Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-11-01
NEW ERA LOOMS AS TOWN
and COUNTRY COOPERATE
Campaign of The journal
and Country Bankers COM
mended by John K. OttIeyI
Head of b. S, Loan Agency
BY RALPH SMITH


standing and closer relations between
urban and rural communities is ONT
Of the most encouraging features o
the better market campaign of the
Country Bankers Association o.
Georgia and The Atlanta Journal
Unmistakable evidence OF this feel
ing has been found all over the state
and among all classes of people.
The attitude of town and country
rs communities, and the friendly
spirit OF bankers and merchants to
wards farmers, individually and as 6
class, spring from the realization
that each is dependent upon the
other.
There is an appreciation of the
iruism that the country town can
not prosper and materially develop
unless the surrounding rural dis
tricts also prosper and develop. the
merchant and banker cannot reap q
just and commensurate reward from
his labor and capital unless the
farmer is encouraged and provided
with means and facilities for improv-
ing the advantages with which ma
ture has so abundantly endowed the
state.
It is apparent from conditions
throughout the state and from the
collective and individual attitude OF
the people whom L have interviewed,
that a new era is dawning in Geor-
gia-en era dominated by mutually
and cooperation, concerted action
in the town and country by indi-
eiduals based upon mutual consider
atoms of advantage,
-, ,1l,- e
Georgia are going to practice what
they have preached to the farmers.
The doctrine of Investigation is 60
ing to apply in the cities and towns
in like proportion to which it is
practced on the farms. In a word,
the urban communities are going to
strain their energies to supply IA
eilities and to find markets for di-
versified products of the farm
4 Significant Statement
Typical of the spirit that l have
encountered in many parts of the
state, John K. 1Ottley, president of
l. Fourth National Bank of Allan
ia, declares that it is time for Geor-
gians to pull together or pull out"
Mr.. Ottley's attitude, wholly I'M
selfish and Enthusiastically patri-
otto, is calculated to hearten bank
ers, merchants and farmers all over
Georgia, not alone because of his
commanding position among the fl
lanciers of the state, but also be-
cause he is chairman of the agri-
cultural loan agency of the war fl
nance board for Georgia and Florida,
charged with the responsibility of
= supervising the extension of federal
financial aid to the agricultural in
tercsts of the southeast.
THE campaign of the Country
Bankers association and The Allan
ia journal in promoting the estab-
iishment of better market facilities
for the farm crops of Georgia is a
Splendid conception" said Mr.. Of
f1oy 1T will prove of inestimable
value to the business and agricul-
turs.l interests, and deserves the en-
couragement that I am gratified to
r. know that it is receiving.
The Publicity Invaluable
70" The publicity concerning condi-
titionS in the country and the IL
Eliminating information that is being
gathered about the inadequacy of
facilities in the cities and towns for
handling diversified crops are inval-
liable. They are awakening the peo-
pie everywhere to the acuteness Of
the situation and to the imperative
necessity of adopting measures for
its improvement. There is no better
means of curing an evil than bring
ing it TO the attention of the public.
Every one knows that the eli
mate and soil of Georgia are adapt
ed to cultivating, in commercial
quantities and at a profit, many
crops other than cotton, yet today
the unsatisfactory condition in
many sections of the state is due
TO the fact that he farmers have
stuck to cotton as their money crop
chiefly because of their inability to
market other products when they
-ra:.e them.
1T is possible, as has been point
ed out, to sell a bale of cotton at
the market price anywhere in Geor-
Eia at any time of the year, or to
properly warehouse the cotton and
% make it the basis of bank credit.
This ideal condition is not appli.
cable to any other farm crop in the
6ta {, and therein is the chief rea-
son why the farmers are loath to
abandon or curtail their cultiva-
ton Of cotton.
Should Extend Facilities
But, as l remarked, cotton is
not the only crop that can be grown
advantageous in Georgia. Indeed
thlre are other crops that are far
more satisfactory than cotton, be.
cause they are free from attack by
such parasites as the boil wevil.
NO state can raise as good, or
as many, sweet potatoes, and the
cane syrup of south Georgia is rec
ognized as among the finest in the
La;,
made in handling these products OF
the farm. but conditions respect
ing them-both as to facilities for
their handling and as to making
them the basis Of credit-are far
from satisfactory.
I'm some sections Of the state to
bacco can be grown at a profit
and it is gratifying to observe tina,
facilities have been provided, here
and there, for handling this crop. ]
may state, also, that potato curing
houses are being erected in profu
sion in different parts Of Georgia
but the plan has not been perfected
The Dairying Industry
"The dairyjng industry is still an
other thing that deserves attention
and I am pleased to note the steps
that have been taken in Turner
county for encouraging the dairy
industry. 1t should be encouraged
The climate and soil of south Geor
gia, it is said. lend themselves ad
mirably to dairying The climate
is mild enough to obviate the neces
sity Of costly barns and the soil is
excellent for the growth of such
grasses as are best suited TO graz
ing.