The Carlisle independent., 1920-10-28
URGES FARMERS TO PICK cor
 TON
Holding Movement for Cotton Prop erIy Protected Would Be Much More Beneficial Than the
 Non- Ginning Movement
By D. c. MELTY.

iDy Ds V. " Gl41
 Vice President and General Manager.
 The American Cotton Association urges all cotton growers to take ad vantage of the present favorable weather conditions and rush picking with all possible speed, for the best of the crop of high grade white cotton is to be had while the good weather lasts, and it would be a great misfor- tune if bad weather, such as that which prevailed last year, should set in with more of the crop in the field than is absolutely necessary. Another thing to be urged is the prompt gin ming of all cotton as it is picked, for most farmers can easily provide shell ter for their baled cotton, while seed cotton is difficult to handle and hard CT to store satisfactorily. Above all things, baled cotton should be stored in the dry, preferably set on poles under roof so that 1t may not be ex posed to rain or subject to moisture from the ground. We know that the average farmer has no protection for his seed cotton, also that if it is not picked and ginned, it will depreciate rapidly, and he will lose much in grade and price. Not only this, but when roads are bad, it will be difficult to haul the cotton to the gin and to mar ket The banks and merchants have incurred a heavy expense in financing the present crop and the best way to enable them to continue is through constructive rather than destructive methods. Unless warehoused, cotton depreciates rapidly. The holding
  tected in warehouses, would nave a much more beneficial effect upon the market and upon crop values, than the non-ginning movement which would result in depreciation of grades or the actual destruction of the crop in the fields.
 The American Cotton Association has devised a thOusand-bale emer- gency warehouse to cost $500, scores of which are being erected through out the state by local units. Cotton stored in these warehouses is the best possible collateral, when bonded will carry a low insurance rate and can be protected at a cost far below the actual loss if the cotton were unpro- tected. Such a course will assist the grower in securing fair price, plus a reasonable profit for his crop, and there will be none of the economic loss that would result from unwise ill-advised and destructive methods. The American Cotton Association is an established business concern, des- ignated to provide practical method by which the farmers may secure their just rights.
 I have been advised that certain in surance companies fearful of cotton and gin fires, such as have occurred in other states, are considering the advisability of discontinuing the writ ing of insurance on cotton. With this possibility confronting them, cer- tain bankers have become alarmed over the standing of their loans on cotton, should the insurance compa- nies contracts be cancelled on cotton already carrying loans. Were the in Surance contracts cancelled, cotton would immediately become hazard ous collateral from the bankers stand point and much cotton now being held would be forced on the market, thus entirely undermining the present prices which are already too low. The American Cotton Association has made a great effort to improve cot ton handling by making it less haz- ardous and enabling the lowering of insurance rates and the expense of providing means for the insuring of cotton It has sought to encourage the holding of the product by those who are able to do so, and when they are compedlled to sell to secure bet ter prices. Any activity which would even tend to raise cotton insurance rates would be detrimental to the in terests of every cotton producer. Sane business methods must control in the crisis which now confronts the indus try.