The Colfax chronicle., 1900-08-04
FARMER AND PLANTER.
COTTON RAISER AND GINNER.
able Handling and Selling
the Cotton Crop.

Under this head / propose tc show
the readers Of the Southern Crltivator
from actual experience what can be ac-
complished by the combined efforts of
these two bodies. In order that my
position may be thoroughly under
stood it becomes necessary to deal in
a few personalities, for which l ask
your pardon and kind indulgel ce.
Thirty-one years ago when i was
at the tender age of twelve months,
my parents moved from Eufaula to
large farm of ante-bellunl origin, the
old family homestead, situated be-
tween Eufaula and Montgomery, Ala.
The big fields of fieecy staple and the
ola fashion cotton gin propelled by
horse power, made lasting impress
sion.
While we have made scme progrtss,
the producer has been so intent on
raising and cultivating, the methods
and customs in vogue years ago in
referel ce to preparing and marketing
have remained unchanged. AS grow
CtucI, the ucsfIC ~ 1iCip ehS 4oAAs~A
grows stronger. Acting upon these
impulses, began three years ago to
put in operation a carefully-thought-
out plan by which the farmer and GIN
ncr Ly mutual cooperation might cor
rect the evils and control the cotton
situation absolutely.
In order that my plan may be clear
and thoroughly understood, I will di-
vide it into four hecGs:
/. The modern ginnery and ware
house.
2. Where and how located.
). The bonded feature.
4. The sale of cotton.
In constructing the ginnery have
selected the best and most modern ma
cliinery for cleaning and preserving
the fiber, ginning and baling properly.
The warehouse is situated near the gin
and is part of the outfit. In con-
structing the entire outfit, il has been
done in accordance with insurance re-
quirements, in order to obtain low
rates.
In selecting a suitable location a
great many things bad to be consid-
ered. My idea was to eliminate the
expense of so much handling and to
advocate the proper protection end
care of the cotton after it has been pre-
pared for market.
First of sll a central point accessi-
Bile to all the farmers in the commu-
nifty.
Next it must be on the railroad with
side track facilities, etc., in order that
the cotton cargo from the gin to the
warehouse, from the warehouse into
the cars ready for shipment to the
spinner. All this is done by machinery
without any trouble, delay or extra
expense to the farmer.
The Bonded Warehouse: Under this
head the warehouse becomesa q bonded
institution, which is double guaran-
tee that the cotton is safe, and will be
forthcoming promptly on demand up
on surrender of the warehouse receipt.
This cotton you will note is stored
at the county warehouse for conven-
ience, and economy 70 the farmer. The
cotton receipt showing the date it was
Einned, the mark, the weight and
grade, is issued for same. Being amply
covered by insurance, backed by dou-
BILE security, afforded by the bonded
feature, the warehouse receipt i'm
nediately becomes negotiable, hence
the cotton is the best of collateral, and
will enable the farmer to secure loan
from any bank or financial institution
in the land.
At this point allow me to state that
as the warehouse was located in the
country s1ear the farmer, it became
necessary to create a first-class mar
ket ut this point. My plan being new,
i experienced some difficulty along this
line. As soon as demonstrated to the
spinner that by operating directly
with the farmer through the ginncr.
he received a superior quality of cot
ton, better fiber, and more uniform
grade, perfectly and well protected
from the weather, he at once sought
after and bought it at prices from one
eighth to one-quarter above the city
markets.
At this point, ! found strong dispo-
sition on the part of the farmer to
force his cotton on the market and
sell it an once, that is to say between
the first of October and the first of
November, in order to meet his bank
notes and store accounts. advised
against this, and offered to lend them
money on their cotton at low rate of.
interest. This proposition was accepted
When the local banks saw what we
were doing, it put them to thinking.
and in less than ten days the farmers
began to receive friendly letters from