The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-07-03
PROMISE OF FUTURE
CONDITIONS OF TRADE GIVE
 SIGNS OF BETTER TIMES.
Secretary Dave Cries Avaumt to Hard Times and Declares that it is
 No Phantom. Either.

q certainly do think that comnner- cial conditions throughout the country are rapidly improving. and ought to be realized eneouragingly by the people of Montgomery" said Secretary c. Grosvenor Dave of the Montgomery Commercial Club yesterday. "A few weeks ago, 100000 cars were idle in the United States; each week now sees the total reduced.
 I saw in The Advertiser a few days ago that engines long Idle on the tracks of the Louisville and Nashville are now taking to the road. with their proper crews. Engines do not travel unless there arc things to haul. Things to haul indicate activity of production and consumption. know, confiden- tially, that most encouraging condi- tlons exist along various lines of rail- roads centerine in Montgomery, but the officials are forbidden to make known moves that are going forward. regret this, because a general under. standing of improving conditions would necessarily reassure those who are timid in Montgomery. Their name Is legion.
 we have for some weeks been pass ing through a curious period in this city. The panic is over. It never touched us. Not single value went down in this city, but when 1t was all ONCfs InpEt E6tAtlS EQ nave UCSn a GS~ action from the excitement in this city, and many. with one accord. began to cry hard times. Look at the bank de- posits. Do they indicate hard times? Look at the loans of the banks and in those you will find evidences of tim idity.
 Whether the borrower or the lender Is timid. it is not my place to say. One thing is sure, however, that timid- ffV d the ffn1n fa -fn AH Just now immense activity ought to be prevailing in this city because build ing materials are cheap and houses can be put up for very substantial percentage less than it will be possible to put them up two years from now. But house building Is practically at standstill in this city. Very unneces- sarily, too, for when you remember that fin three years over 1000 houses have been erected in Montgomery. and that there is scarcely house for rent for next October. 1t would certainly be of advantage for The Advertiser to give the cue. Build now.'
 'I know at present of two enter prises that cannot move into Mont. gomery because of the inpossibility of renting store space. favorite ex pression around my table is Cheer up. the worst is over It would be a priv ilege to shout such a sentiment into the ear of every business person of Montgomery. The beauty of the sen timent Is that 1t is true. We have every reason to rejoice that Montgom- cry came through scathless, that Ala bama came through without a single bank failure. and that we stiIl have our resources upon which which to predicate a tremendous future develop ment.
 Perhaps. I might be permitted to quote from letter written to a friend in Pensacola yesterday. The state ments contained in that letter apply fully to Montgomery and every man in 1t:
 "'You are right in saying that the difficulties along the Gulf will some day be overcome. It is along such a line of faith and vision that we are constantly preaching sermons to Mont gomery and to the whole State. If men will only rise up to a sufficient height, they will see world forces at work that are destined to bring de- velopment and greatness to every par ticle of land lying between the Ten nessee River and the Gulf of Mexico. While Pensacola is not politically part of Alabama. geographically. it's circumstances are alike and the deveI- opment that is sure to come to Ala bama must just as surely strike Pen 
 portant city along the Gulf
 "rhe thing needed Is vision. not dreams. the capacity to see a thing that is not yet but must be. There is no grander part of the country for vision at the present time than the stretch of land just referred to Some of the development may be brought to pass by broad announcements of what is coming.
 We are trying that method constant ly Much of it will be brought to pass by each individual man feeling that there is a fighting chance for bettering things lying around him and working for that chance. The whole region must be advertised together because there is prejudice against the whole region. but the betterment of a com munity must rest with the individuals or that community making the most of their forces apd giving at least portion of their time to unsslfish ser vice for public good"