Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-07-24

a bale of cotton below the cost OF opera
ton In order to injure a competitor is
hurtful 70 any community and the patrons
Of the ginnery must in the end suffer. No
man can do a successful and satisfactory
gin business who undertakes TO cut the
price OF ginning below the cost OF opera
ton. or below the point where tair
profit cannot be realized on the investment
under proper and economical administra-
ton. The rapidly growing competition In
the cotton oil mill industry and the recent
action OF the square bale compress assoc
citation TO build costly and elegantly equip
ped gfnneries at important cotton points,
present two matters OF serious moment
TO the general ginning public, which should
not fan to have attention at the coming
convention.
Cotton seed oil ginneries are not built
for profit on the investment 20 be realized
from the ginning and baling Of cotton un-
der the roofs OF their gin plants. The oil
mill ginnery Is primarily intended 10 Sc
cure seed for the oil mill, and the profit
on the ginnery IS a secondary eonsidera-
ton The profits ultimately are realized
from the manipulation OF the seed into
its by products under the roofs OF the oil
mill plant The oil mill people openly ad-
init this and state that the necessity OF
the situation forces them into the gin bus
mess in order to secure sufficient seed 10
meet the demands OF their OIL mill plants
wherever they are located In competitive
sections. If the present system OF erect
ing oil mill ginneries continues on the
present scale not many years viii eiapse
before their gin plants will control mo-
nopoly of the gin business in this state,
and other cotton producing states also.
At first blush II would appear to the
average man that IL the elegantly equip
ped and attractive oil mill ginneries get
control Of a large bulk Of the gin business
by cutting Down prices for ginning now
and driving out competitors at the same
time paying market prices for all seed
offered for sale at their ginneries, that II
would be a good thing for the producers.
And temporarily Il might be, but I have
always been opposed TO monopolies in any
shape, and firmly believe that in the end
II left unchecked, that any kind Of mo-
nopoly will take advantage Of their power
and bleed the people. Perhaps more
general building Of small oil mills In local
communities for the purpose of crushing
the seed produced in such sections will
eventually obviate the fears OF the larger
mills ultimately getting control Of the
first handling OF the cotton crop on its
way TO market.
Another Factor Of Importance.
The oil mill people build splendid gin
plants and are ever ready to present all
the facilities for ginning and baling cot
ton which the people demand and for this
they are to be highly commended. An
other new factor now merging into the
gin industry are the owners and lessees
OF the square bale congresses. The At
lantic Square Bale Compress association
Is entering the gin business from very
different motives from those actuating the
cotton seed oil mill owners. There is now
competition in the system of baling cotton
which IS highly Objectionable to the
square bale compress association. In inn
portant cotton neighborhoods. where these
improved round bale presses are being
located IN the gin plants Of local ginners
the square bale compress people are erect
ing large ginneries for the purpose OF
forcing the square bale on the farmers
whether they want IL or not. The other
ginners not so much interested in any
particular form OF bale or package, are
putting In both the round and square
bale and are leaving II with their Gus
toners 20 test the merits Of the two sys-
TENS and adopt that one which is most to
their financial interest Round bales can
not be recompressed and the square bale
compress loses about 50 cents on every
bale put up on the new round bale sys-
tenn. AS this new system Is rapidly grow
ing into popularity, the square bale peo-
pie are now entering the field as ginners
OF square cotton in order to check as far
as possible the adoption OF the new sys-
TEN by the farmers. Another important
matter for consideration by the conven-
ton OF August 7th Is % pass suitable res
olutions endorsing the efforts now being
made by the United States census bureau
department at Washington to secure
prompt and correct reports from ginneFs
each month. covering the number Of bales
ginned the preceding month. II these
reports are promptly and carefully sent
into, the department the statistics will be
of untold value to the farmers. We can
by January know the exact size of the
crop, and not be left helplessly speculat-
ing on its size. which the buyers of the
country use to our disadvantage to de-
press prices. The ginners and cotton pro-
ducers have a close community OF inter-
ests. and the ginners can by organization
be Of great benefit TO cotton producers.
It is 20 be hoped that Georgia ginners
will take deep interest in the meeting
called at Macon. and that the convention
viii be a large one In attendance. The
columns Of this paper are open to the gin
ners for the expression OF their views on
these subjects or any others that occur
20 them with reference TO the advance
ment Of the ginning business Of the state
That the objects and purposes Of the con-
vention can and should be made OF great
interest and benefit 10 the gfnners and cot
ton producers OF the state, no one will
deny. HARVIE JORDAN