Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-06-15
CONF IDENCE IN
BUSINESSHERE
SEEMS GENERAL
What the Pessimists Say Can be
ReconciIed With Optimism
by Sound Reasoning.
BY M. A. ROSE,

Bankers, real estate men, mer-
chants and business men generally in
Atlanta, have come forward during
the past week TO express their con-
fidence in the present and future
prosperity of the South.
Their expressions ring with sin
cerity. Retail merchants are par
ticularly emphatic in declaring to
the world their faith in Atlanta.
Sales, they say, are ahead Of 1912,
in itself a most prosperous year. \
large proportion of these sales are
for cash. Collections are good on
the balance.
Heads of the city's great financial
institutions say they have found their
funds adequate to meet all demands
from customers.
All of this is contradictory TO the
general tone of financial newspapers
in the East. It contradicts, too.
much talk heard on the streets since
the first of the year.
How is one to reconcile the indigo
and the roseate?
The answer need puzzle no bust
ness man. There are two ways Of
viewing the situation. Whether bull
or bear, one can find arguments, and
one extreme is as bad as another.
Georgia. says the bear, had a
poCc cotton crop last fall. Money is
tight. Credits have been curtailed.
Wall Street is drepessed. Collections
are poor. Building is falling off The
real estate market is in the dol
drums"
The Bull Arguments.
Says the bull: This is going to
be a splendid crop II has been work
ed to perfection. Ii is thrifty. The
farmers have buckled down to ener-
getic work and have spent less money
on the crop than within the memory
of man. Last years crop was close
to the ten-year average. The trou-
BILE was psychological. The de-
creased yield followed a bumper crop.
and the extravaganza which always
ensues when the farmers are flush
caught them unprepared for an aver
age crop.
Economy has followed, which has
restricted somewhat the buying from
the country merchant. The result is
not unsatisfactory. The merchant
himself is cleaning off his shelves,
selling necessities stock that he has
tdIIltU AoI years iISltdu VI Audhlils
up with new stuff.
city trade is good and viii con-
tinue good. Wall Street is depressed,
but that is Of very little concern 20
Atlanta and the Southeast. which IS
crop country, not a region inter
ested in securities, of the Wall Street
type.
conservative business men have
been able to get from the banks thc
money they needed. If banks have
refused money, IL has been for un-
wise speculation, ill-timed expansion,
or untried enterprises
The bull seems to have the best
Of It,
The cotton crop in the Southeast
promises as well as any crop of re-
cent years. Average weather from
this time forward will bring a SPLEEN
did yield. The outlook is particular
ly encouraging because Of the care
full preparation Of the soil and the
conscientious labor expended on IL
since planting.
And with a good crop. under the
smallest encumbrance known in
years. the Southeast this fall Will
experience prosperity enough TO van
quish the worst croaker who ever
lived
Recent rains have stimulated trade
unbelievable. Talks during the week
with such diverse interests as stove
manufacturers. hardware merchants,
dry goods jobbers, grocers and cloth
ing men brought out this informa-
ton