Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-02-21
StatiStician Sees

tlCle to Inc Atlanta journal, OUT
lines conditions in the south as fol-
lows:
"Have Travelled these last two
weeks from Maryland to Florida,
and then westward through Geor-
gia, Alabama and Mississippi. I
left Washington in two feet Of snow
and arrived in Florida to find the
roses blooming and the trees laden
with oranges. Truly this is a Won
derful country. Although 1 have
been in Europe many times 1 fail to
see why any American has to go to
Italy, France, or any other coun-
try to get fine climate. However,
the purpose Of this review is not
to talk climate.
Conditions are surely better in
the South Atlantic states than they
were a year ago. At that time it
was truly pitiful to see the distress
among both the rich and the poor.
Like an epidemic the business de-
preston when it struck the south,
showed no favoritism. Rich and
poor, young and ole, were all hit to-
gether Virginia, North Carolina,
and northern Georgia showed more
Improvement than does the rest of
the south. The best cities for sales
are Richmond, Va; Greensboro and
Charlotte, N. c.; Charleston and Co
lumbia, S. c.; Columbus Augusta
and Atlanta, Ga. Each one of them
will show much better business III
1922 than 1921.
FLORIDA is not included in the
above list as-With the exception of
the northern part-there has been
no real depression in Florida. If
Florida were in the western part OF
the country | should say it will sure
ly be hit by the depression wave
some time within the next two
years. But considering the fact that
the present depression started in the
east and that the south has already
received it's blow, the southern part
of Florida may escape this time
without being hit This however,
doesn't mean that Florida will al
ways be immune from business de-
preston. Some day there will be Il
real estate collapse in Florida just
as there has always been in every
state after period of great pros
perity. Central and southern Flor
ida today, however, is one OF the
most prosperous sections of the
country. 1t is truly a wonderful
state with superb climate, a very
strategic location, while it's drained
lands are wonderfully fertile. Flor
IDA would be the empire state of the
union, capable of feeding the entire
country, if it's soil were titled ef-
ficiently. Why it's people fail TO
grasp their great opportunity IS pc
yond NV comprehension. Miami
some day will be a big city. Tampa
has great commercial possibilities,
and some large places will also de-
yelop in the center Of the state. me
center of Florida, with its high att
tude, rolling country and vast guam
tity of lakes, lies almost unknown to
the average American.
when a statistician visits ne
south he comes to the conclusion
that cotton is a weed and not crop.
Cotton grows naturally and easily in
the south as weed would grow IN
the north. If the southern planter
attended to his work as does the
northern farmer. the south Wouid
be today the richest part OF the
country The boil weeVil, which is
| fast making the raising OF cotton uA-
profitable, may turn out to be the
south's pest friend by forcing the
southern planter to break up the
| land into small holdings and diver
sjfy the crop.
1.-THE south has many advantages
over the central west. 1t possesses
great natural resources, such as
| coal and iron, unlimited water
power and splendid means of COM
| munication. In addition, the prod
ucts will be in greater demand as
| the country becomes more prosper
Gus. The per capita consumption
of wheat, the main product OF the
northern agricultural states, does
not increase much as the people
become more prosperous. The de-
mand for cotton, sugar, beef and
legumes, increase very much with
| the prosperity of the country. AS
| the people become better off they
eat more vegetables and less corn
bread and bacon. Hence, the great
opportunity in the south lies in di-
versified farming, breaking up the
large tracts into small farms, the
| introduction of good stock, and the
planting of more legumes. Stats
tics show that with the finest agri-
| cultural OppOI IuuIIISS III lllS NOe'ii
try the south today does not even
feed itself.
Il am especially impressed with
the religious interest found in the
south. This shows that there is a
| good moral foundation upon Which
to build.
ut is debatable as to whether at
present the negro is an asset or a
! liability. Some good European i'm
migration to teach him how to work
efficiently and speed him up would
help.
Besides stimulating the labor
the soil must also be stimulated by
the much more liberal use of ferti.
liZer. Just now the fertilizer indus,
try of the south is very much de-
pressed. Fertilizer manufacturers
need not worry, the fertilizer bust.
ness will come back in good shape.
eff space permitted [ should also
like to write of the wonderful for
eign trade opportunities possessed
by New Orleans, Mobile, Pensacola
Jacksonville and other southern
seaports. Trade with Mexico and
South America is quiet now, but
some day this is to revive. At that
time the south will greatly benefit.
personally, I am distinctly bull
ish on the south. The young man
of the north I should advise to &C
south rather than west. Certainly
our South Atlantic states offer, ag
riculturally, industrially and com
mercially, better opportunities tt