The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1909-08-25
TO GRADE COTTON
Eutheditees to Furnish Samples Of
Standard Grades.

In the Act making appropriations
for the Department Of Agriculture for
the year ending June 80, 1903, the Sec
rotary Of Agriculture was authorized
''to establish a standard for the differ
ent grades of cotton calling to his
assistance for that purpose expert cot
ton classifiers, by fixing o standard of
middling cotton and, using the same
as a basis, establishing a standard OF
nine different grades to be designated
middling. fair, strict good mlddllDg,
good mlddling, strict middling mid
| ding, strict low middling, low mid,
ding; strict good ordinary, and good
ordinary"
The Secretaey of Agriculture was
further authorized Ito prepare in pra-
ctical from the standard of said grades
and furnish the same upon request to
/ any person, the cost therefore TO be
paid, when delivered, by the person
request the same, and ceStified under
the sig nature Of the said Secretary and
the seal of his Department."
Carrying out the provisions of this
Act, the Secretary Of Agriculture con-
vened in the city of Washington in
February 1908, a com mittee OF cotton
experts including beside the Depart
ment experts, representatives OF the
different interests of the trade. This
committee consisted of Mr.. Joseph A.
Airey, of Jhon NJ. Parker & Co., New
Orleans, La; Mr.. James Akers, of
lInman, Akers & Inman, Atlanta, Ga;
Mr. F, M. Crump, of F. NJ. Crump &
Co., Memphis, Tenn; Mr.. e. P. Baker
of the Lawrence Manufacturing Com
pany, Boston, Mass; Mr.. Lewis w.
Parker, of the Olympia Mills, Green
Vile S. c.; Mr.. Jhon Martin, Paris,
Texas; MI. Nathaniel Thayer, of Garry
Tbayer g. Co.. Boston, Mass; Mr.. Geo
w. Neville, of Weld & Neville, New
York City; Mr.. Charles A. Vedder, Of
John D, Rygers & Co., Galveston,
Texas; and DR.. N. A. Cobb and Mr.
r. L. Bennett, of the Department of
Agriculture. The committee was as
sisted by the following expert cotton
ciassifiers: Mr.. w. P. Barbor, Of the
Classification Committee, New York
Cotton Exchange; MI. Jules Mazerat,
Chairman, Classification Committee
New Orleans Cotton Exchange; and
Mr.. J. R. Taylor, with the firm of
Wolf % Company. Dallas IeXas.
The Department furnished the COM
mittee every facility for its works
having on hand types of cotton from
the different exchanges and materials
for making up the grades as provided
by law. The committee after due
deliberation submitted "a unanimous
report, which the Honorable Secretary
has approved, fixing the grades and
making certain recomm endations in
connection there with. In view of the
fact that contracts are made for cotton
in advance of the ensusng cotton sea.
son, the committee recommended that
the grades agreed upon by the COM
mittee be not promulgated for general
use in trade transactions prior to
September l, 1910 In order. however,
for the cotton trade become fully
acquineed with the grades, the Depart
ment of Agriculture will in a short
time place sets in the hands of q limit
ed number Of associations, ORDINATIONS
exchanges and agricultural colleges for
inspection. These sets will enable the
cotton producers, cotton merchants
and spinners become familiar with
them.