Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1925-11-03
The Outlook
For Georgia

The entire nation is hearing
something of Georgia prosper
Gus times. They wonder if it j
permanent, if investments mad
here are safe. For an answer t.
this question they turned to Rog
er Babson, considered among tn
foremost statisticians in h
world. He was asked for a FREE
and frank statement. This state
ment he gave, part of which wa
published in some of the Stat
papers.
We have secured a copy of tn
complete text which should b,
interesting to every Georgian. l
follows:
The eyes of almost the entire ma
ton are turning toward the South.
At the moment, public interest is
focused upon Florida; but in my
opinion, the South as whole is
bound to benefit by this remark
able wave of interest, at present
concentrated in a single Southern
state.
Until the last few years, few
people Except those who have
made some particular study of To-
I cal condition) have realized the
South's great natural resources, its
exceptional advantages Of climate,
and the other factors which make
this region so important from the
viewpoint of the economist.
1t SENS safe to say, that at the
present time the country as a whole
is better acquainted with the
South and, n.Qpa.- opmtistc on Its
possibilities than at any time be-
fore in history.
Just now, of course, there is a
Juror of discussion about Miami
and other cities which having such
spectacular expansion; but to
me the significant thing is this:
More and more people after they
have mentioned Florida conditions,
begin to talk about other localities
in the South. Therefore l empha
size this point, that Florida will be
a gigantic advertisement of the
powers and possibilities of other
Southern states. | shall be greatly
surprised if this tidal wave of pub
lie interest does not spread out to
Georgia and her neighbors.
Turning to Georgia in particular,
statistics show a clearly defined
upward trend in general business.
If we take business activity in
this states, as measured by the
check of transactions of ten or
more representative Georgia cities,
we find an upward movement
which has gradually been gathering
Roadway for almost an entire year.
The recent statistics are especial
ly encouraging, as they are running
nearly 25 percent ahead of the cor
responding period of the preceding
year. Favorable evidence can be
found not merely in these figures
of general business, but also in
various specific lines. The record
which | keep of spindle hours in the
cotton mills shows an unmistable
upward tendency when allowance
IS made for seasonal variations.
Wholesale and retail trade are
gradually quickening. Gasoline
consumption is on the increase.
Employment statistics are more
favorable. Sales of life insurance
are Strengthening. The record of
postal receipts is fairly firm. The
value of Georgia's crops this year
should equal if not exceed the fig
ure of, a year ago, which in turn
was the highest since the low point
in 1921.
The South is now one of the most
interesting sections of the United
States. Current statistics point to
Georgia as Southern state which
is showing marked economic i'm
provement. In running through the
official statistics collected by the
Federal government, Georgia
ranks exceedingly high in value of
cotton, pecan, corn, tobacco, sheep,
cattle hogs, and other products. |
am impressed also by the relatively
great increase in farm acreage
during years, which is reported
for a dozen counties in the South
east corner of the state. During
the last census period, this group
of counties gained more than I6
percent in population. This COM
pares we'll even with the rather
rapid population GROWTH of the
State Of Georgia and is truly re-
markable showing when compared
with the bare 3 percent gained by
the rural population of the coun-
try as a whole, Between the two
census dates of 1910 and 1920, the
value 81 farm land in Georgia rose
from about sl4'an acre to S35. or
an increase of about 100 percent
Th' sharp rise in value
Taking the same census pexied.