens with even’ insurance of a cotton crop 500.000 hales larger than last year and raised at less expense than any previous •rop ever grown; better and more scientifically cultivated. From every point of view this augurs a splendid rade for fall. “If the crop experiences no backset, .ve can reasonablv expect excellent wive mood in the spring, Mr. Moore has been converted into an optimist of the extreme type. ‘Everything looks good to me," says Mr. Moore. “The Chamber of Commerce foresees unrivaled prosper ity for Atlanta, and remarkable ex pansion. Plans and projects in sight, new factories and business houses Inquiring for locations, and a dozen other hopeful signs give rise to our optimism. "Business done by life insurance companies ie as good a barometer of general conditions a* any, I imagine. And without making any unusual ef fort we are doing a greater volume of business than ever before. "Reports to us from our agents ail over the South show the crop condi tions In this section to be exception ally good. Coarse grains and cotton promise great yields, and this, too, in a year when the yield of other sec tions will be curtailed, and prices consequently go higher. There will be business this coming year for every man of energy and enterprise, and the South will go straight ahead with Its development.” Country Banker Expects Moderate Crop, Big Prices -By F. S. JAC03S T HERE was a time when kissing in the good old-fashioned way Was altogether ruled by what the lady had to say; If she said “Yes,” the eouple didn’t ask for better right. But fell into a close embrace and smacked with all their might. But times, it seems, are changing; loving couples when enclinched Are apt to be disturbed thus wise: “Hey, stop it; you are 41 CITIES WILL iGHOSTLY LPT TCI GLI It is interesting to know what the country' banker thinks of all this. P. D. Rich, of Colquitt, was in Atlanta the past week. The country banker, as typified by Mr. Rich, does not believe Georgia is going to make such a wonderful crop. He doesn’t think it will go to 2,500,- 000 bales. He does think prices for cotton will be high and that Georgia, with two million, or, say, two million and a quarter bales, will .get more money than it has in some years for huge crops. The country banker finds himself able to get all the money he needs in New York and Atlanta at a. rate which is not excessive. He believes that the remarkable ginners’ report of September 1 does not spell a great crop so much as it does an early movement. Atlanta to Send 50 Delegates to Macon Meeting to Organize State Commercial Club. Crushers Foresee Busy Season in Southeast Cotton seed crushers are prepar ing for one of the greatest years in their history In Georgia. They ex pect a crop of 2,500,000 bales, and ex pect to crush, In round figures, 900,- 000 tons of seed, or just about the same amount aj» was crushed in 1911, when the banner crop was grown. L*. G. Neal, vice president of the Empire Cotton Oil Company, one of the largest corporations In the Geor gia cotton seed trade, says the Em pire’s mills in South Georgia, number ing seven, have been operating about ten dayp. "Seed now U bringing about $20 a ton,” said Mr. Neal, “and is yielding about 39 gallons of good quality oil to the ton. With the exception of the fact that there is considerable mois ture in the seed, there are no unto ward factors to be considered thi3 year. We look for an excellent sea son. I N olden days, the moonlight always played a goodly part In scenery befitting demonstrations of the heart; j Dan Cupid made a throneroom out of every cozy nook, j And lovers came there wooing and defied the world to look; i But now, when couples wander out to sft beneath the moon. They’re apt to be admonished thus: “This ain’t no place to spoon.” Wholesalers Are Busy Replenishing Retail Stocks fall collections. The farmer* will be able to pay their obligations to the country merchant. He will be able to pay the wholesalers in the cit ies, and the wholesalers In turn will reduce their indebtedness to the city bank*. "This it# aure to make money easier after the crop move*, and all lines of buKinew* are bound to feel the good effect of the aplendld period of pros perity now ao promising. “I believe the further consideration by the Senate of the currency bill and the expressed desire of the Senate committee to get all the facts con nected with the proposed legislation 1* certain to lead to the passage of a wise and conservatively planned meeeure. “If thie is true, and such a bill is priftsed. It will eliminate for all time the danger to the country which aru«s every fall from the tear of having insufficient currency to move j the crops. This will, therefore, be of j special benefit to the South and the I Weot, and I «ce no reason why 1914 i should not find the whole United Willis E. Ragan, one of the clty’p prominent wholesalers and holder of extensive real estate, believes the South is entering upon one of the most prosperous eras it has known for years. “We have a splendid ‘house trade,’ " said Mr. Ragan. "Buyers both from the city and country are thronging into the wholesale house* to replen ish 5»tocke with the advent of fall re tail buying. "It seems to me the South Is en tering upon one of the most pros perous eras in its histoiy. The cot ton crop lookn fine, and the price does. too. All Indications are that the farmers are selling as quickly as possible and paying their debts. Ev eryone is feeling good and looking forward to the best business in many years. The outlook is excellent.” "Business is good. It has increased greatly this season, and shows every promise of growing even more,” auys Ernest L. Rhodes, wholesale milliner. “The Atlanta houses in our line have had a remarkable volume of sales. How much of this is due to general business conditions and how much to the energy and enterprise of Atlanta jobbers, continually invad ing new territory, territory which al ways has been conceded heretofore to other cities. I can not tell without close analysis of sales records. But In all probability, the greater business is due to both factors. "At any rate, sales axe larger. That’s the main thing, after ail. "If the farmers, the retailers and the merchants who sell to them will now only take advantage of thei? prosperity to liquidate their obliga tions, then we shall have ideal condi tions. And I believe this will be done." T HE moonlight hasn’t changed a bit; its beams are still of gold; And ways of kissing are the same as in the days of old: The eager swain still has to bow before his lady’s will. And even parents’ wishes are respected by them still; But, to kiss or not to kiss, it seems, now hinges on the law Regardless of the say-so of the lady or her ma. West Point Schools Break Roll Record Whitehall Street Filled With Autumn Shoppers Staten entering upon ;i period of un surpassed prosperity." ‘Flush ’ Year Is Time To Learn Economy Frank Hawkins, president of the Third National Bank, 1b not given to hyperbole. Yet he waxes enthusi astic when drawn into conversation about the crop outlook and the busl- i.eas prospect* for Georgia this sea son “There it* a general cheerful feei ng,” he explain*? “Some of the coun try merchants and the city whole salers report the be?t bu«ne*s they have had for several seasons, and, of ■ our»»-, they expect to do even better when the cotton crop move* "Outstanding obligation*— some Them, to teil the exact truth, older than they should be—will be wiped out by the present crop and settle ments pawing from hand to hand up the line uhou’d make money eaoier all •round But this i* the time w uen I would preach thrift. It is something of an absurdity to preach thrift to a man who is ’broke.' But now that the Georgia farmer and the Georgia mer chant hH\e money in their pockets, or at least have money in sight, they should practice thrift. They should fortify themseive» for the possible lean years. I hope there will be no lean years, but history teachep us to believe there will be. “Remember recent history. That Is all I would ask. Remember the ban ner crop of lull, the extravagances which followed, and then the short crop of 1912, Hnd what befell. If only the farmer will keep his money from burning a hole In his pocket, this .sea son will reuult in permanent good for Georgia." Along Whitehall street, the center of city retail trade, the sentiment has been brighter throughout the year than in some other localities. City retail trade has held up unexpectedly well. Atlanta has not felt the de pression reported from smaller cen ters. But the advent of fall weather, or perhaps just a foretaste of it, has put life Into business in a way which has surprised even these merchants. “We arc reordering certain lines already. That, to any one acquaint ed with the retail business, is the most emphatic presentation 1 can make of business conditions in White hall street,’ said W. H. Brittain, president and manager of High’s. “Our September business to date is much larger than it was at this time last year. People are eager for new things. Mail orders have started coming in rapidly. It is a regular revival of trade. “Shoppers are numerous. It is not a question of going out after them. They are coming to the stores. Peo ple are anxious for the new things, for the better class of merchandise. Stocks have been low. Every one has bought sparingly since the first of the year, and the result now is an active movement all along the line.” “Just a little more cool weather, such as we have had a few days this past week." said J. P. Allen, “and fall business will surprise every one. People are anxious to buy. The stores are crow r ded. The salespeople are busy. The retailers have every cause to congratulate themselves.” Great Growth Is Noted and Building Is Remodeled to Meet Demands. WEST POINT, Sept. 13.—The for ty-fifth annual session of the West Point public schools has opened, with the largest enrollment of pupils aince their organization. j The Board of Education, untici- ; pating an overflow of pupils, had made every preparation in the way | of room and teachers The building is equipped with san- ! itary drinking fountains, electric J lights, electric bells, electric clocks, 1 telephones and all other modern con- j venlences. The chair of English and history j recently made vacant by the death of I Miss Naomi Wells is being filled tem- ! porarlly by Mrs. C. F. Pattillo. of West I Point. Mr. Walter P. Thomas, w ho is now ! serving his seventh year as super- ; intendent, is devoting his time ana , efforts for the continuous growth and j betterment of the schools. Immortals to Hear Lecture on 'Tango’ Jean Richepin Will Address Academy on Subject, but It’s a Play. Not a Dance. Special Cable to The American. PARIS, Sept. 13.—Paris has been excited for some days past by the report that Jean Richepin, the dis tinguished dramatist, who in his younger days forsook his family hearth for the love ot a great actress, is about to defy conventions and stir up more scandal by addressing the immortals of the French Academy on the subject of “The Tango." It now turns out that the “tango” of M. Richepin is a new corn-idy which he has completed for the Theatre Marigny in collaboration with Mad ame Richepin. Next month, at a public meeting of the venerable academy, he will read extracts from the play. FARMER FINDS LOST COIN IN HEART OF WATERMELON Early Trade Opening Amazes Col. F. J. Paxon GREELEY, COLO., Sept. 13.—When Daniel Kinney, of this city, cut open the first watermelon of the season from his garden to-day he found in the center a half-dim© of 1862. which he last last spring while planting the melon patch The lute©* of the melon had bright ened tne coin until It looked as if It was newly minted. Hair Electric Shocks Make Old Barber Quit Current From Customers' Heads Makes Him Nervous. He Says, in Retiring. DARBY. PA.. Sept. 13.—After 41 years as a barber, Phil Sipler, of Darby, announced to-day he had quit business. “As I grow older.” lie declared. “I become more and more sensitive to slight electric shocks with which hu man hair insulates my shears. It makes me nervous. I should hate to figure the total voltage of the shock* I received during a year.” Forty Georgia cities will send dele gations Tuesday to the meeting at Macon which will organize the Geor gia Chamber of Commerce. Atlanta will send 50 representative men in a special car. Waycross and Albany also will send specials. Indications are there will be 400 civic leaders at Macon to launch the State Chamber of Commerce, which is expected to do for Georgia what the Atlanta Chamber has done for the city. The meeting will be called to order at the Hotel Dempsey. Macon, at 10:30 o’clock Tuesday morning by C. J. Haden, chairman of the executive committee. Luncheon will be served at 1:30 o’clock at the hotel, with the Macon Chamber as host. An aft ernoon session will complete the de liberations. There are 70 such State-wide de velopment organizations in the United States. Texas has furnished the model for the proposed Georgia chamber. Texas Association’s Work. The Texas Commercial and Busi ness Men’s Association, with offices at Fort Worth, has expended $150,- 000 in six years to spread the fame and advantages of Texas, using news articles, plates, cuts and pamphlets. Writers, lecturers and photographers are in its employ. Officers are to be elected at the Macon meeting, including a president and about # 50 vice presidents, repre senting all sections of Georgia. Speakers will include Richard Ed monds, of the Manufacturers’ Record; M. V. Richards, of the Southern Rail way, and McLaine Tilton, secretary of the Alabama Bankers’ Association. A dozen Georgians have been ask^d for five-minute talks. They are John D. Walker, of Sparta: W. B. Powell, of Columbus; William M. Moore, of Fitzgerald; E. Y. Clarke, of La- Grange; W. B. Royster, of Griffin; L. P. Hillyer, W. T. Anderson and E. H. Hyman, of Macon; H. G. Hast ings, of Decatur; J. G. Weatherly, of Brunswick; Wilmer Moore, of At lanta; E. B. Adams, of Albany, and R. W. Parker and C. G. Bradley, of Madiosn. Many Cities to Take Part. The following cities will send rep resentatives: • Albany, Americus, Athens, Atlanta, Baxley, Brunswick, Bainbridge, Barnesville, Clarkston. Crawfordvilie, College Park, Columbus, Dublin, Douglas, Dawsonville, Eatonton, Fitzgerald. Griffin, Kirkwood, La- Grange, Lithonia, McDonough, Ma con. Madison, Moultrie, Xewnan, Ocilla. Springfield, Swainsboro, Toc- coa, Union City. Vienna, Waycross, Hawkinsville, Statesboro and Mount Pleasant. One hundred members of the live Macon Chamber of Commerce have been named on a special committee to greet and entertain the delegates. Several Seek Presidency. A number of the leaders in the in dustrial development of Georgia have been mentioned for the presidency of the State Chamber, but so far no one seems sure of the position. The executive committee is author ized to appoint a vice president for every county in the State and after careful consideration about 50 vice presidents have been selected. Other selections will be made during the next few days. The executive committee includes C. J. Haden, Atlanta, chairman; P. M. Atkinson. Madison; R. D. Cole, Newnan; J. S. Davis, Albany; G. W. Deen, Waycross: J. A. McCord, At lanta; W. H. Shippen, Ellijay; C. A. Wickersham, College Park. DeKalb Count To Be Well Represented. DeKalb County, headed by Kirk- wood and Decatur, will send an en thusiastic delegation to the State Chamber of Commerce meeting at Macon Tuesday, with the intention of playing an important part in the proceedings. The Kirkwood Cham ber of Commerce held a special meet ing to arouse zeal in behalf of the proposal, and the result was a list of Government Asked to Send Science Expert to Investigate Flaming Uncanny Orb, ASHEVILLE, Sept. 13.—Ghostly in appearance, a strange light, seen al most nightly, is gaining materially in brilliancy and has so greatly excited the people of Burke County, in the mountains of Western North Caro lina, that an official request has been made at Washington for an investi gation by an expert. R. T. Clay well first saw the strange light about a month ago when he and a party of friends were spending the night at Cold Water. "There is something uncanny about that light. The folks up in that neigh borhood can not fathom it, and we want a Government scientist sent to solve the mysterious glow,” said Mr. Clay well. Arose From Mountain. “The night I first saw the strange light I was out in the ooen on Rat tlesnake Knob, it was exactly 10:05 o’clock. I remember that well. What first attracted our attention were two hazy lights across the valley on Brown Mountain. “We watched it with wonder and awe. In a few minutes we saw a brighter light appear at the foot of Brown Mountain, where Upper Creek cuts it at Joy. The light appeared to be swinging, pendulum-like, and then went upward a distance of about 200 feet. “When it first appeared the light seemed to be round and yellow. It gained steadily in brightness, becom ing red as it went upward. When It reached its greatest height it appear ed to be like a ball of fire. Did Not Shed a Ray. “But the strange thing about it was that the freak of nature did not cast off one ray of light. The space around it was as dark as ever. All this add ed to its ghostly appearance. “It was across the valley from us at a distance of about twelve miles. ! It had rained that day and there were | a few clouds still hanging about. | When the strange light reached a I height of what seemed from our dis tance to be about 1.200 feet it went behind one of these clouds .and we did not see it any more that night. “It was a strange experience and many of those in our party came near fainting." Aeroplane Defeats Dirigible in Battle British Military Authorities Inquire Into Remarkable Air Maneuvers in France. Special Cable to The American. LONDON, Sept. 13.—Inquiries art being made by British military aero plane agents concerning certain re markable aerial experiments said to have been made this week at Bor deaux. A corporal in an aeroplane, it is stated, won an altitude race against a dirigible engaged in the French military maneuvers. From its su perior height the aeroplane dropped sham projectiles on the airship which in actual warfare would certainly have destroyed the craft at which they were aimed. formal pledges of members who will attend. They include R. F. Gilliem, John 1 Armstrong, Dr. E. L. Daniel, William E. Saunders, Dr. C. H. House, J. T. Viley, E. M. Willingham, John Lowe Smith, O O. Ray, H. C. Burr. J. A. Norman, R. C. Ozmer, J. P. Ellis, Joe Tillinghast and J. A. Earl. Decatur will send a party in auto mobiles. Lithonia and Clarkston will send delegates, and, altogether, there probably will be 75 representatives from DeKalb at Macon. Chamber of Commerce Prophesies Rapid Growth As head of a life insurance com- exceptional opportunities to study the uany and president of tne Chamber trend of event* and the c^idition f •f Commerce Wilmer L. Moore hae ■ burin^sr From rather annpprehen- F. J. Paxon is amazed at the early J opening of the fall trade. “I was surprised," says Mr. Paxon, j “to return here in August and find i fall ready-to-wear goods moving well. Millinery is moving particularly ear ly. There has been a good Increase In pales volume. Both the number of soles and the average amount of sales ha* increased. “We expect a remarkable year, a steady growth and a rapid one through the next year. “I am speaking not only for the business with which I am most inti- J mately connected, but also for other enterprises in Atlanta of which I have accurate knowledge, when I say that the resumption of activity al ready seen, with the cotton crop not generally moving yet, is something i at which to marvel. “Georgia is to be envied, and noth- ! ing at the conference of Governors j in the West attracted more atten- I tion than Governor Slaton’s speech J in which he extolled the virtues of i Lie State " THIS WEEK BIJOU MATINEES DAILY 2:30 NIGHT SHOWS FOURTH WEEK OF THE JEWELL - KELLEY COMPANY PRESENTING THE THRILLING SENSATIONAL MELODRAMATIC SI CCESS A MAN OF MYSTERY The Most Mysterious Detective Storv Ever Given the Stage. DON'T MISS THIS ONE. THIS WEEK MATINEES--TUES. THIRS., SAT. ARTHUR C. AISTON PRESENTS ESTHA WILLIAMS SUPPORTED BY EDWIN WALTER AND A SUPERIOR CAST IN OWEN DAVIS' STARTLING DRAMA 44/% GAME” Jj. NEXT WEEK : THE CONFESSION T