Cheraw chronicle. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1896-2005, 1917-09-20
LEARN vALUEzOF COTTON
Senator Banks GiFes Farmers Some
Timely Advice.

Lley lldy lol luc LII St eAiAiS
adequate return for the labor ex-
pended in producing a cotton crop:
"On Sept. the Department OF
Agriculture of the government at
Washington issued a statement on
on cotton, in which appeared some
significant facts which should be kept
in mind by cotton growers at this
time when there appears so strong
movement to depress values. Mr..
Ansley, the assistant secretary OF
agriculture, in this statement says:
Last year American takings were
7,491,0S6, and last years exports o.
e47.165, making a total Of 13.43S,-
ESQ bales, or 939,25O more than the
estimated crop of this year. and there
is no apparent reason for decline in
American takings or exports.
"sAn increase in exports Is expect
ed with any improvement in shipping
facilities.
"If circumstances should cause a
decrease in exports there is likely to
be corresponding increase of Ameri-
can manufactures, because the world
must have clothing and its stocks
were never so low as at present.
From these facts 1t would ap-
pear that a crop of 12,500,000 or
even 100000 bales this year will
not exceed the worlds eager de-
mand, unless some unforeseen calam-
ity should befall.'
Referring to the attitude Of finan-
ciers, 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 -four is selling around Sc
per barrel the wheat growers may
confidently expect 81 per bushel for
his wheat; when -four reaches $12
per barrel he gets around 81 per bu-
shell for his wheat. To find the val
ue of cotton seed, note the market
value of oil. meal, linters and hulls,
and~aAalkoAinG.rp his you
may know what you wIil get for your
seed before the end of the end Of the
crushing season, for the supply OF
cotton seed has not yet approached
the demand for It's finished products.
For the first time in cotton history
the supply Is not equal to the demand.
Shut both eyes and ears to the art
full jugglery of figures by cotton gam
blers; hear what the American Gov
ernment through one of its great de-
partments says to the sweating thou
sands who labor to provide clothing
ard food Eyes, food, for where is a
more important article of food than
cotton seed?) for the Allied nations
IL stress Of war. Cotton is worth
thirty to forty cents per pound based
upon the market price of It's finished
products, and there is an apparent de-
mand for approximately one million
bales more than the present years es-
timated production.
1.-THE Importance Of such state
ment from such source could hard
ly be exaggerated. and should give
confidence to cotton growers who
are threatened with stampede by in
terests who hold only scare-crow
in their hands, which wears false
face of figures to conceal its real
character. For the first time cotton
has reached the plane Of other raw
material where its value may be reck-
oned on basis of the value of it's fin
ished product, and the value of its
finished product may be ascertained
hy any one who will take the trouble
to weigh bolt of common brown
skeeting, see its value in pounds. de-
duct twelve cents per pound for cost
of manufacture, an additional two to
five cents per pound for profit. which
would mean $40 to s25 per 500
pound bale. and the remainder would
indicate the value Of raw cotton,
which is at the present time over
forty cents per pound.
eff the safety of our country in
time of war demanded, l have no
doubt that growers of cotton would
cheerfully make whatever sacrifice
il price was reasonable, but neither
the government nor the public con-
sumo raw cotton; both are paying un-
heard of prices for manufactured cot
ton. The government, the public
and the cotton producer are paying
tribute to the manufacturers todoy
at rate before unknown and unlm-