Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1907-09-28

$700,000000 that must be provided
for; but if the people will make up
their minds that we have passed the
crisis the Savings Banks, Insurance
and Trust Companies and investors
will soon absorb this large amount and
relieve our banks and individuals so
that they can take care of the cur
rent business of the country with
their funds. We must remember that
they have all been sold. 1t is only a
question of placing them in the form
of a permanent investment and not
providing new funds.
1T has also been somewhat of a
question hitherto as to what the out
come Of our crops would be; now it
is pretty we'll settled that while they
may not be equal to the bumper crops
of last year they are still above the
average, and with the enormous
amounts carried over there is a great
er surplus than ever before, and
prices for them are so high that it
makes the farmers very rich. Think
of it. Corn at their door bringing so
cents per bushel and fair crop from
this year and large amount from
last year to sell. The result is the
mortgages are being paid off, new
investments are being made, and alto
gether the agricultural community,
which is the real foundation of our
wealth and prosperity, is in such
fine condition that it would be almost
impossible to have a long-continued
depression in business in this cOun-
try.
Furthermore, you must remember
there is about $1,000,O0O per day of
gold going into currency of the world,
of which we get our share, and this is
like cheering the sick man by giving
him stimulating and healthy food
that he needs.
Duty of the Bankers.
Now what is the duty of the Bank
ers today?
ITO furnish readily, and with cour-
age, the currency necessary to move
these crops, to transport them to the
foreign countries, and thus enable
our merchants to pay their debts. and
turn the exchange in favor of this
country, charging thereafter. Il reas-
enable rate so that money may at
least have it's chance. It had no
chance when rates were going at 3
per cent and 4 per cent but with the
standard rate of per cent. all over
the country the banks ought tn make
a fair return to their stockholders,
and at the same time such a rate is
not oppressive to business. Six per
cent, money in this country does not
mean bad business, but good bust
ness. No money ought to be furnish
ed for the enlargement of plants IN
the shape of current loans; al eX-
tensions should wait until The capital
of the country, seeking permanent
investments, could be used The
banks of this country should set their
face against loans for speculation or
for promotion Of enterprises. Let
the new developments wait little, let
the business people learn that the
extravaganza and wild speculation oil
the last year or two must stop and
economy must be the rule. l was
once told nmy younger days by an
older banker, who had been very
successful in the West, that there was
but one way for an individual or
corporation to get rich, and that was
by doing without things they want
ed Let the people of this country
apply this rule and they will see how
little time it takes to change bust
ness conditions from their despond-
ent and hopeless condition to those o.
energy and promise"