Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1924-06-24
NOE OF THE FIRST COTTON BLOOMS ies

S0uths DuL Ine OHly wv A1koeSS
which were mentioned promin-
emily in these discussions were
North Carolina and Florida.
twenty-five years ago the
condition was entirely different,
At that time practically every
body was talking about Georgia
as the fcrem ost State of the
South. What has wrought the
change by which North Caro-
lima is now the center of New
England thought, while Georgia
trails somewhat behind? Georgia
is a wonderful State in natural
resources. 1t has enormous po-
tentialities. 1t has superb noun
tain regions and beautiful val
leys. 1t stretches from the al
most seni-tropical region of the
coast to the higher mountain sec
tions of the western part of the
State. 1t has great water pow
ers, great mineral resources and
it should have maintained its po-
sition as leader in material de-
velopment.
an 1900 the assessed value of
property in Georgia was $433,-
100000 as compared with $780,
100000 in North Carolina. In
1910 the assessed value of prop
erty in Georgia was $765,000,-
600. or S152,000,00O more than
the assessed value of property in
North Carolina. But in 1922 the
assessed value of property in
North Carolina was S2,576,000,-
600 or $1,380,000,000 more than
Georgia.
"This change is due in part to
a genuine increase in values, but
in part to a wiser system of as
easements of property.
"In 1900 Georgia had $751;
100000 capital invested in manu-
factories, or $11,000,000 more
than North Carolina. But in
1920, according to the census of
that year, North Carolina had
1921, 100000 more capital in
vested in manufacturing than
Georgia. At that time the total
capital invested in manufacturing
in North Carolina was $685.
100000 as compared with $448,-
100000 in Gorgia.
81 mention these two illustra-
lions as showing how Georgia has
permitted North Carolina to run
ahead, and yet there is not sin
gle reason based on natural re-
sources; climate or population,
why Georgia should not have
kept in the lead it had twenty
years ago. Some other reason
must be found for not keeping
pace with North Carolina, and
have not been able in trying
to diagnose the case to find any
other reason than that of con-
centration of thought in politics,
which has resulted in disregard
of law to very large extent even
by people who should have set
a better example.
If you and others who appre-
ciate this situation will concen-
trate your energies upon correct
ing this condition, and concen-
trating the thought of the people
of Georgia once more, as in for
mer years, upon business rath-
er than upon politics, you will do
a great work for your State.
please understand that
would not criticize Georgia, but
as friend tremendously in
terested in its welfare, | an
seeking to point out some of the
things which it seems to me must
be done to bring Georgia back
to the front of the column. You
have a wonderful State; a glori-
GUS region; a State of marvel
GUS natural resources; and / be-
lieve the turn has been made.
The signs of diversification of
agriculture in Georgia are in
my mind indicative of the turn
that is taking place in the
thought of the people of the
State. There is no reason for
pessimism on the part. of agri-
cultural interests of Georgia as
seems to have been in evidence
for some time, for you can dupli-
cate the agricultural prosperity
of North Carolina and of Flor
ida.
"You have great opportuni-
ties for the development of win
ter tourist hotels in Augusta.
You have been building superb
hotels in Atlanta, city which
in itself ought to be an inspira-
ton to the people of the whole
State. But some years ago you
had political demagogues prating
about this, that and the other.
They denounced industrial inter-
ests, and railroad interests, hop
ing to ride into power on the
back of their deluded followers;
and capital was frightened and
people who were thinking of in
yesting in the South turned to
the other States.
"You permitted the magnifi-
cent Georgia School of Technol-
ogy, with all of its great value
to the State, to beg almost in
vain for funds needed for its
maintenance. You permitted
your educational work to slip
back on the plea of poverty. But
poverty is not a satisfactory
plea, for the development of
education would develop your
business interests. The greatest
asset in Georgia, as of every 9TH
er State, is its young people,
and you left them to some extent
undeveloped, or you made con
ditions so unfavorable by poll
tics that you drove many of the
active, hustling fellows who