Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1920-01-01
A THOUGHT FOR AMERICAS TODAY.

Americas has made some important strides
in a construction way the past year, but mostly IN
industrial and business buildings Very few homes
have been built and homes needed worse
thap anv other one thing Americas must have
homes if it is to grow-and we all want to see the
town grow and prosper, for only by growth can it
prosper most.
We have heard great deal during the last
wear or two about Moultrie the town which the
small packing house the citizens banded together
and built three years ago has virtually made
MouItrie hasn't let prices of material and labor
frighten her from building homes. Because the
people of Moultre have faith in the future OF
their city that will not permit them to be trighten-
ed. They are sure Of the future; they have that
type of faith that moves mountains And it is
moving them for Moultre right now. That is the
kind of faith Americas needs-we have the re-
sources natural and otherwise to back that faith.
Here are some pertinent comments what
Moultre is doing that the Albany Herald offers the
citizens of that town which may be applied with
equal pertinence here Says the Herald:
The statement is made in a MouItrie special
to The Herald that more than 800 new dwellings
have been erected in that town during the last
dwelling, Moutrie has provided accommodations
for no fewer than 800 newcomers which is
most creditable record.
These dwellings have not been built pri-
marily for investment purposes, though we doubt
not they will prove profitable such. The fact
that they have been erected is evidence of SPLEEN
didly developed public spirit among the commun-
ity leaders of Moultrie-a spirit which, as all who
know what is going in South Georgia realize is
rapidly building a city where Moutrie had her mod
est beginnings
Judged by Standards the present is,
as we have often heard said, not good time to
build" But measured by other Standards it is
time in which no community which hopes to grow
can afford not to build. Building costs are high
to be sure. Labor demands and receives double
to treble what it was paid few years ago, and
the cost of materials has advanced steadily. But
none of these will be cheaper in the near future
Neither lumber, brick, cement, tile roofing ma
terials. paints-in short nothing that enters into
building construction will soon decline in price AS
for the cost of common and skilled labor for con-
structon work no who is familiar with condi-
tons in the labor world imagnes for moment
that the scale of wages being paid will soon
decline.
1t follows that where community hopes to
take advantage of present opportunities for
growth and development it must build in spite of
the present higher cost of building Prices may
go lower in time, but the community which pro-
poses to await more convenient season prob
ably will have to wait long time.
Moutries building achievements are evi
dence of abiding faith in the town future. 1t i:
the community that believes in Itself to the extent
OF investing in itself that successfully boosts itself
The day of fairy godmothers to towns has passed
SO far as the South is concerned. and those which
receive help are those, and those alone, which
help themselves.