The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-01-16
PLANS MANY WAREHOUSES
Says All Realize the Necessity But Heretofore There Has Been an Ab- sence of Concerted Action
 Among Those Interested.

with damn dull auger."
 For more than a year I have devoted my best thought, time and labor for a single purpose; that is, to bring about concert of action for the establishment of a system of cotton warehousing. Whether I have struck oil or been boring at the wrong place or with a dull auger should be determined at the New Orleans cotton convention January 24 20 and 26, 19O5.
 Concert of action seems assured at this convention. It is called by Hon. Harvie Jordan of Monticello, Ga, president of the Southern Cotton Growers association. The actual growers of cotton will consti- ute the membership of the New Or leans convention. Merchants from all the eottton states and territories have been invited to attend a conference of mer- chants to meet on January 20 at the St. Charles hotel, New Orleans, at Il o'clock, being the second day of the convention. A like conference of bankers to meet at the St. Charles hotel at the same time is being called by the presidents of the bankers association of all the cotton states and territories.
 The three bodies of business men, who act together In producing the cottton crop will be called on for the first time to act together in deyising a business-like sys- tenn for marketing it.
 IS ADSoiutety NeCeSSdfJ'
 The fact that cotton brou ght r cents in February, 1904, and cents in Decem- Der of the same year, demonstrates that such a system is absolutely necessary.
 The fact that several millions of bales of cottton are now lying out, exposed to mud, rain and other detrimental weather influence, to lose 20 to 50 pounds per bale, equal even at present prices to from S1 20 to S3 a bale, demonstrates that such a system is absolutely necessary.
 The fact that this cotton crop must be held< until after the time for planting the next crop has passed, or possibly un- til the next crop natures, demonstrates that such a system is absolutely neces- sary.
 The fact that the exact number of these several millions of bales of cotton is unknown, and that the exact number of these bales of cotton should be known in order to detrmine the exact acreage which should be planted for the next crop, demonstrates that such q system is absolutely necessary.
 The fact that high rates of interest and insurance are being paid by farmers holding these several million bales of cot ton, whereas low rates of interest or warehouse receipts as collateral and low rates of interest could be had if these several millions of bales were safely stored, demonstrates that such a system is absolutely necessary.
 The fact that in November. 1898. cotton sold for cents, because there was a surplus produced, and that this surplus could have been sold for remunerative prices if 1t had been held demonstrates that such a system is absolutely neees- sary.
 The fact that the present crop Is being sold at nearly the same low rate, and that these periods of depression occur and must in the nature of things occur at a greater or less degree every year unless a businesslike method of holding the surplus each year is adopted, demon strates that such a system Is absolutely necessary.
 Endorsed by Business Men.
 The work of organizing such a system has been undertaken by the Business Mems club and the Farmers institute of Waco, McLennan county, Texas, and has been indorsed by numerous organiza- tions and by bankers and business mer throughout the whole country. This work is not my individual work. l am but the representative of these business organi- zations and bankers and merchants who believe that such a work should be ac- complished. If 1t Is accomplished, the concerted action of these three classes of people-the farmers, merchants and bankers-must be had. If this work is to be accomplished in time for the cror of 1905-19O6, then sentiment must crys. talize at New Orleans January 24, 25 and 26, and prompt action must follow the adjournment of the convention.
 This letter is written not to persuade farmers, merchants and bankers of the necessity of a warehouseing system, for practically all agree that such a system Is absolutely necessary, but it is writ ten to ask each farmer and merchant and banker who may read 1t, to realize that the accomplishment of the work will depend upon the concerted action of these three classes of men. All I can do is tc urge action with them. The immediate necessity is that every delegate to the cotton convention and every banker and merchant who expects to attend the bankers and merchants conferences called. as hereinbefore stated, to meet during the convention. give this subject careful consideration. and insist on defin. ite action at New Orleans.
 At New Orleans it is hoped that the three committees. composed of farmers merchants and bankers. respectively, will act jointly in determining what should be done, and In giving support to what ever may be determined upon as best tc be done. Unless prompt action follows the New Orleans convention, the crop oi 1905-O6 will lack protection, and the losses on the present crop will be duplicated
 But One of Many Things. This warehouse work is but one oi many things needed to perfect a proper handling of the cotton crop. The Farm. CTS union, the Southern Cotton Growers | association. the National Cotton associa- ton, the Cottton Ginners' association, the American Society of Equity, the Texas and other state farmers associations the farmers institutes, and every other farm. ers' organization through which is brought to bear upon the cotton situation | any element of thought or action for bet. ter cultural or marketing methods, should be encouraged, and each has it's well-de. 1 fined and most admirable part to play in the general movement. My efforts tc organize a system for warehousing cot ton do not conflict with, but add to, the effectiveness of each of these organiza. tions. and must receive the support of all these great bodies of farmers to ac- oomplish all my efforts are intended tc accomplish.
 I make a most earnest appeal to B, officers and members of all of these ganizations, as well as to the presidei secretaries and members of all busin
 organizations, and of bankers assoc tions, and to the farmers, merchants [ bankers as individuals, to concentr upon this warehouse movement their ergies and give to it at the New Orle convention the inpetus necessarv to