Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-12-27
l. Ooking FOrWard.

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II torys most joyous Christmas, Geor-
IL gia and the South now turn their
faces to a future that holds the promise OF
unbounded progress and prosperity.
In the opinion OF nearly all competent
and disinterested authorities the South to-
day controls as never before the price OF her
cotton. Regardless OF what may De the
fluctuations of the so-called exchanges
southern farmers are not going to sell their
cotton until they are paid a price suIhcleht
to cover the cost OF production plus
n reasonable profit. They have it stored IN
warehouses; they are not Obliged 10 let II go
ar a sacrifice, the world IS obliged to nave
il. and in the end the world viii pay the
farmer his price. -
excited and plant the whole face of the earth
in cotton next year, they will be in position
where they can go on controlling the price
of their product, year after year ana season
after season, growing cotton as a money
crop. growing other crops to sustain them
selves. putting their staple in warehouses
and using warehouse receipts to secure bank
leans when they need ready money, waiting
for the world to come to them ana oHer
them a price that is satisfactory.
Diversified crops have at last come to be
the general rule of up-tO-date farming in the
South instead of the exception. The advent
of the boil weevil fastened the advent OF
this vitality important change, and the great
advance in agricultural education paved the
way for it. Southern farmers are raising
more corn than ever before; are raising pea
nuts and velvet beans in their corn fields;
are raising much more winter grains than
ever before; are producing more and more
hogs and beef cattle; are producing pota-
toes peas hay, forage OF all kinds.
Especially is this widespread crop diversi-
fcation to be observed in the southern part
of Georgia, in southern AlaLc--sa and
o.
coming better and better; wind mills, water
works systems, home lighting installations,
modern sanitary facilities, big touring cars,
surfaced highways-all these and many
other evidences of progress and prosperity
abound on every hand. The Southern farm
er is every year becoming more and more a
man "who lives at home and boards at the
same place."
Agricultural schools and colleges are
going ahead by leaps and bounds. Farmers
are making special arrangements to send
their sons and daughters to these institu-
tions where young men are taught the
science and art of agriculture, where young
women are taught the science and art of
home-making and housekeeping. The only
thing that holds back the agricultural
schools and colleges is the lack of money in
state treasures to lot them go forward as
rapidly as they are ready to grow, and this
is steadily improving with increas-
ed appropriations.
Country towns are paving their streets
with brick and concrete, are installing mod
ern systems of waterworks and sewers and
electric lights, are building better school
houses and better churches and better
homes, are establishing parks and play
: rounds, are encouraging the organization
OF civic societies and wOmen's clubs and pub
lic-spirited activities of all kinds.
Added TO this tremendous and well nigh
impulse of progress, which has
cnrplV dnVplOniOp
South for the past two decades, are innumer-
able opportunities and advantages offered By
the South to the investment seeker and man.
ufacturer and homecoming farmer from
other sections of the country.
Good farm land is probably cheaper in
the South than good farm land in any other
section of the country. Manufacturing sites
and ample railroad facilities are abundant.
Water power is being constantly developed
and sold very cheap. Banking facilities are
becoming more and more adequate, while the
Federal Reserve system insures ample &C
commodation of agricultural credits. The
climate of the South is not to be equaled, all
things considered, anywhere else in the
United States.
Thousands of young men trained in South
ern environments have had the advantages of
this section impressed upon them in a last
ing way. They like the climate of South,
they like the people of the South, they per-
ceive the manifold opportunities of the
South, they want to settle here. AS pointed
out by Hon. Hal NJ. Stanley, the Georgia
state commissioner of commerce and labor
Georgia and the South ought to put every
encouragement and assistance in the way of
these men. They are the cream of the Ma
tion's young manhood, every one of them
''Selectman" in the truest sense of the word
They will make splendid citizens. The South
needs only a mixture of Yankee" enter
prise with Southern enthusiasm to make her
the greatest section of the western hem
isphere.
Today as never before the eyes OF the Ma
ton are turned toward us; as never before
in the history of any section of any country
have world events conspired to bring us OPP
pOrtunity. Let us meet the future with con-
fidence, with a serious mind &c its respon-
sibilities as well as its promises and more
than all, with the fires of patriotism brightly
burning.