The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1916-01-18

lOO IlluNtI az O11NS. IL 14cS
been a process of e,olution, not only
for the system, but for all those con-
nected with its management. 1t has
not passed beyond the experimental
stage, and demonstrated the practica-
bility of successful operation. l re-
garded the small fund appropriated by
; the Legislature as set apart largely for
the purpose Of conducting vitality i'm
porant governmental experiment. At
the end of the year 1915, its first year
of operation, l think, if you will con-
slider the figures, You will agree with
me, that at the end of the year 1915,
when the cotton on storage is deliy-
cred, it will pay back to the state the
amount expended upon it, making it
self-sustaining, and that it will then
begin to pay back a sufficient amount
to reimburse the state for every dol
| lar expended upon it from its lncep-
| ton We have been put to consider
able extra expense in reducing insur-
aAce rates, and We have not charged
those getting the benefit of our blanket
policies and pro rata cancellation any
thing at all for the services rendered
A small commission from this source,
which should be charged when the in
surance plans have been entirely Pc
fected, would go far towards support
: :ng the system.
Permanent Home Needed.
In order to protect the liability of the
state, all of the negotiable receipts
are signed manually with ink by the
state warehouse commissioner. The
receipts, made out by the local man
ayers, are sent to the Office along with
a daily report, showing the number Of
tag, weight, marks and grade Of each
, bale. A representative Of my office
is on the road constantly inspecting
these warehouses to see that the num-
Der of bales reported corresponds with
the number on hand We are careful
as to the character of the men wno are
appointed managers, and take bond
from them to guarantee the delivery
of the cotton and the weights and
grades. After fourteen months of ex-
perience, l am glad to report that we
haze not had the slightest trouble in
tnis respect.
! If the state is going to continue the
system, it should have a permanent
home, where the records can be kept
and permanently filed. We are located
in the old state dispensary building,
where We have two large vaults. 1t is
essential, to- protect the state, and to
protect the holders of cotton in the
matter of insurance, that the reports
should be. kept on file where there IS
no danger of fire, and it requires a
great deal of space to do this. Fur
thermore, if we are ever going to es-
tabIish a system Of direct sales, we
must have a concentration point for
export cotton. 1t must be remem-
bered hat cotton is distinctly an eX-
port crop, and that the price OF the
cotton exported fixes the price OF chat
which enters into domestic consump-
ton. Compressed cotton, as well as
warehouse room for sorting it, is nee
essary. In my last report l called at
tention to the old state dispensary
property. This property was sold by
the sinking fund commission, and only
small portion of the purchase money
has ever been paid. l have discussed
the subject with the parties owning
this property, and I know that the state
could get it back with only a small
actual expenditure Of money. sug-
gest the advisability of an act directing
the sinking fund commission to acquire
this property, provided the terms are
not extortionate.
Compression Of Cotton.
am not urging, as l did last year,
the purchase of a recompress, because
1 find that there are several plants
which could be leased or utilized at SO
much per bale. Gae scientific solution
is compression at the gin, and have
been Investigating a gin compress
which can be put on the market at
$500, giving a greater density per
cubic foot than the recompress plants
now in use. This would settle the cues
ton Of export cotton, and l think would
add about IS a bale to the value OF
the cotton.
Election of Commissioner By People.
I suggest that the state warehouse
commissioner should be elected by the
people, as all other state officials are