Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-02-13
CITY SHOWN
As HUB Of
EMPIRE
First Speakers Before Regional
Reserve Board Present Strik-
ing Array Of Facts.

With one speaker after anoth-
err detailing the surprising ad-
|vantages of Atlanta as the site
for one of the nation new re-
gional banks, this city got in the
first blow, and that a telling one,
Friday afternoon in the contest
for the bank in the southeastern
district, before the regional bank
commission, made up of Secreta-
ries McAdoo and Houston and
Comptroller of the Currency
John SHELTON Williams.
Atlanta had expected to present
her claims after all the other cities
had finished, but when the hearing
began Friday at shortly after o'clock
Secretary McAdoo announced that It
had been the original intention 20
hear from Atlanta first, and that this
program would be adhered to. .....
rs big an audience as comfortably
could be packed into Judge Newman's
courtroom in the Federal Building
greeted the city's distinguished guests
when they appeared. Secretary Nc
Adoo and other members of the COM
mission conversed genially several
minutes with representatives of the
several cities and met probably a
score of leading Georgians who were
presented, and then announced the
opening Of the hearing.
Dozen Speakers for Atlanta.
An even dozen men, leaders in the
Industrial and financial life of the
city, were on hand to speak in be-
half of Atlanta. If they were taken
somewhat unawares by the placing
Oh Atlanta first on the list of cities
10 present their claims. their forceful.
lncisive addresses did not indicate it,
1 must ask the speakers to be brief
and to the point" cautioned Secre-
larry McAdoo at the opening of the
nearing. "Confine yourselves, so far
as possible, to plain statement of facts
and figures. 1t is not that we do not
are to hear oratory. but We have
not the time for It, The hearing must
De expedited as much as possible"
He then outlined wwhat he termed
Inc serious and economic problem of
choosing not less than eight and not
more than twelve cities as the sites
J Tor regional banks" He suggested
mat discussion of the makeup of
Inc reserve districts appealed to him
as really more important than city
boosting and strife among the diff
ierent municipalities for the site.
]. X. Orr First Speaker.
j, K. Orr, chairman Of Atlanta's re-
gional bank committee, was the first
% speak. He was followed by Wilmer
L. Moore, representing the Chamber
OF Commerce. Mr.. Orr outlined the
regional bank district as suggested for
The Southeastern District. 1t COM
prised seven States-Georgia, North
carolina, South Carolina. Alabama,
Florida, Mississippi and Tennessee.
Maps and charts which Mr.. Orr
submitted to the commission showed
Atlanta in the geographical center of
me district and to be also virtually in
me center of population Of this Sec
Ton. He referred to the great bank
ing facilities of the Southeastern Dis
met its rotation of crops which pre-
vent slack seasons or an "ebb' in col
'ectons, and the vast natural re-
sources.
One seventh Of Population.
This district has one-seventh Of
Inc population Of the United States
said Mr.. Orr, "and 1t has one-ninth
Of the farm products. We think you
VIII agree that this should qualify
Atlanta even though only eight cities
are chosen"
AIR. Orr dwelt at considerable
length on the high average of coilec-
IONS in Atlanta and submitted figures
rom his own business to show that
mere was no month which could be
ssarded as an "ebb" month in this
respect.
Subsequent speaker" said Mr..