Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1920-07-14
An Appeal to Bankers of the
State.

SSSAeSs
Columbia, July 10.-An appeal to
the bankers of the state to assist the
South Carolina division of the Amer
lean Cotton Growers Association in
the campaign which it launches on
July Is for the construction of ware
houses and the securing of cotton
graders in the various counties of the
state is, contained in letter which
has been sent to them signed by Gov
ernor Cooper, ]. Skottowe Wanna
maker, president of the American
Cotton Association; R. c. Hamer,
president of the South Carolina divi-
sion of the American Cotton Asso-
citation; B. Harris, commissioner of
agriculture; j. c. Rivers, warehouse
commissioner and w. Nv. Long, di-
rector of extension service of Glenn
son College.
"To maintain profitable market
for the south's principal crop, cotton,
is the most important problem now
requiring the careful study and en-
ergetic efforts of southern people" !"
says the letter. "The main essentials
in solving this problem are as fol-
lows:
For Warehouse Space.
"First, to secure sufficient ware
house space in the hands of farmers
or of interests friendly to them, to
satisfy our warehouse needs. The u.
S. department of agriculture esti-
mates the country damage to cotton
as causing loss of $6O,O00,O00 an
nually to the growers. In addition
cotton. not stored in a bonded ware
house cannot be used as collateral
for loans. The non-warehousing of
the crop in bonded warehouses is one
of the causes of "distress cotton"
which annually brings an enormous
loss also to the south.
"Second, the cotton growers must
be urged and assisted to market the
crop over a period of IL months, in
stead of dumping 70 per cent of the
crop on the market during the fall
months as at present. If this be done
the large loans now made to cotton
mills to carry their cotton purchases
for the year would probably split
into many small loans to the pro-
ducers who hold cotton. If cotton
were marketed over long period in
stead of a short one many of the
speculative features of the cotton
business that are frequently so dis
astrous to the grower would be re-
moved. To put the marketing of cot
ton states on a sounder basis, in
other words, every line of business
now being conducted in the south is
working for its own best interest in
joining hands with those organiza-
tions now cooperating to bring about
the much needed reforms mentioned
in this letter. Urge your patrons to
warehouse their cotton as soon as
ginned and to market it gradually.
Grading of Cotton.
Third, the official grading of cot
ton, while it is still in the hands of
the producer, and the direct market
ing of cotton in quantity from pro-
ducer to spinner, must be brought
about. These things are coming and
it is only fair to the producer to aid
him in every way possible to bring
them about, especially since these
changes would be reflected in greater
prosperity of all the people. Grading
and direct marketing have already
been demonstrated in this state to
the great satisfaction of every honest
interest. 1t remains to extend this
work until it covers the entire belt.
If you are not already MEMBER
you are urged to join the South Car
olina branch of the American Cot
ton Association and lend your per-
sonal influence toward helping to put
across this work. A blank for for
your own use in making application
for membership is enclosed. In this
connection South Carolina now has
on a campaign to secure a larger
percentage of bankers as members
of the association than any other
state. Let us not fail to stand at the
head of this list as we have stood
in so many other lines"
17es 1920