The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-04-30
SUMTER. S, e.. SATURDAY. APRIL 30 1910

VIII nc necessary that | receive COM
plete returns from every mill, and [
therefore earnestly request your
nearly cooperation, assuring you that
all correspondence and figures sub
mitted will be held in the strictest
confidence by this office.
"One of the prime objects of this
department is to endeavor to aid both
the farmers of the State and also the
manufacturers alike and, if it can be
demonstrated that cotton which has
sufficient length Of staple and
strength of fibre. equal say to the
Mississippi cottons, can be grown in
South Carolina to compete with that
now imported, the farmers of this
State, on the one hand, will reap the
benefit from the premiums in price,
whereas the mills, on the other hand.
will then be able to get their raw
supplies right at their own doors, ef-
tecting thereby not only a saving of
the freight, but also a reduced ori-
ginal cost price for raw material to
the mills, and one very important
purpose, at least, for the establish
ment of this department will have
been subaerved. We believe that this
can be done, and that it will be
done"
Commissioner Watson says con-
cerning the growth of uniform
staple:
During this year greater attention
than ever has been given to the mat
ter Of growing a uniform staple of
cotton, which would meet the re-
quirements of the standard for export
and required by the textiles of South
Carolina for the manufacture of fine
goods. Although under the United
States farm demonstration work
much has been accomplished in the
way of growing cotton with uniform
staple meeting these requirements
there is much yet to be done, and to
this end recently the South Carolina
Cotton Manufacturers Association
contributed $1,000 in aid Of the fur
ther and more rapid prosecution Of
the work the coming year.
"A marked step forward has been
takent his year also in the matter of
the grading Of cotton. At Clemson
College there has been provided a
short course in cotton grading for
any desiring to take it, which should
prove Of the greatest value.
'"The Year has been marked also
by the invention of the Green Cotton
Grader, mechanical device invented
by Mr.. l.. A. Green, of Greenvile
county in this State. The device is
such that it goes upon the market at
a reasonable figure and carries the
specimen grades set by the national
grading committee. I; Sc so arranged
that any farmer can use it, and can
-
not be compelled to sell it blindly, as
has been the case in the past. This
grading device is to be vigorously
pushed upon the market, a large
company having been formed for the
purpose, and the manufacturing
headquarters will be at Greenville,
s. G.
"In connection with this subject
Of grades and in the effort to afford
the farmer information that he should
have the department in the summer
addressed a letter to President Taft,
transmitting resolutions of the State
Farmers Union asking for the main
tcnance Of a qualified agent in the
European consuming markets who
would furnish regular reports giving
the farmers Information they should
have"
With the manufacturers interested
in the situation and the farmers be-
ing advised as to the growth of the
long staple it is expected that the re-
suit of the present agitation along
this line will be the growing of long
staple cotton for use in mills of this
State. Mr.. Williams will later issue a
bulletin on the subject.