The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-09-22
LEARN VALUE OH COTTON.
senator Banks Gives Farmers Some
Timely Advice.


from Calhoun County. has issued the
following appeal to the farmers of
South Carolina and of the South,
urging that they inform themselves
as to the real value of their cotton
that they may for the first time real
ize an adequate return for the labor
expended In producing a cotton crop:
"On September 8 the Department
OF Agriculture Of the government at
Washington issued a statement on
cotton, In which appeared some sig
nincant facts which should be kept
In mind by cotton growers at this
time when there appears SO strong a
movement to dcpress values. Mr..
Ansley. the assistant secretary of ag.
riculture. In this statement says:
Last year American takings were
7.491,oSG. and last years exports S.
s47.165. making q total of 13,438.2 $50
bales. or 93S,25O more than the esti-
mated crop Of this year, and there is
no apparent reason for a decline in
American talsings or exports.
"'An increase in exports Is expect
ed with any Improvement in shipping
facilities.
III circumstances should cause q
decrease In exports there is likely to
be corresponding increase of
American manufactures, because the
world must have clothing and its
stocks were never so low as at pres
ont.
From these facts 1t would ap-
pear that crop of 12.5OO.O 900 or even
100000 bales this " will not ex-
ceed the worlds eager demand. un-
less some unforeseen calamity should
befall.'
Referring to the attitude of fin
anciers. Mr.. Ansley makes this state
ment pregnant with meaning to cot
ton producers:
"'They do not visualize cotton in
dry goods now selling upon a basis of
thirty to forty cents meaning. of
course. that cotton Is worth thirty to
forty cents per pound based upon
the market value of its finished pro-
duct.
when flour is selling around $6
per barrel the wheat grower may con-
fidently expect 81 per bushel for his |
wheat; when flour reaches $12 per
barrel he gets around 81 per bushel
for his wheat. To find the value of |
cotton seed. note the market value of |
oil. meal, linters and hulls, and
upon this basis you may
know what you will get for your
seed before the end of the crushing
season. for the supply of cotton seed
has not yet approached the demand
for Its finished products For the first
time in cotton history the supply is
not equal to the demand. Shut both
eyes and ears to the artful jugglery
OF figures by cotton gamblers; hear
what the American government
through one Of its great departments
says to the sweating thousands who
labor to provide clothing and food
Eyes. food. for where Is q more i'm
portant article Of food than cotton
seedO for the Allied nations i'm
stress OF war. Cotton Is worth thirty
to forty cents per pound based upon
the market price OF it's finished prod.
ucts. and there Is an apparent de-
mand for approximately one million
bales more than the present years
estimated production.
"The importance Of such state
mcnt from such a source could hard
ly be exaggerated, and should give
confidence to cotton growers who arc
threatened with stampede by inter-
ests who hold only scare-crow in
their hands, which wears a false face
of figures to conceal it's real charac.
ter. For the first time cotton has
reached the plane of other raw ma
terial where its value may be reck-
oned on a basis Of the value of it's
finished product, and the value of its
finished product may be ascertained
by any one who will take the trou-
BILE to weigh a bolt OF common brown
] sheeting. see Its value in pounds. de-
duct twelve cents per pound for cost
20 manufacture. an additional two tc
five cents per pound for profit, which
would mean $40 to $25 per 500
pound bale. and the remainder would
indicate the value of raw cotton
which Is at the present time Orei
forty cents per pound.
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