The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1921-01-07
PAST YEAR HAS
Been Good ONE
FOR THE COUNTY
PEOPLE HAVE PRosPERED DE.
SPITE THE SLUMP IN BuSI.
NESS DURING THE FALL.
VOLUME OF TRADE. WAS LARGE
Equalled If It Did Not Exceed That OF
the Record Year of 1e19-Banking
Capital ncreased-Farmers Made
Splendid Crops.
From Fridays Daily Herald.

(From Fridays Daily Herald.)
Despite the slump that came toward
the latter part of the summer or early
fall, the year 1920 that ends at mid
n,ght tonight has been a good one for
business in Columbia and Maury coun
ty. The merchants have probably
cqualed ire cerord volume of business
done in 1919 which will probably
stand for many years as the most
prosperous America has enjoyed. In
fact there are merchants in the coun.
ty whose volume actually exceeded
that of the previous year, But their
profits, due to the slump in prices,
will not equal the profits of last year.
Many of them were forced to sacri-
flee values but with all that there is
little complaint of the years business.
Farmers have been hit hard by the
failure Of the wheat crop and the big
decline in all farm values, At the
same time the crop yields were never
better and in part compensate for the
losses due to shrinkage in values,
The mule business has been harder
hit than any single large industry in
the county. There has been practical
II no marke for mules this fall But
the corn yield per acre was the heav-
lest in years with the exception of the
record crop of 1917. The hay crop ex-
ceeded all previous hay yields known
in the county. Oats were the best
crop they have made in long time
and pastures held up throughout the
entire summer. Dairy products have
brought fine prices all the year, and
the same is true of turkeys and chick
ems and eggs. In fact the average
price paid the farmers for poultry,
eggs and dairy products has been the
best ever known in Columbia. Taking
it all in all there is perhaps no county
nthe nation where the people have
suffered less from business depres,
sion and have had better year than
Maury county.
There has been little building in the
county during the year, in fact it is
doubtful if there have been so few new
cd in, @
were put up in 1920. A few small res
licences were constructed and some
hay sheds on the farms, but here was
nothing like an extensive building pro
cram anywhere in the county. Many
school houses were authorized, but
only a few Of the smaller and cheap
or ones were built.
: The banks have prospered as shown
ny their increased surplus and divi-
dends that have been paid. Labor has
received the highest wage ever known
since time began and until the last
month or SO there was an actual short
age of labor in Maury county.
The people of the city and county
can enter upon the new year with the
confident assurance that they have
reserves that guarantees, them against
any serious set backs in the future.
The farms are well stocked with grain
and live stock. the banks have increas-
cd the banking capital of the county
and the. merchants are on solid
ground
1t IS confidently believed that with
lower prices r.: materials and labor
in prospect there will be a building re
viyal during the coming year. This
will tend to absorb the present appar-
ont surplus of labor,