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PROSPERITY ERA SEE
BY GEORGIA BANKERS
Biggest Money Crop in Years Believed To Be
Already Assured Farmers. While City Mer
chants Are J ubilant.
Continued From Preceding Page.
mules. In imst 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 he ruinous to
spend the proceeds even from 14-cent cotton for 77cent corn. For
tunately', in 1913 Georgia will not.
There is some difference of opinion just now as to the proba-
ble size of the crop in this Stale.
Gentlemen otherwise calm and serene
are wont to grow purplish of face
and thump desks when the subject Is
argued.
.T. D. Price, Commissioner of Agri-
ulture for the State, nays Georgia
will gin 2,000,000 hales of cotton. He
believes dry weather has lopped
*00,000 to 500,000 bales from the early
prospect.
A. P. Coles, who has made the es
timate for the Central Bank and Trust
Corporation for seven years and
missed it not more than 50,000 bales
in the seven, puts the crop at 2,600,-
000 bales. A favorite estimate is 2.-
500,000 hales. Other figures stand in
order between these two extremes.
GREAT PROFIT ASSURED.
.Just to stay out of the argument,
2,250,000 hales has been selected as
ihe basis for computations given here..
It does not affect the argument. If
the crop Is 2.000.000 hales, Georgia
still will make an enormous profit.
If Georgia’s crop is 2,600,00 bales
al! the better.
As to 14-rent cotton—it is not
an impossibility, hut 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 SO, 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 Eu
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
Hut 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.
Georgia Is To Be EnviedDeclares Governor Slaton
I writ v (l
lusion to make this a record v ear.
;■ will
bring
y and.
pros-
smeu
is in
l'1'Op.
The
will 1
>e big
get
good
prices for liis cotton.
But that is not all. The best part of it is that not ail the mil
lions which come into the State for cotton will go out this year
for hay, com and oats. Georgia this year raised what seems con
ceded to he the largest corn crop in its history. It has hay and
oats in large quantities us well, while the nation s yields of all
these feed stuffs is short, because of drouth.
Georgia has every climate from the cold winters of North
Georgia, which serve to perfect the apples of Habersham < 'ounty,
to the almost tropical mildness of the coast, where you can see
rice lields. Between are corn and cotton, oats and hay, peaches
and melons, sugar cane, yams and potatoes. We depend, not on
ditches which may go dry. but upon the kindly rains from the
Almighty, and are not disappointed. And in this wonderful
■state live the nation’s finest people.
W hat more could Georgia ask?
—GOVERNOR JOHN M. SLATON.
give mood in the spring, Mr. Moore
has been converted into an optimist
of the extreme type.
'Everything looks good to me,”
■aya Mr. Moore. "The Chamber of
Commerce foremen unrivaled prosper
ity for Atlanta, and remarkable ex-
I an si on. Plans and projects In sight,
new factories and business houses
inquiring for locations, and a dozen
other hopeful signs give rise to our
opt Irnism.
"Business done by life insurance
companies is as good a barometer of
general conditions as 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 all
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 I
a year when the yield of other sec- j
tions will be curtailed, and prices I
consequently go higher. There will be j
business this coming year for every
man of energy and enterprise, and
the South will go straight ahead with
Its development.”
NEXT
By F. S. JACOBS
Country Banker Expects
Moderate Crop, Big Prices
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 couple 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 enclinehed
Are apt to be disturbed thus wise: ‘' Hey, stop it; you are pinched.”
i CITIES WILL GH0STLT LIGHT
Looks for Huge Crop,
Basilg 2,600,000 Bales
it is interesting to know what the
country banker thinks of all tills. P.
I>. 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 ai a rate
which is not excessive.
He believes that the re.markable
ginners’ report of September 1 does
not spell a great crop so much as it
does an early movement.
V P. Coles, of the Central Bunk
and Trust Corporation, is convinced
there will be a huge crop In Georgia,
and he never before lias missed it
far. He writes to the country banks:
"We have mode careful inquiry and
onslderable personal inspection of
the crops of Georgia. Information
< emptied 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 coni.
We believe that with an open full and
a reasonably late frost the cotton crop
in Georgia will easily reach 2.600,000
hales and that the com crop Is prob
ably by far the best that has ever
Been produced In this State, all of
which rneana 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
bankers, 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.”
Crushers Foresee Busy
Season in Southeast
n
—
j
Atlanta to Send 50 Delegates to j Government Asked to Send
Macon Meeting to Organize Science Expert to Investigate
State Commercial Club, ; Flaming Uncanny Orb.
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 as 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 days.
"Seed now is bringing about $20 a
ton,” said Mr. Neal, "and is yielding
about 29 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 this
year. We look for an excellent u ea-
aon.
N olden days, the moonlight always played a goodly part
In scenery befitting demonstrations of the heart;
Dan Cupid made a throneroom out of every cozy nook.
And lovers came there wooing and defied the world to look;
But now, when couples wander out to sit beneath the moon.
They’re apt to be admonished thus: “This ain’t no place to spoon.’
City Banker's Views
Give Cheerful Analysis
1 see no reason, ,v says Robert F.
Maddox, vice president of the Amer
can National Bank, "why 1914 should
not find the whole United States en
tering upon a period of unsurpassed
prosperity.
"Now, Just take stock of the year
rust 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 banks or business
houses The failures were few and. In
• Georgia, of comparatively little im
portance. That shows the banks and
mercantile houses were in good shape
financially and could take care of
their customers who have gone
through & period of depression which
was more or less world-wide.
“The fall ce&Jon opens with every
assurance of a cotton crop 500,000
bales larger than last year and raised
at lees expense than any previous
rop ever grown; better and more
scientifically cultivated. FTom every
point of view this augurs a splendid
trade for fall.
"If the crop experiences no backset.
A'e can reasonably expect excellent
fall collections. The farmers 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
banks.
"This is sure to make money easier
after the crop moves, and all lines of
business are bound to feel the good
effect of the splendid period of pros
perity now so 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
Is Certain to lead to the passage of a
wise and conservatively planned
measure.
"If this is true, and such a bill is
passed, it will eliminate for all time
the danger to the country which
arises every fall from the fear of
having insufficient currency to move
the crops. This will, therefore, be of
special benefit to the South and the
West, and 1 see no reason why 1914
should not find the whole United
States entering upon a period of un
surpassed prosperity “
‘Flush ' Year Is Time
To Learn Economy
Frank Hawkins, president of t;ie
Third National Bank, is not given to
hyperbole. Yet he waxes enthusi
astic when drawn into conversation
about the crop outlook and the busi
ness prospects for Georgia this sea
son
“There is a general cheerful feel-
,ng," he explains. “Some of the coun
try merchants and the city whole
salers report the best business they
have had for several seasons, and. of
■ •ourae. they expect to do even better
when the cotton crop moves.
“Outstanding obligations—some of
ihem. to tell the exact truth, older
than they should be—will be wiped
out by the present crop, and settle
ments paxsing from hand to hand up
the line should make money easier all
around.
But this is tiie time when I would
preach thrift. !t 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 have money in their pockets,
or at lean have money in sight, they
should practice thrift. They should
fortify themselves for the possible
lean years. I hope there will be no
lean years, but history teaches us to
believe there will be.
"Remember recent history. That is
all 1 would ask. Remember the ban
ner crop <*f 1911, the extravagances
which followed, and then the short
crop of 1912, and what befell. If only
the fanner will keep his money from
burning a hole In his pocket, this tea-
son will result in permanent good for
Georgia.”
Wholesalers Are Busy
Replenishing Retail Stocks
Willis E. Ragan, one of the city's
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 houses to replen
ish stocks 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 looks fine, and the price
does. too. All indications are that
the farmers are Helling ns quickly as
possible and paying their debts. Ev
eryone is feeling good and looking
forward to the best business in many
years. The outlook
"Business is good.
excellent."
It has increased
greatly this season, and shows every
promise of growing even more," says
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 lias 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 are larger.
That’s the main thing, after all.
“If the farmers, the retailers and
the merchants who sell to them will
now only take advantage of theti
prosperity to liquidate their obliga
tions, then we shall have ideal condi
tions. And 1 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 'Immortals to Hear
Break Roll Record Lecture on ‘Tango
Whitehall Street Filled
With Autumn Shoppers
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 are reordering certain lines
already. That, to any one acquaint
ed with the retail business, is the
most emphatic presentation l 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 ai 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 w'e 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 crowded. 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 since
their organization.
The Board of Education, antici
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
lights, electric bells, electric clocks,
telephones and all other modern con
veniences.
The chair of English and history
recently made vacant by the death of
Miss Naomi Wells is being tilled tem
porarily by Mrs. C. F. P&ttillo. of West
Point.
Mr. Walter P. Thomas, who is now-
serving his seventh year as super
intendent, is devoting his time and
efforts for the continuous growth and
betterment of the schools.
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, wno 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 comedy which
he has completed for t lie 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
Hair Electric Shocks
Make Old Barber Quit
Current From Customers’ Heads
Makes Him Nervous, He Says,
in Retiring.
Early Trade Opening
Amazes Col. F. ./. 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-dime of 1862, which he last last
spring while planting the melon patch
The Juices of the melon had bright
ened the coin until it looked as If it
was newly minted.
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.” he 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 shocks
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,
i will send 50 representative men in j
I a special car. YVayeross and Albany
I also will send specials.
Indications are there will he 400
j civic leaders at Macon to launch the
‘.State Chamber of Commerce, which
I 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 th~ 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
i 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 th*> Alabama Bankers’ Association.
A dozen Georgians have been asked
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 j
Madiosn.
Many Cities to Take Part.
The following cities will send rep
resentatives:
Albany, Americus, Athens, Atlanta,
Baxley, Brunswick, Bainbridge,
Barnesville, Olarkston, Crawfordville,
College Park, Columbus, Dublin.
Douglas, Dawsonville. Eatonton,
Fitzgerald, Griffin, Kirkwood, La-
Grange. Lithonia. McDonough, Ma
con. Madison, Moultrie. Newnan,
Ocilla, Springfield, Swainsboro, Toc-
coa, Union City, Vienna, Waycross,
Hawkinsvifie, 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
Chamber of Commerce
Prophesies Rapid Growth
As head of a life insurance com
pany and president of the Chamber
,.? Commerce. Wilmer L. Moore 1m® 1 buxines
exceptional opportunities to study the
trend of events and the condition of
From rather an apprehen-
F. J. Paxon is amazed at the early
opening of the fall trade.
“I was surprised," says Mr. Paxon,
"to return here in August and find
fall ready-to-wear goods moving well.
Millinery is moving particularly ear
ly. There has been a good increase
in sales volume. Both the number
• - ■ i the i\.rage amount of
sales has 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
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
at which to marvel.
"Georgia is to be envied, and noth
ing at the conference of Governors
in the West attracted more atten
tion than Governor Slaton's speech
in which he extolled the virtues of
his State "
THIS WEEK
BIJOU
MATINEES DAILY 2:30
NIGHT SHOWS
FOURTH WEEK OF THE
JEWELL - KELLEY COMPANY
PRESENTING THE THRTI.I.ING SENSATIONAL
MELODRAMATIC SUCCESS
A MAN OF MYSTERY
The Most Mysterious Detective Story Ever Given the Stage.
DON'T MISS THIS ONE.
2
THIS
WEEK
LYRIC
MAHNEES--TUES.
THURS., SAT.
ARTHUR C AISTON
PRESENTS
ESTHA WILLIAMS
SUPPORTED BY EDWIN WALTER AND A SUPERIOR
CAST IN OWEN DAVIS’ STARTLING DRAMA
"A MAN’S GAME"
NEXT WEEK : THE CONFESSION
> »$ • a
ASHEVILLE, Sept. 13.—Ghostly in
appearance, a strange light, seen al
most nightly, is gaining materially in
brilliant*' 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. Claywell 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. Claywell.
Arose From Mountain.
"The night I first saw the strange
light I was out in the onen on Rat
tlesnake Knob, it was exactly 10:05
o’clock. 1 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 tu
be swinging, pendulum-like, and then
went upward a distance of about 200
fee:.
"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 wits 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
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 are
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, 1
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 whicii
they were aimed.
. ♦
X
- •
formal pledges of members who will
attend.
They include R. F. Gllliem, John I.
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.
T