Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-10-06

low a fair and legitimate value for the
staple.
II might be well 10 again call attention
20 an incident which occurred last season
at Alachua. Fla, which not only convinced
the farmers OF that section OF the good
effects or cooperative action and holding
their cotton for good prices. but it culmi-
mated I'm forming in February OF this year
a state association OF the long staple pro-
'ducers Briefly. their experience was this:
Last October a number OF farmers in
AIachua county had accumulated 1000
bales OF long staple cotton for which they
had been offered Il cents per pound BY the
buyers. They decided that such price was
90 low. after investigating the probable
yield or the crop and the high prices at
which the manufactured fabrics were be-
ng offered for sale IL was decided to go
.ntO a local organization, to place their
cotton and appoint a committee from their
number to fix a minimum price on their
holdings and stand steadfast together.
The committee met and promptly fixed
the price at q cents, an advance Of cents
per pound.
The long staple buyers ridiculed the
proposition and predicted that the entire
1900 bales would be offered at a much low
er figure before the season was over. The
clubs, however. stood by the committee
and correspondence was opened with long
staple buyers in all the local markets. In
less than three months a buyer from
Blackshear. Ca. went down 20 Alachua
and bought the entire lot Of 1900 bales at
q cents per pound. putting into the pock-
cts OF the members OF that club 10000
more than they would have received had
each man sold his cotton separately at the
figures offered by the buyers. before the
club was organized.
The result OF that small cooperative ef-
fort and the success OF the undertaking
has terminated in the organization OF
state association OF cotton growers. a
strong club IN Alachua county where
splendid warehouse has been built by tn
farmers. strong clubs in other counties.
with a new warehouse at High Springs,
and other cooperative buildings OF sim
liar character and purpose In other sec
tiOns either in contemplation OF cOnstruc-
ton or already being built This senti-
ment is daily growing in the minds OF the
farmers all over the country.
was present at the state organiza ton
OF the producers in Florida last February.
am familiar with the details OF their good
work since that time. and feel assured or
satisfactory results in the future.
The short staple growers i'm the other
states can take a wholesome lesson from
this account OF the work being done by
the Florida farmers. Cooperative action
must become more general among our
people, and the construction of co-opera-
tive warehouses is essential before we can
successfully put into practical operation
the desirable plan of selling the crop
slowly. Cotton must be properly housed
and well cared for, else the gain in holding
will be absorbed I'm the relative deduction
for country damage. Small corrugated
iron warehouses on the farm, is the prop
er building. where the owner can hold HE
cotton at home.
The cost OF these buildings is small. and
is soon repaid in the saving OF the usual
charge for public warehousing and insur-
ance-
The Texas plan now being urged by the
Texas Cotton Growers association, for
each farmer 10 sell one-tenth OF his cotton
each month, will eventually bring about q
solution OF low priced cotton where the
price has been depressed by heavy receipts
and speculative manipulation OF the mar
ket. Reforms move slowly. but there can
be no question that farmers generally de-
precate the present bad system of market
Ing cotton and that they are deeply in
terested I'm this new movement which win
gradually bring system out OF chaos, and
in the end profit, where there Is now
general loss. HARVIE JORDAN.