The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1918-08-22
advertisements
N. B. DIAL EXPLAINS HIS PLAN
FOR A FEDERAL WARE
HOUSE SYSTEM.

Columbia, S. c., August 8, 1918.
have had so many requests to
discuss my views on a National
Warehouse System and the time al
lotted me on the stump is so short,
that l have decided to place my views
before the public through the col
umns Of your paper.
What we need most, at the pres
ent time, is to get our agricultural
products in shape to be used as coll
lateral My suggestion is that Con-
gress pass separate bill, authoriz-
ing National Bonded Warehouses in
which non-perishable products of the
soil can be stored, receipts to be is
sued therefor guaranteed by the Gov
ernment.
About seventeen years ago, / saw
the necessity of aiding the farmers
in marketing their crops and organi-
zed a bonded warehouse at Laurens.
This was one of the first organized
in the State. This warehouse is built
on modern designs, practically fire
proof, with the best sprinkler sys-
TEN, etc. The insurance on contents
it at an exceedingly reasonable rate.
1t has always been success fnan-
cally.
The moneyed world knows that
the cotton crop has to be marketed
with chort space of time, in order
that the farmers can meet their obli-
CATION with the local merchants or
banks, and the local banks be pre-
pared to meet their obligations for
n.
fore, the owner of cotton has to take
whatever price he can get for it. If
this price should happen to fall fifty
per cent. he has to sell. While,
am speaking of cotton l realize, of
course, that no law could be passed
governing this commodity alone.
| do not believe in appealing fer
help when one can help ones self,
but in this complex nation of ours it
is necessary for the citizens to ak
the National Government for aid
under these peculiar circumstances
If the States were allowed to issue
money, then it would not be neces-
sary to go to the National Govern
mcnt; but when we remember we
gave up this right to the general
government, and can issue money
only on prohibitive terms, we can
see the reason and justice Of asking
Congress to help us. 1t took me
some time to make up my mind that
this was the proper thing to do. We
see where the Government appropri-
ates money t oeducate us and aid us
in making greater crops. We know
of no Constitutional provision for
this; however, we are not complain
| ing, but on the contrary are thank
| full.
| great and good work is being
done, but after we are taught to
make greater crops, it would not be
wrong to help us get the best results
we could for the products of our la
Dor. By doing SO, our citizens will
be encouraged to go on the farms,
thereby improving their health and
giving employment to many millions
of idle people, and they could help
raise something to live on. This sys-
tenn would increase the price of land
give employment to labor, would
help the merchants, and would bene-
fit the cotton mills, and would draw
81 tremendous amount of trade from
the other countries of the world
which use our cotton. Farmers
would be encouraged to raise greater
crops, knowing that they could get a
fair price.
My understanding is that the Gov
ernment issues certificates for whis-
key stored in bonded warehouses. I
see no difference in this and receipts
or certificates given for the cotton
in similar warehouses, except that
the Government gets revenue out
of the whiskey, and it would be said
thtS the owners of cotton would not
want to pay tax This is true, but
they would be willing to pay what
ever expense would be necessary to
get a receipt countersigned or guar
anteed for their cotton, corn or
grain. There are three ways to ac-
complsh this.
The first is by private warehouses
similar to the one outlined above.
This method, however, is inadequate,
in that it does not take much money
to build warehouse. The capital is
too small to insure confidence. Some
time ago | listened to man speag-
ing to the farmers along this line,
and he advocated that wherever a
few thousand bales were raised, to
build warehouses. He meant well,
but evidently had not studied his
subject. 1t would not do to build
warehouses, unless they were practi-
cally fire jroof, and unless equipped
with sprinkler system in order that
the contents could be insured, and at
reasonable rate. No one would
loan money on such contents unin-
Sured. ThiS method hnuo,1n, Lola