The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1917-02-03
COTTON GRADE LOSSES
Amounts to Millions of Dollars IN
Southern States.
Producers Can Have Large Share IN
Improving Conditions-Great and
Inconsistent Variations in
Prices Paid.

,Pr.nared by the United States Depart
ment Of \ Agricultural
Tho more or less general failure "f
cotton buyers and cotton producers 10
take grades into account in the prl-
mary sales of the fiber probably results
I'm losses to the growers amounting |"
millions Of dollars each year. stud
les of market specialists OF IN" De-
Dartment in representative towns III
the nine principal cotton producing
states of the South Indicate that the
losses probably totaled seven ana a
half million dollars in 1884 alone
Cotton producers themselves can
have a large share in improving these
conditions. The growers should IA
miliarize themselves with grades and
should insist that the proper claSSifi-
cation be given their bales by buyers.
The economic importance of securing
proper ginning. adequate haling ana
covering. the proper storage also
should be recognized.
Great Variations Found.
Surveys conducted by the special
ISIS have showed that there are great
and inSstent variations in prices paid
for cotton of different grades. The
average of prices on observed tranSac-
tions in Alabama for one month. for
example. as 1881 cents for strict
GOOD ordinary and 1871 cents for
strict good middling. the latter being
six grades better than the former. The
hirhor grade of cotton thus sold for
90 cents less per bale than that OF
the lower grade. when on the basis or
Naw Orleans differences, 1T was actu-
ally worth $50 per bale more. The
Inconsistencies and differences were
eSppcfallv apparent among the higher
grades above middling. This Is most
unfortunate since il shows Il failure IN
recognize the value of Improvement
of cotton varieties 10y growers and in
effect puts premium on careless and
Indifferent farming.
Marked differences in the prices
paid for cotton Of the same grade in
the same markets on the same day
also were disclosed by the survey. Thu,
mfddlinC cotton of | 1-16 inch staple
in a certain market brought Is cents q
pound. while middling Of rs inch sta
ME at the same place and on the same
day brought only 1905 cents. The lat
Ter cotton should have brought one
half cent more than that of the short
or staple bale. Therefore. if the ! LII
inch bale brought its true value th'
other bale sold for ut least $3.50 he
low its real value. While all varia
tions observed were not as great n!
this. wide differences were found il
numerous instances in every stat,
where Investigations were conducted.
Geographical Price Variations.
Inconsistencies in the valuation o
tinged and stained cotton also wer
observed. the differences made in som
, cases between two bales Of cotton q
the same grade on the same marke
being greater than the amount pal,
for the cheaper bale.
The survey showed that for tn
some grades the prices paid were or
the whole considerably greater in III
eastern cotton states than in thoS
west of the Mississippi. These differ
enceS. according 10 the specialist,
!, were much greater than differences i
freight rates To mills alone would aC
count for The other factors in favO
of the East are believed To have bee
the direct purchase by mill buyers. tn
existence of good storage facilities III
availability of relatively cheap none!