Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1915-08-24

The Dawson National Bank, of Daw
son. Ga, has issued a letter on the
handling of the cotton crop, which will
be read with interest:
Looking back over the past twelve
months business under abnormal con-
ditions caused by the European War:
recalling the alarm and strain under
which all business operations have
been conducted, it is well that we take
stock and endeavor to ascertain why
our losses were and try to prevent
them in the future: make note of the
events of material benefit to us and
strive therefrom to secure greater re-
suits.
From the bankers standpoint we
believe the greater loss was caused by
harvesting the cotton hurriedly and
then ginning it damp, thereby produc-
ing such cotton that no American mill
cared to spin
"In previous years when cotton was
selling for 10 to Ia cents per lb. this
great loss was scarcely realized, but
when the price drops so per cent as
at the present time, the profit is gone,
besides the great loss caused by i'm
proper picking and ginning. These
methods must be changed and at
once. The banking interests are ar
ranging to take care of the cotton the
coming season; but only under certain
conditions, namely; cotton will be
carried as collateral security at &c
per pound based on white cotton and.
in proportion to grade, and grades be-
low low middling will not be accepted
at any value on basis of new loans.
This may seem arbitrary but such
is not the purpose. On the contrary, it
is to cause the people to think. Take
fourteen months to produce a crop,
then rush it to the gin hurriedly and
lose what little profit there might have
been in it. You are paying just as
much for picking as if you were max
ing good middling cotton. This is all
wrong and there is no way to con.
vince you of the fact except to dis
criminate against the low grades.
There was very little cotton harvested
in Terrell County during the last seas
an, had it been ginned in the prope"
condition, but that would have graded
as good as low middling. There is no
necessity to rush the cotton to market
so take your time and see that it is in
the proper condition before sending it
to the gin. Put it in a house or some
where, and let it go through sweat
for a few days and it will be greatly
improved in texture and sample, be-
sides no loss in weight. Be sure that
this cotton looks good to the party
who you expect to make advances on
it, else there will be nothing doing.
do not accept warehouse receipts
unless they indicate the character OF
the cotton; that is very essential. Last
fall many hesitated to turn over the
receipts to their creditors, fearing that
they might be sold out at low price;
many stood around on the streets do
ing great damage to the business in
terests by advising others not to put
up their receipts. We trust that ne
one will be so foolish as to repeat this
practice, as the people who were pro
pounding this doctrine were inall,
compelled to come up with the goods
Let US all strive to have this croI
properly prepared for market and a.
soon as the ocean channels of trade
are open, good cotton will bring mon
ey, but for poor cotton there will be n,
! demand, as the greater part of tina
J grade goes to Germany.
ITO those who will cooperate will
A