Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-09-02
MARKETING OF COTTON
Present System 10 Lax and Needs to
be Reformed.

FToSont oystoW " 6sS a"a "eeSs -
be Reformed.
Hon. John L. McLaurin In Columbia
Record.
The plan in the state warehouse bill
is a system Of government inspection,
weighing and grading. 1t is proposes
that 1t shall be applied to all cottSa
grown or offered for sale In the
state" This was one Of the objec-
tions urged to the bill last winter, that
this provision covered cotton not ware
housed as we'll as that in a warehouse.
Any plan to be effective must do this.
SO as to protect all cotton sellers from
undergrading. just as 1t does UNDER
weighing. A large part Of the loss to
the planter is from undergrading, not
underweighing, nor the price based on
middling. The idea is to have uni
form standard grade. At present the
buyer of cotton does all the grading so
far as the planter Is concerned. After
It leaves the hands Of the planter. then
the grading Is done by disinterested
experts in the cotton exchange. Now
under the present system this charge
for grading is paid by the planter. and
he gets none of the benefit 1t has to
be done away and the cost is deducted
Gas every charge is), when the planter
sells. Now II he pays for 1t, let 1t be
done by disinterested experts before 1t
leaves his hands. ] calculated that %
cents would weigh and grade. I am not
sure about this, but 1t conforms to the
best information that could get.
So much by way of preface to your
question about handling staple cot
ton. We cannot do 1t, with the pres
ent loose system. Last year the farm
ers lost thousands from undergrading
staple cotton. I saw some sell at Is
cents that I am sure was really worth
and probably brought % cents In Fall
River. In Marlboro last year We or
ganized what Is known as the Marlboro
Cotton association. Fifty Of US put In
500 apiece and employed cotton buy
er who was to act as our agent in fnd-
ing q market for our cotton. While We
lost some Of the $1,000. ] am sure ev-
cry man was benefited In the general
stiffening Of the Bennettsville market
more than he lost. This year We are
trying 1t on a still larger scale, profit
Ing by the experience Of last year. The
president Is Mr.. d. K. McColl, q man
Of means, and a very competent, wide-
awake cotton buyer He has gone forth
and employed at a salary an expert
long staple buyer. Every member of
the association Is morally bound to
give Mr.. McColl the first opportunity
at his cotton. He has made his ar
rangements with Liverpool and Boston
and is obligated to get US the best
price possible for our cotton. The main
advantage is this: A mill sends an
order for 1000 bales Of II inch staple.
It does not want anything but that.
Now none of US individually could fill
that order, but If there are, say 2e0
farmers and Mr.. McColl has samples
and knows what each Of us has, he can
fill the order. If take my cotton to
town with all kinds Of grades and sell
1t in a lump, such cotton as a buyer is
forced to teke that ne does not want.
Is always at discount.
I have the hope. that in time our
people will digest and understand the
state warehouse bill. What we need is
to cut out 80 many middlemen and
bring the farmer and the manufacturer
closer together to the advantage OF
grower, manufacturer and consumer. II
you are interested in the Marlboro
Cotton association, I suggest that you
write Mr.. D. X. McColl at Benefits
vile. II he carries out his plan, our
town will be the best staple cotton
market in the Pee Dee this fall. am
planting 800 acres Of staple cotton this
year, about one-third of my crop. 1t
Is my first experience. was at home
two weeks ago and 1t was as high as
my head, but not well fruited. 1t didn't
seem to me to have more than half as
much as my Toole Prolific. am plant
ing the Webber and Keenan,. I see right
now that to make it pay must have at
least fifteen cents, for there Is no use
In anybody telling me that I can make
as much to the acre as the short sta
pie. Then when you take into consid-
Grafton the increased cost in handling.
/ do not feel optimistic about 1t.