The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-23
AMERICA SHOULD
 CONSUME MORE 0F
 THE COTTON CROP
Jasper Banker Thinks This Is Solution of Problem. Letter From Ballard &
 Ballard on Subject

q am convinced that the only solution of the cotton problem is to be found in the increased consumption of cotton by Amer icans.''
 This was a statement made yesterday by A. s. Preston, banker of Jasper, who was a visitor to the city. We have got to increase the domestic consumption of cotton." he added, ''and thereby create a home market that win | consume the supply. My information iE
 that some reporter in Georgia city con | ceived the 'buy-a-bale movement. and | although there was never any merit in the proposition, we all know how it spread. If The Age-Herald would start a campaign for cotton clothes for south ern people, advertising that all travelling men wear cotton or kahlSi suits and that the retail merchants should demand that the drummer be dressed in cotton clothes
 when they call on them, l believe the paper would do a great work for the southern farmer. Tn this connection, I have received an interesting letter which is self explana- tory. and l believe it contains the most feasible solution of the cotton problem" One Firms Solution | The letter in question was from Ballard & Ballard of Louisville, and was ad-
 al essed to the Commercial Bodies of the South" It follows: ..as as l This is a concrete suggestion for the
 relief of the cotton section. Please bring 1t to the attention of the officials of your city who are interesed.
 "The United States consumes 10 per cent of our cotton crop, and we see no earthly
 reason why this should not be increased so much that 1t will be unnecessary to im-
 port much. if any. jute from India.
 investigations should begin at home. and we were surprised at finding that our own firm could increase its consumption of cotton goods over 100 per cent. To illustrate; We have discontinued the use of jute bags for feed sacks. for burlap | covers and for makers flour sacks. and
 have substituted cotton sacks There fore, today this mill is consuming every "A hours the following:
 "(a)-$600 worth of cotton flour bags. "(b)-s200 worth of cotton feed bags 'tc)-$400 worth of cotton covers for small bags.
 "(d)-$25 worth of cotton bakers bags. Total. $l225 worth of cotton sacks con sumed each day.
 Others Can Help Two weeks ago we were using each day only the article marked (a). The re- suit Is startling. Every Jobber, retailer and baker in your town should demand that his flour and feed come In cotton, and not in burlaps. The expense Is lit- tie more for cotton. but a broad minded mill figures that 1t gets it's money back and more because of the increased pros. perity enjoyed by the cotton section,
 Furthermore. sugar. fertilizer. grain, produce, etc. can just as well be packed in cotton as in burlap. The producer will use cotton if the jobber demands it. so we say it is strictly up to you. Remem- Der that this would bring the United States consumption from 40 per cent of the total crop up to 50 per cent Surely it Is worth striving for. Please have your newspapers take it up.
 "Cotton mills are hardly operating 12 hours They should operate 24 hours. Bear in mind that in two weeks time Ballard has made a change in his pack ing methods which means that instead of consuming $lS.000 worth of cotton goods in a year, we are consuming s367,500 worth. What Ballard has done, every other mill can be forced to do.
 Can We count on your cooperation in this great movement? America raises not one pound of jute, and she does raise cot ton"