The Waxahachie daily light. [volume] (Waxahachie, Tex.) 1894-current, 1916-03-01
URGE FARMERS NOT 10
RAISE Allf AND HALF

way to prevent enormous losses IN
the cotton growers OF Oklahoma AMI
Texas through the CROWNS of "hsf--
iand-half' cotton during the eomine
season. according to local cotton
dealers. Some time ago the Dallee
cotton exchange undertook an ex
Iplanation TO the farmers Of the ma.
desirability and positive losses thai
will come through the growth Of
this short cotton. Information was
received yesterday that Waco. Fort
Worth, Houston and New Orleans
factors are also assisting in the cam
pangn.
Cotton buyers have advised us
that they will not buy 'half-and-haIf
at the market price" said W. c.
Barrickman, secretary CT the Texas
Industrial Congress, yesterday.
some dealers will accept it. but IL
| is sure to bring from SIS to SIS
bale less than the standard yarie-
ties. We are informed thai enc OF
the largest cotton agencies in Texas
and oklahoma, whose purchases are
among the largest in this territory.
have decided not to handle half
and-half" at any price. and will with
draw theil agents from any locality
in which IT is being extensively Of
ifercd. as soon as the fact is aseer-
tanned.
This company, so we understand.
found itself, at the close of last sea-
ison, with a number of bales of this
Gotten on hand. 1t viii be compelled
to place them on the market as
'linters' and receive some five cents
| less per pound for it than the price
paid. so their agents have been or
dered to stop buying in any market
where they may be in danger of. re-
ceiving the Objectionable staple una
wares Under these conditions one
farmer growing 'half-and-half' may
cause the buyer of large amounts Of
cotton to withdraw from the eoun-
ty in which he lives, and consequent
ly cause Inconvenience and loss to
his neighbors who may be offering
the very desirable types of long fl
bered cotton.
This movement is one OF self-de-
Tense for the cotton buyers. Cotton
machinery in Europe and elsewhere
is planned with a view of manufac-
turing standard length fiber, while
'half-and-half produces five
eighths-inch fiber. and is consequent
ly below standard Therefore the
dealers, if they arc able to sell 1t
at all, must do so at much lower
prices. They in turn pay lower
price for the short staple, and the
Texas farmer is the final and heav-
lest loser.
1.-THE law does not help; in fact
1t is specifically provided in the
cotton futures act that the staple
must measure seyen-eighths OF an
inch to be tenderable on cotton con-
tracts. So far as this act is concern
ed. .half-and-half is not cotton. Ger
tainly. with the law reading as 1t
does no one can blame the dealer
for refusing to handle this variety
Of cotton at any price.
Long experience has shown lnat
the average of lint cotton grown on
an acre in Texas is slightly less thah
one-third of a bale. Last year the
weld was les pounds, which at II
cents brought the producer S2o.lS'
II the flattering statements mace
about .half-and- half are true, the
grower would gather 1875 pounds
from the average acre. for when
al seven cents a pound lie WJc'a
receive s13.T2. and it must be re-
membered that half and-haf y
here classed az 'linters' and that the
price is ordinarily three ana louT
cents. but that seven cents is no"
being paid because it is valuable III
making explosives for the European
war When the war ends II is GER
tain that the price for hnters ana
this short-fibered cotton Will suiieT
marked decline.
1.-THE fact is, this variety OF COZ
ton is Improbable, the government
has warned against it, and its pant
ing should be discouraged. 1t shoulo
be avoided by the farmer who wouiu
make profitable crop, and especi.i-
" because the price of the crop
throughout the state may laii ="
account of this inferior grade N
the Mebane, the Lone Star and tns
Rowden. we have satisfactorily ac-
climated tynes OF cotton that VIII