The Washington times., 1925-09-19

In prospecting the economic de-
veIopn1ent or status of any large
city one of the most important
factors to be considered is the
territory surrounding the center
covered by the survey. There is
an interdependence between every
+. large center and the communities
with which it contacts which is of
the utmost importance in the eco
nomic life of all of them. The
views and conclusions of men in
intimate touch with conditions in
i:sections of the country contiguous
Ito Washington are, therefore, of
the deepest interest to Washington
business men and financiers as indi-
eating the genetal trend of opinion
in regard to influences which must
be taken into consideration in esti-
ma ting future trade and business
conditions here.
Robert G.. Hilton, president of the
Farmers Banking and Trust Com
pa;ly, of Rockville, rs an authority
whose opinion will be given the
greatest weight by those who study
economic courses and effects.
He speaks with an intimate
knowledge of conditions when he
says: az believe we are going to
have an unusually prosperous fall
in this locality. provided the prices
on agricultural products maintain
the present level, or increase.
The Importance of the agricul-
tural areas surrounding any center,
be it a country village or a great
city. may be minimized. In its
largest sense the agricultural lrc-
duction of the country is the back
bone of all national prosperity. Eco
nomists are, even now, predicting
national prosperity based largely
upon the crop outlook in all Sec
tions.
Obviously, therefore, the predic-
ton that Washington will share in
the prosperity of Montgomery
county which the present crop out
look there indicates as a result of
the harvest, is~~as logical and as
welI-founded as are the beliefs ex-
pressed regarding the general com
merciaI stimulation which will re-
suit this fall because of the present
excellent national crop outlook
President Hilton bases his opinion
upon the present condition Of the
crop and other economic ,conditioGS
and says: There is in Montgomery
county the best crop of wheat we
have had in ten years, and the in
dicatiOns are for very large corn
crop and, in addition to this, the
lower section of the county adj
jacent to the District of Columbia
is enjoying the proceeds of boom
in real estate which seems to be
spreading into the agricultural lands
i'm this section, and quite a large
amount of cash is figuring in the
transactions and finding IT'S way
into the banks of the county"
There is a distinct note of busI-
ness cheer in the statements OF Mr..
Hilton. Cheer, not only for Mont
gomery county, but for the city
of Washington and, especially, for
the business element of Washington
Whatever prospers NJ o n 6 m er Y
county must, necessarily, prosper
Washington and the growing de-
velopment of the country around
Rockville means growing business
in Rockville and an equal business
stimulation in Washington whiGh
is the logical base of supplies for
the Maryland city.
What President Hilton states in
regard to the section Of nearby ter
ritOry in which his bank is one of
the dominant financial factors is
equally true of other nearby sec
tions of Maryland and Virginia and
Mr.. Hilton's optimistic view is
backed by many business men and
residents OF districts which stand
in like relation to Washington as
does Montgomery county. His
statements, also, confirm many
opinions expressed by bankers
whose institutions are located in
this city but who, for business or
personal reasons, keep in contant
touch with conditions in the sur
| rounding territory.
When President Hilton states his
belief that I'VE are going to have
an unusually prosperous fall in this
| locality" he expresses we'll
I founded opinion which is backed by
| every required evidence and is
Shared by the financial and business
| world of Washington, for Wash
| ingtOn and Rockville react to the
same economic influences