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I f\ HKAtvn »n i .\Ml\Ui\ A.\, .ULA.MA. l/A„ M AliAl. ^M'lhMIihK 14. I'.H-i. 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