Durant weekly news. (Durant, Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 190?-1944, 1914-01-02
Office Of Markets Shows how Cotton
Growers Sustain Great losses
which Might be AdvOlded by
Cooperation.

There is not single important
step OF process in the ensirs handling
and marketing scheme which owes its
origin to a special consideration OF
the producers interests is one OF the
conclusions reported by the Office OF
Markets of the U. S. Department OF
Agriculture in its bulletin No. S6. OF
November IS, 1913, on Studies OF Pri-
mary Cotton Market Conditions in Ok
Iahoma" This bulletin can be OBJ
tanned free, as long as the supply lasts
by application to the Department.
These studies began in October 1912.
They have covered 103 cotton market
towns in Oklahoma, involved the sam
pling OF over 5000 bales Of cotton with
records of date, place Of sale, and
price paid to grower. They also in
volved careful grading and stapling
of these samples, and close compar-
ison between the prices paid to the
grower and the actual difference IN
grade. As a result OF these studies,
the Investigators find that practically
every feature OF the handling and
marketing system is retained because
of the insistence of some Of the num-
erous mlddlemen and carriers who
have at best only temporary inter-
est in cotton. Even the spinners' de-
sire for better bale kept under shelf
er until It is shipped to the mill and
with a covering which would keep the
cotton clean and dry Is Systematically
ignored.
These conditions apply to many
of the cotton markets of the south.
Party as a result of the findings, the
office of Markets is now conducting
extensive Investigations in eighty typ
ical local marketing points through
out the cotton belt.
The investigatins showed the fol-
lowing cnditions: Actual quality a.
bove middling has little effect on tho
price paid to the producer because,
In general the ginners, who buy
large proportion of the cotton. pay
very nearly the same price for all
cotton purchased on a given day.
fb) In many street markets, even
where there are a large number of
buyers. widely differing prices are
paid on the same day for bales of
identical quality. There is no un-
form price even for middling cot
ton.
(c) The difference fixed by oklaho-
ma firms allow only about one half
as much premium for grades above
middling as do the differences Of
the New York Cotton Exchange.
This, however, should not be con-
strudeas an approval of the New
York fixed difference system.
(d) In actual street buying the pre-
miums paid for bales grading above
middling are far less than the local
lyadyertised differences for such
grades. In some cases the bulk OF
the cotton is bought as middling
for weeks at time, when largo
majority of the bales are actually
above that grade.
te) Except in the southeastern part
y of the state no attention is paid to
the length of tho staple in fixing the
price OF the individual bale, but GER
tain regions receive slightly higher
prices than others because of the
reputed superiority of average stap-
le
~ The cotton trade in Oklahoma
recognizes no grade above good
middling althugh many thousand
bales of higher grade are produced
From these conditions it is apparent
the Investigators say. that accurate
knowledge of cotton grading Is of little
value to the producer in marketing his
Individual crop under present con0it-
ions. The prices paid to farmers both
for seed cotton and for lint are tor
largely based in a system of averages
This works great injustice to the pro
ducers of the best grades. and dis
courages careful picking and inn
provements in varieties in length oi
staple. The greatest losses TO thu
farmers under the present system Of
marketing appears to lie in their fai,-
ure 20 secure the premium for theiT
high grades which these bales fiuallS
bring.
The farmer is not party to the
neglect which results In the most o.
the country damage. but he receives
no compensation for any extra care
which he may bestow upon the finish
ed bale. No evidence has come t.
light that any attention is paid to the
variety of short staple cotton growI