The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1907-09-20
Farmers tCotton School at Clemson

Farmers tCotton School at Clemson
In order to protect themselves from
the loss by arbitrary classification
and grading Of their cotton by some
unscrupulous buyers some farmers OF
the state made an attempt to inaugu-
rate a special cotton school for teach
ing this business, not knowing that
Clemson College was already well
equipped for this work, which the
following letter from DR.. Nell ex-
plains. It is now up to the farmers
to send up small class Of bright
young men to take this special course
that our warehouse system may be
prepared to pass upon the grades Of
their own cotton.
Clemson College, Sept. IA, 1907.
Mr.. J. c. Stribling,
Pendleton, S. c..
Dear Sir
At the last meeting Of the board Of
trustees, Col. Alan Johnstone present
ed to them your request to have estab-
lished in our textile department a
practical course in the grading and
sampling of cotton for the benefit of
the farmers Of the state. The board
referred this matter to the executive
committee to look into the entire
question and determine if such a
course was practicable without SER
ious interruption to the regular work
Of the young men who are pursuing
work in the department, and if the
committee could find that the request
of the Farmers Union could be COM
piled with to grant the same. The
executive committee held a meeting
on the 4th inst, and, after a careful
investigation they requested me to
write you as follows:
1.-There is already an excellent
course in the textile department
which prepares young men for doing
efficiently the very work contemplate
ed in the plan you unfolded to Col.
Johnstone. The farmers son who
pursues this course is ample able to
sample and grade the cotton his
father proposes selling. The board of
trustees would be pleased to know
that the Farmers Union contem-
plates opening places which will give
positions to the farmers sons who
are every year graduating in the tex
tile courses Of Clemson College.
I've are now permitting young
men from the farms and the cotton
mills Of the state to take special
courses in the textile department if
they are not able to find the time and
money to take the four years. degree
course. This short course will pre-
pare young men for the work of grad
ing cotton.
3.-There can be no objection rails
ed to a small number of farmers at
tending special practical courses if
they so desire, provided the following
facts are clearly borne in mind by
them:
1.-The department can accommo-
date only small number at one time.
The establishment Of the scholarships
in textile industry by the last general
assembly will considerbly crowd the
lecture rooms and the machines, and
we will, therefore, find difficulty in
making room for the fathers of the
boys, if they come in large numbers.
2.-There will be no room in the
dormitories for sleeping and in the
mess hall for boarding, now that we
have opened the college to 700 boys.
Therefore, if the farmers come they
will have to secure board and lodging
in the neighborhood.
Sin order to master efficiently
this subject Of cotton grading it Will
require two months or more constant
attendance at the college in daily
work. Can the farmers spare this valu-
able time from their farms? All things
therefore considered the executive
committee have thought it wise to
suggest that you recommend to the
Farmers Union the advisabiity Of
employing our graduates in this
work of sampling and grading the
cotton raised in South Carolina. In
this way the Farmers Union will be
giving employment to the farmers
sons. The committee feels confident