Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1922-07-06

time late in August or early IN Sci
of ground upon which it is located ;
This was announced in private con-
versations by Major Talbot Smith, of
the U. S. army, headquarters in At
lanta, who visited Americus and
Southcr Field this week for the pur-
pose of making an inspection of
the property for the purpose of ar
ranging for its disposal. Major
Smith is in charge of this branch of
salvage work for the War Depart
nent, He stated that similar sale
would take place in Charleston. S.
c., on August 25, and that the sale
Of the depot property at Americus
would be the next sale conducted in
this section. lie went from here to
Arcadia, Fla, to prepare for a sale
Of some of the flying field property
there.
This is the first official announce
ment that it is the intention of War
Department to dispose OF any of the
grounds an buildings at Souther, it
having been previously stated that
the field, although abandoned as an
active post, would be retained as a
landing field and as a government
reserve in charge of a caretaker, with
no army personnel stationed here.
This statement still applies, except as
regards the depot 1t has been
known for some time that the con-
tents of the depot, consisting of prob
ably 1000 carloads of planes, parts
and other air service supplies, would
be disposed of by transfer and sale,
but it was not believed the building
would be sold. t&
The warehouse is large structure,
built in two sections and separate
but connecting units, on two sides
of double railroad trackage. 1t was
erected after the completion of the
flying field here, and has housed mil
lions of dollars worth of air service
equipment. Nearly $50 carloads Of
this material has recently been trans
ferred to other active posts, but sew
aral hundred carloads still remain
here, which property is to be sold at
auction here at later date.
Several local organizations and in
1ividual citizens have recently been
discussing the possibility Of develop
ng Souther Field into an industrial
plant, without any definite govern
ment announcements upon which to
base plans. The matter has been
discussed with some government rep
resentatives, and it is their private
beliefs, they have said, that part
or all of Souther flying field might
be obtained should it be desired, for
the development of a real industrial
center there, it being recognized that
more land than the four acres en-
braced in the warehouse sale being
necessary to the launching of an en-
5erprisc Of much size.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~-c~~~~~>~~
goes more into detail into such mat
ters when there is no representation
than when there is"
Discussing rate matters in general
Mr.. Perry said:
Decreases to Continue.
"In 1918 the Georgia commission
was confronted with the necessity of
increasing a great many utility rates,
due to the fact Of the abnormal in
crease in the costs of raw material
necessary in giving the service. The
commission went at this very slowly,
granting increases from time to time
Is conditions demanded. However,
since prices began to reccde, the COM
mission has for the past II to Is
months been granting decreases. This
condition viii Of course continue as
long as ten cost Of service justifies.
1t may be of some consolation to the
users Of utility service in Georgia
chat the commission has held rates,
IN a general average, for all local
utility service, to a lower figure than
any other state has enjoyed in this
section Of the country. We all want
the prices of all necessities at the
lowest possible figure, yet we realize
at the same time that the actual fair
value of the property devoted to
such service must have such a reason
able return on such value as will
justify the investing PUBLIC in MAIN
tanning the property as well as pro-
siding such additional investment as
Will take care Of the increasing de-
hands of the public for service.
capitalization Not Factor.
The commission has at no time
given consideration to capitalization
ct any company in arriving at value
for rate making purposes. On the