The Little River news. (Ashdown, Little River County, Ark.) 1897-current, 1917-07-28
PAGES WEEKLY LETTER.
That New Warehouse and Gin Regu-
lating Law.

Little Rock, July 25.-Farmers and
business men should know mcTe ABOUT
the new marketing and gin regulating
law passed by the last legislature AMI
now being put into effect. 1t is prac-
tically the same law that has been IN
operation in Texas since 1914 and It's
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 cut IN the
law with reference to the ginning
packing, storing and marketing OF cot
ton. The regulation of the ginning OF
cotton is incidental to a more I'M
proved method of warehousing ana
marketing Of cotton.
The law provides for a system OF
bonded warehouses and contemplates
that through the operation OF bonded
warehouses tie tu k of the cotton crop
if not all, Will be eventually ware
housed. The Ivsrehousing OF cotton is
the first csSentla. step in an tell!SeHt
and business-like commercial method
of handling and marketing ba ed cot
ton. 1t is folly to undertake system
of warehousing and marketing our
great staple crop of cotton unless the
system is complete. Any system that
is complete and operative and benefi-
cial must embrace proper and uni
form preparation of the product Tor
the market. This involves the ginning
and the packing. which the new, law
undertakes to regu ate to the end that
there may be an intelligent, system
attic method of moving the product
through the organized channels OF
trade with the least amount of loss.
waste or inconvenience.
Perhaps the greatest gain will be
made through a system of CHASING and
grading tc be conducted by the State
Department of Agriculture. Experts
Government cotton graders will class
and grade al samples of cotton sub
mitted 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 cott9n
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 50 90
a bale 1t is possib' under the oper-
alton of this law. for the farmer to
drive his load of cotton tc, the gin and
have it gnned, and when ginned to set
tie 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 I'D as collateral and borrow money
to pay his store account. If he wishes.
He can then send his sample to our de-
partment and get it classed and grad
ed bv a government c'asser in &C
cordance with government standards
accepted by the cotton exchanges.
When he gets his card giving him the
grade and classification Of his Gotten,
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 fcV another
market. This would eventually SIM
plify the handling and marketing or
cotton and bring the producer to tire
position he is entitled to occupy in
the transaction, that of being the mast
er Of his own affairs.
\ copy of this splendid law, put on
the statute books by Arkansas farmers,
with instructions and blank forms for
the organization of local warehouse
associations will be sent to any farm
er or citizen upon request made to
John H. Page, Commissioner CT Agri-
culture.
JOHN H. PAGE,
Commissioner of Agriculture