Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-09-22
From Other Viewpoints
Attempting to Save $4,000. 900.
BY BRADFORD KNAPP.

II nnanclers knew that practically one cot
ton crop in every ten in the United States is
literally thrown away through bad
methods OF handling from the producer to the
consumer would 1t make any impression?
Most OF the leaks and losses in marketing
our cotton crops could have been stopped long
ago had the people been sufficiently aroused.
the public sufficiently educated. and the power
Of public sentiment sufficiently organized 10
pat stop those practices. In nutshell
that is the object OF the American Cotton AS
ISOLATION.
day in the fall of 1919 tenant farmer
in Mississippi County. Arkansas. tried to sell
I'VE baies Of cotton. For two bales he was Of
fcrcG ." cents per pound. They weighed only
G5j pounds. making the offer that time
S2os.Go. The three other bales weighed 1895
total Of s4oS,2i. II he had sold them his in
come would have been s6s5.S7. He wanted 80
cents for his cotton and hence he decided TO
hold it,
Hold /; he did. exposed to the weather, until
the fan OF 1919. This tenant farmer had good
on one point, but very poor facilities Ills
guess about the market good but his per
Torrance was poor. If stored in good
house the two bales would have brought 40
cents In the fail OF 1919, and the three other
bales would have brought 80 cents. making a
total income of S904.25.
But here is what actually happened when
the two good bales came in they were locked
2i3 pounds for damaged cotton and the grade
was cut down SO that he got only 33 cents a
round The three poorer bales were locked
90 pounds for damaged cotton, and he go; 81
cents for them. The total receipts actually
were sbi2.3t making loss of s15S.53 for his
experience. because he had not warehouse IA
clities
This is not an isolated instance. Similar
ones occurring every day In the defects
Of our cotton marketing system many OF
INC differences between prosperity and Bare
living. This tenant farmers losses had to be
handled by some bank. SO with his thousands
OF compa mons In losses 1t means something to
the bankers OF tho South. Is II nothing to you
all we that pass by?
The American cotton Association is the con.
ccpt;on Of Il number OF men banded together
90 in crest all those who make their living ont
OF cotton in setting the pathways straight so
that these leaks and losses shall not occur
II the association is able TO accomplish its Oh
jec Il VIII turn earnings back into the hands
OF INC farmer; IL viii put money in the banks:
IL VIII build roads: 1t will Improve soil fertil-
ny; 4 VIII raise standards OF living, add
food 70 our tables. cndow schools and
above all gIorify our homes in country places
% the South.
The association contemplates an organiza-
ion composed OF farmers. merchants. bankers
and business and professional men of the cot
ton growing states to meet together in one
great cooperative organization to help mold
the necessary public sentiment to carry on
.he additional work necessary. and. out OF the
strength Of it's organization and education. to
correct the evils which now exist.
There are many estimates OF the actual
lox4es due TO bad MANAGEMENT OF tho cotton