Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-08-16
Better Times at Hand


time recently in the daily and weekly
papers of the State articles gathered
from expert diagnosticians of industry and
commerce from every section of the United
States, the vast majority of which tend to
support the growing belief that better times
are at hand and that the light is breaking
after long night OF depression.
None but the most confirmed pessimists
can doubt the truth of these reports, which
come from fruit lands, the salmon streams
and the hardwood forests of the Pacific coast
the mines and lumber camps or the Rockies.
the wheat and corn fields of the Middle West,
the coal lands and the great industrial CEN
ters of Atlantic States and the cotton fields
of the South, where divers1fication IS rapidly
solving the problems which have confronted
the people of Dixie for a nalf century or
more.
Perhaps none is more significant than the
statement issued by the Atlanta Chamber Of
published as news item in the papers of the
country. It is we'll worth reproducing and
being given emphasis, and follows:
ga definite change for the better.
That statement sums up the present sit
pleted by the Chamber of Commerce of
Atlanta. 1t is not to be expected that
the money volume Of sales should equal
the volume last year, because Of lower
prices. The most striking feature of Our
investigation is the evidence of the in
creased buying power of the dollar.
Those merchants who have stressed that
point in advertising report a splendid
response by the public. Our study
cred the entire range of industry. Re-
tail business shows improvement, one
department store has actually exceeded
last years money volume Of sales and
others report the movement of a nearly
equal volume Of merchandise. Whole
salers report increased buying and de-
cidedly better tone. The automobile
business remains quiet. but the upward
turn has come with a much better basis
Of operation than heretofore.
The report goes on to show that building
especially has been on a boom, with seven
months of 1921 showing a million and half
increase over similar period of 1919, and,
taking prices into consideration only slight
decrease under 1920.
Atlanta undoubtedly has less unemploy-
ment than any city of it's size in the country
and during the past ten months it has grown
IN population where many Giles have lost.
Bank clearings for seven months compare
favorably with those for 1919, and bankers
report that business men are operating along
conservative yet positive lines. There are
practically no vacant offices here. There is
increased activity in realty circles and a
growing demand for vacant property.
This city has been most fortunate in the
diversity of it's industries and interests. With
two or three predominating industries, diff
ferent story might have to be told. For one
great plant employing 5000 men to close
down means far greater shock than for sew
eral smaller ones to suspend. Atlanta has
weathered the storm and stress in excellent
shape and therein has proven her claim to
distinction over many of her sister cities.
Conditions throughout Georgia are report
ed also as steadily improving. If the fall
crops are veil handled, in six months the de-
preston will be remembered chiefly for the
timely lesson it has taught.
These statements are not exaggerations
They tell succinctly many facts which are like
ly to be overlooked by men of sound Judgment
and vision and they emphasize more force
fully than could any number Of patitude!
and theories that Georgia and the South are
fundamentally sound from business stand
point. AS a matter of tact, the greater por.
ton of the troubles of the whole country are
more imaginary than real.
The richness with which we have beer
blessed by nature, reinforced by the sturdy
courage of the people of the South, as evi
denced more than once in great crises, in
sures far speedier return to normally thar
even our own people seem to believe.