Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1915-01-05
miscellaneous Readina.
STATE CANNOT LOSE
Farmers Union Desires to Improve
the Warehouse System.

Farmers Union Desires to Improve
the Warehouse System.
In the Progressive Farmer Of De-
cemebr 26, the president Of our State
Farmers Union, Mr.. E. w. Dabbs, has
some excellent comments on the South
Carolina cotton warehouse law. Among
other things, he says, After a care
full reading the act, 1 do not see how
the state can ever lose dollar. Ev-
cry official Is so hedged about and Is
required to give bond, besides being
liable in the criminal courts for any
malfeasance in office, that 1t looks
like an ideal system can be evolved
This statement helps to secure conf
dence which Is necessary to the sue
cessful operation Of any system. Mr..
Dabbs also says, Those Of US who
favor the state warehouse system be-
lieve that its greatest good will be
in direct sales from the farmers to the
spinners. It is a notable step In sys-
tematic marketing"
The bill presented to the legislature
of 1912, was q Farmers Union meas
ure formally adopted by the state
Farmers Union in their annual meet
ing. The measure now in operation
falls far short Of the plans asked for
by the Farmers Union. The origi-
nal conception was warehouses owned
and operated by the state with view
Of establishing direct trade relations
between the farmer and the spinner.
Instead Of that the legislature passed
a bill with this feature stricken out
and with such a small appropriation
that the state warehouse commission
er can only pay rent after all the other
operating expenses are met.
The state Of South Carolina has a
piece Of property in Columbia with
warehouses on 1t which should be
utilized for the public benefit. I refer
to the old Richland distillery down on
the river. This property Of about
eight acres Of land and considerable
number Of buildings not now in use
might be turned over to the warehouse
commissioner and sufficient funds pro-
vided to repair the property and build
other warehouses as needed, with
compress. A railroad track now goes
out to these buildings, which are so
situated that by lowering the first
floor and making it concrete and by
commencing at the switch and elevat-
ing the track the upper floors could
be used for storage purposes as well
as the lower floor, the buildings be-
ing equipped with electric machinery
for moving and handling cotton, grav-
ity being used to advantage in placing
same. All these considerations make
this property an ideal location for a
large warehouse syestem.
The old state dispensary property
where the state warehouse commits
sioner now has his office, could be
used to advantage with its storage
capacity increased and its facilities
for handling and shipping put in bet
ter shape.
The state could make good use Of
both these pieces Of property in the
further development Of a system
which has the promise Of much bene-
fit to the farmers of South Carolina.
It should also be made the duty
Of the state warehouse commissioner
to open up direct trade with foreign
spinners. It is true that the foreign
market is upset now by the war in
Europe, but this condition will be
changed when peace Is restored, which
we all hope will soon come. We should
plan for the future development Of the
system. The present system Is well
adapted for local warehouses in the
various counties and these ware
houses should be under the manage
ment Of local officials under such
regulations as will give to those who
store cotton the benefit of state ware
house receipts. In no other way can
the present high rates Of storage be
lessened. The state should offer the
cheapest possible rates Of storage and
to do this we should own the ware
houses.
The heavy insurance on cotton is a
great burden and we'll developed
state warehouse system can certainly
secure the best rates of insurance.
The effort which the state ware
house commissioner has made, in or
ganizing under such difficult condi-
tions, deserves the support of every
farmer in South Carolina.
j. Whitner Reid,
Sec'y S. C. State Farmers Union.