Western Carolina Democrat and French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1913-1915, 1914-11-26
PROSPERITY ERA AHEAD.
W. T. Gentry Preiicts Wave of I'm
PARALLEL Scope.
(Louisyille Courier-Journal.)

louisville Courier-Journal.)
An era of unprecedented prosperity
in which Louisville, the State and the
entire South will share will begin in
this country within the next year, in
the opinion of w. T. Gentry, president
Of the Southern Bell and Cumberland
Telephone and Telegraph companies.
Mr.. Gentry visited the city yester-
day and devoted much time to a study
of local business and financial condi-
tions, calling on a large number OF
bankers and business men of his ac-
quaintance. He said he observed that
conditions were steadily growing bet
ter here, and that at present the sit
uation was much more than a shade
better than two months ago. Mr.. Gen
try departed last night, beginning an
inspection tour. He will go TO his
headquarters in Atlanta, and from
there will continue his trip through
the South, one purpose of which will
be to determine the financial require
nlents of his company in the larger
cities.
M r.Gentry came to Louisville after
completing a trip through the East,
where he made financing arrange
ments for the company throughout Its
system. He said he had no difficulty
in making the usual arrangements,
but that a slightly higher interest rate
was required. He visited a number
of the general feeling throughout the
country was steadily growing better.
eft will be no longer than a year."
said Mr.. Gentry, when this country
will be the. cock on the walk. In six
months we will be beginning to adjust
ourselves on a large scale to the con-
ditions brought about by the war
abroad. In my earnest belief, a few
months more will bring prosperity
prosperity greater than the country
has ever known.
"For the present, however, we must
continue to suffer in some measure.
We must first learn how to tax sad-
vantage of the opportunities ppEned
to us by the a It is regrettaole
that the war should be, but it is a
natural consequence that trade adj
justment should follow. !
'aMy attention is continually being
called to instances where manufac-
turers are discovering that ingredi-
eents, for their produce, heretofore OBJ
tanned from Europe, a be manufac-.
tured, and manufactured at a profit, in
this country. The reason these things
have been provided by Europe in the
past has been that in many cases b
cost of manufacture was very law and
American users found it, easier to i'm
port them than to undertake to manu-
facture them. Now, with the war
shutting off supplies of such materials,
manufacturers are turning to the re-.
sources of this country and are find
ing manifold opportunities for profit.
"It makes no differences which side
wins in the present conflict, a year
will bring unusual commercial activity
in the United States. The nations of
Europe at wal cannot possibly, even
though the war ends now, bring them
selves backto normal within that time.
Incidentally, my unbiased opinion is
that the allied forces can never b d
the Germans. They may drive them
back to German or Prussian soil, but
there will the advance stop-and Ger
many can rely Upon its resources
long enough to guarantee h holding
of her possessions.
Another conviction I have is that
the country will receive a large influx
Ct desirable immigrants within two
! or three years."
Mr.. Gentry expressed the belief that
the cotton crop of next year would be
substantially smaller as a result of
the present cotton situation, which
has stimulated measures for d~iversifi-
ed planting. Already, Mr.. Gentry
noted cotton prices show Improvement
end believes they will go no lower.