Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-10-23

front. and S feet rear. These dimensions
viii give suficient space for holding thirty
bales OF cotton. and the four feet fall from
front to rear will be enough TO carry the
water Of the roof. 1900 feet OF framing
and plank will frame the building, floor
IL. and leave enough plank to strip the
sides and end and roof. placing the plank
10 inches apart to fasten the iron sheeting
20. Cost for the lumber about $l4.Oo The
cost OF enough corrugated roofing TO cover
the building will amount TO $500. The cost
OF steel sheeting for the sides. front and
rear viii amount to $500 all delivered.
Cost OF labor for building should not be
over s. 90 making total cost OF 5000. These
specifications provide for sleepers ks plac-
ed 70 inches apart to support the flooring
and SUFFICIENT framing to make the brac-
ing strong and durable. II such a build
ing were ceiled up for four feet on the
inside il would make fine room for stor-
ing wheat or threshed oats. The ware
house as here specified should be erected
at least 50 feet from any other building,
which would render IL as near hreproof as
any warehouse can be constructed. In
such a building the rate Of insurance on
cotton stored would be about $40 on the
hundred for twelve months. or at present
prices for cotton, about cents per bale
per month. Short time insurance would Of
than 10 cents per bale per month. This Is
cheaper than the rate usually charged for
storing in the public warehouses, and
there woui OF course be no charge to pay
for storage. II cotton so stored was sold
in bulk when prices suited, II would be
best to deliver the cotton at station, have
weighed and sampled there and shipped
without passing It in one door of a public
warehouse and out at the other. paying
Hw~w sw 80, r,-Fa -,
privilege.
Effect Of Country Damage.
The losses annually sustained by the pro-
ducers on account OF country damage is
enormous. What cotton there Is being held
on the farms can generally be found lying
out on the open ground without any shell
ter whatever 70 protect the staple from
the deteriorating effects OF rain, sunshine
wind and rot. Very often the bales are
left lying fat on the ground, and after two
months OF such exposure the value OF the
staple. by reason OF the damage which
follows such methods, is oftentimes re-
duced fully two cents per pound. I re-
Gently looked over a statement issued by
a prominent spinner showing the deduc-
tons, on an average. which American cot
ton had to suffer. The discounts, includ-
ing the tare. country damage and other
fixed charges. amounted to 40 pounds per
bale. The item OF country damage was
one OF the heaviest. This clearly indicates
that when the farmer sells bale of cot
ton Weighing 500 pounds that he receives
pay for only Al pounds of cotton. The
40 pounds are contributed to make up the
average losses charged up to him for the
deductions Of tare OF bagging and ties,
warehouses, insurance. transportation
commissions for buying. and country dam
age and compress fees. The present dis
counts now against US on account OF coun-
try damage could be easily eliminated IL
the farmers would exercise more care in
providing better facilities for sheltering
an protecting s--~4r cotton from the
weather. Under existing conditions. the
men who take good care of cotton are
so largely in the minority that they have
TO share in the losses or average discounts
charged up TO those who are Indifferent
and careless. I know Of no subject which
should receive more widespread attention
BY the producers than that OF providing
better facilities for protecting their staple
from the terrible effects OF moisture. rain
and sunshine. A visit to any OF the large
city warehouses late in the season when
cotton Is being shipped from the farms.
where 1t has been held, will convince any
man that the average planter seems TO
care very little about the future value of
his staple. The bales oftentimes have TO
be repicked. and heavy losses for damage
and reduction in weight must fall upon
the shoulders Of the producers who failed
to provide SUFFICIENT protection for the cot
ton on the farm. Our cotton should be
held and sold slowly, but in the meantime
We must build storage houses for II and
protect It at the minimum cost for hold
ing. HARVIE JORDAN.