Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-05-23
PROSPERITY IN SOUTH
UNEQUALLED IN YEARS,
4 BRADSTREET MEN SAY
SuperintendentS Attending
Meeting Here of Southeast
ern Division Are BubbIing
Over With Enthusiasm

lIenuentS attending the annual meeting
in Atlanta Monday of the southeastern
ldivision Of Bradstreet's commercial agen-
lcy, agreed that the south was today ex-
lperiencing an era of prosperity I'M
leuualled since the year 1907, and they
Unanimously forecasted that this great
era would continue up to and after the
conclusion of the European war.
These men are the business prophets
of the country. They make it their
business to meet once each year and to
discuss and study business conditions.
Every community gave optimistic re-
ports. Tampa and Jacksonville are CIV
ing the 81 should worry smile to the
whole country and shrugged their Shout
lders in independence. Not only is Flori-
da thriving agriculturally. but tourists,
estimated by Superintendent w. l.. Leh-
man, Of the Tampa agency, to number
more than 200, 900, dropped a bank roll
in Florida the last season estimated by
Mr.. Lehman to have been in the neigh
borhood of $3O,000,00O.
! Mobile and Birmingham haven't known
what hard times are for almost a year
Savannah and Macon are progressing
steadily in business, building and real
lestate development. Augusta has never
mourned over her fire loss and an in
spired citizenry there is busy building
up the city.
/ NATURAL PROSPERITY WAVE.
/ The prosperity wave in the south, as
explained by James z. c. Pedder, SUPER
intendent of Bradstreet's southeastern
division. with headquarters in Atlanta
| and in whose offices in the Empire build
| ing the meeting was held Monday, Is
purely a natural one. 1t is natural, he
says, by reason of the fact that the
south has been serving its own people
while the north and east and the middle
west have been thriving on temporary
boom due to munition plants and man
ufacturing establishments grinding
wheels to send merchandise and ammu
milton to the warning nations in Eu-
rope.
The south has taken a very small part,
according to Mr.. Pedder, in the manufac
ture of anything to be shipped across
/ the water.
"I believe that the southeastern states
will be in the near future in the best
economic condition of any section in the
country" said Mr.. Pedder.
"Our section is probably the only one
that has not benefited from the war.
| War brides probably have enriched in
dividuals but they have never financially
benefited any section of the country.
| There IS always a reaction to set In.
1t is inevitable when the war ceases.
A most serious proposition will have
to be worked out by the north and east
after the war. Values will have to be
readjusted: vast armies of workmen
must go back to a lower wage scale
and tens of thousands will be thrown
out of employment.
'The south is on a safe and sane ba-
sis. Our opportunity is golden to con-
tinue our great era even after Europe
lays down it's arms"
FLORIDA MANS REPORT.
Said Mr.. Lehman, superintendent of
the agency at TAMPA: During the win
ter season, Florida entertained over 20O,-
900 tourists who spent in the neighbor
hood of $50. 100000 The citrus crop
brought good prices and the growers
are said to be in good financial shape.
The number of cigars manufactured in
Florida thus far this year has exceeded
any previous year
| George A. Follin, superintendent of the
agency at Jacksonville, reported: THE
growth of Jacksonville in the last few
years has been remarkable and yet this
city is still an infant. Jacksonville
is destined TO become the center of the
fifth largest industry in the United
States-the motion picture business This
Industry in itself will add millions of
dollars to Jacksonville. Lumber took
quite "a furry a few months back and
the result has been that the lumber
dealers have commanded their own price
for the material
Linton S. Lewis, superintendent Of the
Iagency at Macon, said: Business.
building and real estate show decided
activity. Great benefit is being derived
from water rates. made possible by
navigation of the Ocmulgee from Ma
con to Savannah. Peach crop is short,
prices are fancy, condition of the crops
are favorable and the general business
outlook for the fall is good"
| SAVANNAH PROGRESSING.
W. r. Swartout, of the Bradstreet
agency at Savannah, said: Disturbed
conditions and decreased activities in
the ocean trade is affecting the business
Of the port adversely for the time being,
and Savannah may appear quiet, but
the city is progressing steadily, build
ing substantially and taking on i'm
provements that will be recognized of
moment and value in the immediate fu-
ture.
William w. Barns. superintendent of
the August agency, said: Augusta is
gradually recovering from the big fire
of March %, 1915. All insurance has
been settled and rebuilding has been
cCmmenced Retail dealers in all lines
report an average increase of 20 per cent
/ i'm the volume of business over last
year"
Lee A. Roper. of Albany, Ga. agency,
said: The most notable thing that is
idhlnS pldC6 uOWn III my section Is the
boil weevil preparedness campaign. The
advance guard of the cotton pest has
ARRIVED. and it is expected to do minor
damage TO this years crop, but it will
not. in my territory, cause any such con-
fusion as has been experienced in Mis-
s;ssippi. Louisiana and Texas"
| J. Ralph Jones, superintendent of the
Mobile agency. reported. The substan-
Itial increases in bank deposits as indi-
Gated by statements of Nav 1, reflect
strongly the financial conditions that
exist. All lines of industry are ac-
tive and general trade is well distrib
uted and continues TO expand"
r. Frank Epperson, of Birmingham,
| states: birmingham and the contigu-
Gus district have continued the usual
! stride of progress The government has
/ completed the locks of the Warrior,
making that a navigable stream. The
steel and iron interests are at maximum
! capacity. This same condition exists
with machine shops, foundries and pipe
manufacturers"
John A. Singleton. superintendent of
! the agency at Greenville, S. c., said:
/ Textile manufacturers are working at
/ rul capacity cotton. goods and yarns
are in good demand and prices have adj
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