Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1909-10-30
Americas, Ga, October 30. 1909.
AMERlCUS CANNOT AFFORD TO SIT
STILL,

In these days of push and progress
the man or the community that folds
hands in a spirit of complacent self
satisfaction is very apt to be distinct
ly and decidedly left in the race of
life. There is no such thing as stand
ing still in the contest for business.
The man or the town that attempts
such thing is speedily left behind A
number of half dead communities,
wasting away into a state of complete
deseuetude, are ample evidence of the
fact that to do nothing is to become
nothing.
Americas is not yet included in the
list of do-nothing towns Its progress,
it is true, the past year has not been
as satisfactory as could have been de-
sired. The year before that it made
excellent Roadway and a spirit of gen
uine enthusiasm seemed to animate
its people. This seemed to materially
ebb with the advent of 1909 1t may
have been the general adverse BUSH
ness conditions, or it may have been
spirit of dissension, or it may have
been something far worse than either
of these, the idea that Americas had
progressed far enough and that all
hands could take a long rest before
tha Daxt effort uas T,ado
All three of these things perhaps
entered into making 1909 not as salts
factory year of progress as some of
its predecessors were. But it is now
time to awaken again to the situation
as it really is, to face the future, not
with an air of complacent satisfaction
butwith determination to lose none
of the vantage ground that has been
gained. An appreciation of the condi-
tons that surround us may well awak-
en- not so much apprehensions as to
our future as the determination to
avail ourselves of the opportunities at
hand and meet the progressive and
encroaching spirit of other rival towns
with a bold front and an active and
aggressive policy that will preclude the
loss of any trade and assure the
Strengthening of our position in every
respect.
The territory of Americas is natur-
ally somewhat restricted one, but it
can be even made more restricted if
we permit it by our negligence or in
difference. Thirty-six miles to the
south of us lies Albany, a town pulsat-
ing with public spirit and animated by
an eager belief in it's future possibil-
tiles. Thirty-three miles to the east of
us we find Cordele, young STRIPPING
null of vigor and ambition. Each Of
them is building up, each of them is
aspiring to become a greater Industrial
and Jobbing point, and each of them is
IN fair way to realize its aspirations
in these directions. Looking to the
west we find the new extension of the
Georgia, Florida G Alabama affording
Richland an opportunity to expand,
and already there are reports of the
establishment of a large wholesale
grocery house at that point. All this
means additional and keen COMPETE
ton in the territory in which Ameri-
Gus has held the trade. Losses there
may be. AS these three towns develop
they will become greater magnets to
draw trade to themselves. To offset
this Americas must offer greater facil-
tiles for business, If that is necessary:
it must put forth additional and con-
tnuous efforts, and above all it must
provide for its own growth by the es-
tablishment of additional industries
here.
The man who blindfolds himself and
then stumbles into ditch awakens no
sympathy. He deserves none. Neither
does the community that shuts it's eyes
TO patent facts, ignores the warning
signs and blunders along to misfor-
tune. We all know the facts in the
case. They are as statel succincty
above. 1t is true Sumter county is de-
veloping. New white farmers are NOV
ing in, the policy of good roads will
bring others, but that is not sufficient
to assure the retention of our primacy
as a trading point in this district, to
maintain the percentage of growth we
have enjoyed in recent years. There
is only one way we can assure these
things. and that is by pulling together
for new industries, for the railway
that is to connect us with the A. B.
A, and to encourage every movement
that has for it's purpose the retention
of our present trade and the expans-
ion Of the city In any direction. Are
We going to do this or are we going
to supinely sit still and let other
competitors do these things and speed
lily surpass US in population, wealth
and business Importance?
HOW,S THISf