The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-10-20
COTTON CAMPAIGN
IS ON IN EARNEST
BUY-A.BALE MOVEMENT Is PRO
CROSSING STEADILY IN
RICHMOND.
COMMITTEE AT WORK
MAYOR AINsLIE WRITES TO B0s-
TON MAYOR SUGGESTING EN-
TENDED USE OF COTTON
PRODUCTS.
COMMITTEE AT WORK

The cotton buying campaign was
launched In earnest yesterday. when
the soliciting committee, composed CT
representatives Of every line of bust.
ness and professional iactivity, set
forth In a systematic way to secure
purchasers for the South's great staple.
Not only did the committee get to
work with gratifying results, but
Mayor George Oinslie took a step that
may mean the larger consumption or
cotton products in this country from
now until such time as the world
markets are reopened. Mayor Ainslie
wrote to Mayor Curlev. of Boston,
telling Of the movement OF Southern
-four manufacturers to boost the use
of cotton.
From both sides of the cotton
market question Richmond Is now
busy. Not only are Richmond people
buying Gotten by the bale, but they are
creating a new demand for the use
OF cotton goods by replacing certain
other materials with cotton.
Chairman Percy G. Christian. of
the local committee, finding purcaas-
ers of cotton. yesterday afternoon
stated that the success of the first day
has been gratifying and he Is confident
that Richmond will do It's share in
relieving the cotton grower. mum
Der OF orders for bales of cotton Were
also received from persons and firms
outside Richmond. who believe that
the buy-a-bale movement will go tar
toward clearing UP the present crop.
Mayor Ainslie's letter to Mayor
Curley is interesting. in that 1t shows
that what Southern manufacturers are
doing manufacturers IN other sections
re ~an .4F
follows:
October 10. 1914.
Hon James NJ. Curley.
ty= Mayor OF Boston,
Dear Mr.. Mayor want TO make
/ a suggestion to you and to leave 1t TO
your discretion how to bring il to the
attention of the people of New Eng
land If you think 1t worth while.
The United States consumes about
40 per cent of our cotton crop. and II
lis now In our power enormously 10
increase the products thereof by using
them In many instances in which
heretofore other products have been
used. and thereby relieve not only the
situation in which the grower finds
himself on account of the European
war but that OF the cotton manu-
faeturers themselves who will he ad
verscly affected by the general de-
/ preston all over the cotton section.
unless some way be found to take mp
the present crop. or more OF Il than at
the present rate will be norm ally
/ taken.
The suggestion is this: That your
manufacturers use cotton product
wherever possible in packing their
4 own products. l know one firm in .he
West. Ballard e. Billiard Company. (
Louisville. Ky, which has increased
its use OF cotton bags $625 per day.
/ Whereas they were formerly using
( $4,000 worth OF cotton goods per
year in the packing of their products.
they are now using at the rate of $751;
500 worth. Although they only used
-four bags prior to the war. they are
now using cotton bags for feed. covers
/ for small bags and for bakers bags.
and are thereby making grass grow
where none grew before. The Dun. =
mills. of this city. are doing the same
t thing, and have already increased
their use of cotton bags to the extent
of s300 a day. They have Just made
one shipment of $4,000 barrels OF -four
/ all packed IN cotton bags
There are many things that are
not now packed in cotton that can he
so packed which would raise our own
consumption of our crop by more than
| so per cent.
/ New England can WELD immense
power In this movement, and 1t is
plainly to its interest to do so.
/ VERY truly yours.
/ GEORGE AINSLIE.
/ Mayor"