The Prescott daily news., 1917-07-25
PAGES WEEKLY LETTER
That New Warehouse and Gin Regu-
 lating Law

business men should know more about the new marketing and gin regulating law passed by the last legislature and now being put into effect. It is prac- tically the same aw that has been in operation In Texas since 1914 and its prime object is to facilitate the pre- paration, storage, care and marketing of farm products. Cotton being the chief product of the Arkansas farm, special provisions are set out in the law with reference to the ginning, packing, storing and marketing of cotton. The regulation of the ginning of cotton is incidental to more inn proved method of warehousing and marketing of cotton.
 The larw provides for a system of bonded warehouses and contemplates that through the operation of bonded warehouses the bulk of the cotton crop, if not all, will be eventually warehoused. The warehousing of cot ton is the first essential step in an intelligent and business-like commer- cial method of handling and market1 ing baled cotton. It is folly to under take a system of warehousing and marketing our great staple crop of cotton unless the system is complete. Any system that is complete and operative and beneficial must embrace a proper and unfoirm preparation of the product for the market. This in- wolves the ginning and packing, which the new law undertakes to regulate to the end that there may be an in- telligent, systematic method of nov
 ing the product through the organized channels of trade with the least amount of loss, waste or inconven- fence.
 Perhaps the greatest gain will be made through system of chasing and grading to be conducted by the State Department of Agriculture in Incorporation with the U. S. Depart ment of Agriculture. Expert govern ment cotton graders will class and grade all samples of cotton submitted to this department. When the owner of the cotton gets report from us giving the grade and classification of his cotton he can turn to the daily paper and see exactly what his cotton is worth. This service should enable the producer to market his cotton with a full knowledge of it's value and the saving will reach an average of $500 a bale. It is possible under the opera ton of this law for the farmer to drive his load of cotton to the gin and have it ginned, and when ginned to settle for his ginning and sell his seed on the spot. He can then take his bale of cotton to the warehouse and get his receipt and take it to the bank and put it up as collateral and borrow money to pay his store account, if he wishes. He can then send his sample to our department and get it classed and graded by government classer in accordance with government stand ards accepted by the cotton exchanges When he gets his card giving him the grade and classification of his cotton, he can look in the paper and see what his cotton is worth. He can then go to his local cotton buyer and sell his cotton and settle with the bank like a business man without having to haul his cotton to town over bad roads. If he is not offered the value of his cot ton he can hold it or look for another market. This would eventually sim plify the handling and marketing of cotton and bring the producer to the position he is entitled to occupy in the transaction, that of being the master of his own affairs.
 A copy of this splendid law, put on the statute books by Arkansas farm CTS, with instructions and blank forms for the organization of local warehouse associations will be sent to .any farmer or citizen upon request made to John H. Page, Commissioner of Agriculture.