The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-02
GEORGIA VISITOR
SEES GOOD TIMES
w. c. WOOdall of Columbus
Discusses Development
Work in Southeast

THE southeastern states enter the New
Year with a clean slate and the stage
is all set fora period of healthy business
activity" said w c. Woodall, of the In
dustrial Index. who arrived in Birming-
ham last night from Columbus, Ga.
Cotton, corn, hay and in fact all staple
crops brought record sums of money to
the southeastern section oil the country
There was not a crop failure anywhere
along the line and some of the yields
were of the bumper variety. Georgia has
Just harvested probably the second larg-
est cotton crop it ever grew, and sold it
at a record price. Alabama's present
cotton crop is bringing the state $4,000, 900
more than any other crop in recent years
All crops during the past year were pro-
duced more economically than in years
for farmers were inclined to be very
conservative The farming class got big
money for its products and proceeded to
pay its debts and get straight with the
world. This enabled merchants and bank
ers, in turn, to meet their obligations
Liquidation has proceeded on an enor-
nous scale and the result is that the
farmers and those dependent upon their
prosperity are feeling good over the
situation.
''All this creates the basis for bust
ness year in our section of the country
that should be fully normal, to express
it conservatively. The southeastern states
begin the New Year with a feeling of
hope and confidence. A great deal of
important construction and general de-
veopment work is definitely projected for
this year. Birmingham celebrated the
thirteen year by doing more building
of a spectacular character than ever be-
fore in its history-the list of new struc-
lures including the highest office build
ing in the south.
1.-The past year has been one of rather
natural apprehension and uneasiness in
the circles of big business. for national
legislation of a delicate character was in
the making. But now the tariff and cur
rency bills are both out of the way and
things are fixed for at least two years.
The present policy of the national admin
istration is hands off now that these two
bills are accomplished facts and give
business a chance. Business will respond
to this; it is already responding. The
feeling in northern and eastern financial
circles is much more optimistic than it
was just a few weeks ago. Many con-
servative people believe that conditions
in the north and east will steadily i'm
prove, and that 1914 will go down IN
American history as a period OF construc-
tive development.
Europe is already beginning to recover
from the effects of the Balkan war, which
for a time had such depressing influence
on world conditions. One of the great
European banks only recently reduced
its interest rate. Our own relations with
Mexico Were very delicate at one time
during the year. but the war shadow is
now lifting. In short, the 'hoodoo' year
did it's honest bes. to live up TO its con-
ception of what a 'hoodoo' year should
be, but it is all gone now, 1t has done
its worst, and there is no reason why,
with war clouds lifting and delicate ma
tional legislation out of the way, normal
business conditions should not prevail"