The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-11-14
HELP FARMERS PROCURE LOAN
M'LAURIN SAYS HE WILL SEEK
MARKETS FOR STATE WARE
HOUSE CERTIFICATES.
WAREHOUSE Commissioner Writes Sem
tor TiIlman-Occupics Permanent
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Report for
Duty-Irying to Lease Storage
Room.

Laurin, state warehouse commissioner,
made public yesterday correspondence
had between Senator Tillman and
himself, in which the general type of
neighborhoOd warehouse acceptable to
the commissioner for leasing in the
name Of the State is described.
Mr.. McLaurin says that although
the Legislature struck from the ware
house bill the provision making it the
duty Of the commissioner to negotiate
loans or sell cotton for those whit
might have it on storage, he intends
as an individual to aid the holders
Of State warehouse receipts either iii
the borrowing Of money against their
cotton or the selling of the staple. He
suggests a basis on which in his Opin-
ion these receipts may be used with
the federal reserve bank. He asks the
cooperation Of Senator Tillman in en-
listing the good offices of Secretary
McAdoo.
'In addition to this" says the COM
missioner, las soon as 1 can get the
machinery here in running order, l
expect to visit some Of the money GEN.
tres and see what can be done in the
wayiOf straight loans on the receipts" ,"
Yesterday the commissioner moved
his office from the jefferson hotel into
the quarters leased some days ago in
the Office building Of the old State dis
pensary plant, at Gervais and Pulaski
streets. Telephone service has been
ordered, but has not yet been pro-
lidcd. John X. Aull, secretary to the
commissioner, was on duty there yes
terday and so were the deputy COM
missioner, j. A. Drake of Benefits
Vile, and the inspector Of State owned
warehouses, ]. G.. l.. White of Ches-
ter. These three at present comprise
the staff.
Incidentally it transpires from the
letter Of the commissioner to Senator
Tillman that negotiations arc pending
for the leasing by the State of the
old State dispensary warehouse for
the overflow cotton" Later" says
Mr.. McLaurin, 1.-The concentration
warehouse. with congresses, can be
developed, so that cotton from the
local warehouses can be shipped un-
der milling rates and compressed en-
route to the port. At present. how
ever, am merely trying to meet an
emergency"
Several days ago Mr.. McLaurin took
up with j. y. Kirvcn Of Darlington,
president of the South Carolina Agri-
cultural and Mechanical society. the
matter OF using the large steel exhibi-
ton building at the State fair
grounds as cotton warehouse. No
announcement as to the status Of this
project was forthcoming yesterday.
Senator Tillman writes from his
home at Trenton us follows:
"Since writing you l have it in
mind, if l can bring it abOat. to get
the farmers around Trenton to build
their own warehouse to store their
cotton. Please give me such informa-
ton as YOU possess on the following
points:
size and dimensions OF the best
form of warehouse you have consid-
cred or selected.
THE minimum and maximum num-
bcr of bales that can be stored under
one roof.
The best insurance rates. and to
whom one should apply to get data
about insurance on cotton thus
stored.
Il propose. if l can bring it about.
to have my neighbors join in and
construct u warehouse that will be ac-
ceptcd by you as state warehouse
commissioner and also by the insur-
ance companies, so that we can secure
cheap insurance rates. 1t seems that
this will be much cheaper and better
than to all depend on you to get ware
houses for the farmers. Anyway, l will
be glad to have your advice and sug-
gestions along this line. Promptness,
of course, is essential and therefore |
would be Obliged to have an answer
by return mail"
Mr. McLaurin has replied as fol-
lows:
Dear Senator: In reply to your
iaNor OF the 7th inst, beg to say that
agree with you and intend to do all
IN my power to encourage farmers to
erect warehouses i'm each community
Tor storing their own cotton. This can
De done more chCaply than i'm a CEN
tral Warehouse i'm Columbia. though
! am cndcavOring to secure the old
Ntat" diSpen@ary warehouse for the
ll.