The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1914-02-18
Fertilizer Prices and Their
Changes.
. -. - .
10 the Editor Of The State

Of the facts as find them and to COM
ment on them. First, ] am reliably in
formed that no quotations on mixed
fertilizers would be made by any man
ufacturer until a certain date, when
all ofsthem IN the Carolinas and Geor-
gia put out the same prices. Hoping
to be able to buy cheaper direct from
the manufacturers, l asked for prices
from reputable firms in Savannah,
Charleston and Wilmington. There
was not q variation of q nickel a ton
on anything from nitrate Of soda down
to acid phosphate. All had Novem-
Der and Is and December 1 price
with s per cent. off for orders Of 40
tons or more, and 5 per cent. off for
cash May i, with per cent for cash
before May 1.
Two statesmen came to my house to
sell me and two met me in Sumter.
But as all had the same prices and dis
counts, it was not a question Of price,
but Of which brand or salesman one
liked best. 1t was stated by each that
the prices named me were as low as
any merchant or dealer anywhere,
could secure. 1t made no difference as
tons. Last FRIDAY met sales
man to try to make purchase for the
Farmers union, but when these facts
were explained TO the members and
Inv ofh In No i,u
we decided as there was nothing to be
gained by a consolidation Of business
each man would buy where it suited
him best. That night, after left Sum-
ter, was told by reliable jobber
that there had been a cut of a dollar
or two on the ammoniated mixtures
and SO cents a ton on acid phosphates.
This was again reaffirmed to me to-
night He states that prices are up 81
to $3.50 per ton above last year on the
ammoniatcd mixtures, and that he told
the manufacturers agents at the be-
ginning of the season that they would
have to cut.
Another very interesting phase OF
the matter is that 16 per cent acid Is
quoted at $3.50 f. o. b. Charleston, Sa-
vannah or Wilmington, and $3.50 for
~ per cent kainit for cash, while the
cash prices Of the fertilizer compan-
les are much more. One salesman said
lie did not see how 1t could be done.
Taking the yer best time prices
made ME by dealer, better than the
prices by the manufacturers, found
that on a bill Of 5 tons kainit, 10 tons
acid phosphate and six tons nitrate Of
soda the farmer for whom was ligur-
ing had traded seed for meal he would
save $95.i0 to borrow the money at
the bank at s per cent. and pay cash
for his kainit acid and soda. On his
acid he would save $3.50, or $3.50 per
ton, on his kainit $3.50, or $l.50 per
ton, and on his soda $35.40, or nearly
$500 per ton. But he could not make
any such saving by paying cash to the
manufacturers, unless price cutting
gets to be general and active.
see that the farmers around Cedar
Springs, in Spartanburg county, have
made careful investigation Of the
fertilizer situation and their conclu-
sions are the same As mine, viz, that
If there Is not a trust there certainly
Is a gentleman's agreement to make
an abnormal profit on fertilizers, mod,
ifleG only by the demand Of the farm
crs to do without unless prices are
made more nearly to correspond with
the prices of the raw material.
In one way the farmers and the
fertilizer men are antagonistic, but
In the broader sense their interests
are mutual. Prosperous fertilizer
manufacturers do not mean prosper
Gus farmers, If extortionatc prices Of
fertilizers, make the manufacturers
prosperity But prosperous farmers
do make for a prosperous fertilizer
trade on n smaller margin Of profit
The interests of the many farmers are
Of more Importance to the county at
large than the exorbitant profits OF
the few who are in the fertilizer trade.
1t Is important that this matter be
looked into right away, and | would
suggest that you invite the giving Of
information by every one who can
throw light on the subject for farm
ers are now making their contracts
and while few big farmers may Sc
cure some rebates, the great mass Of