The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1922-04-06
Not a New Idea.

Not a New Idea. +.
There is nothing new about the
cooperative marketing. The farm
ers and producers of several coun-
tries in Europe have been engaged
for many years m cooperative mar
keting, and have made great sue
cess. In some countries the farmer
or producer gets as much as 85 per
cent. of the retail price of the arti-
Gle, while in America the farmer does
not average more than 35 per cent,
according 10 statistics of the depart
ment of Agriculture. From this
statement it is obvious that consum-
ers may be able to pay less price
for an article, aRd at the same time
the farmer or producer can obtain
a very much greater price than he
is now getting. When cooperative
marketing becomes general and ef \
fective this will be the result.
More than one million dollars OF
farm produce is sold annually through
cooperative marketing in the United
States at present. We knew very lit
tie about such methods in the south,
especially in this state, out in many
of the western states sixty to one
hundred million dollars worth OF
produce was sold comparatively in
1921. The fact that the idea and the
practice is growing, and for the first
time in its history has the endorse
ment of the entire government, from
the president of the United Statea
down, shows that it must be success
ful where it has been practiced. a
About year ago the tobacco grow
ers Of the Eurley district Of Kentucky
began this question. A sign-up oil
about 80 per cent. was obtained and
the organization was perfected LAST
December, which was right in thf|
middle of the marketing season. Thdl
association did not begin to receive
tobacco until in January. Under thia|
handicap, however, the success has
been great. The association received
and bought from the farmers about
one hundred and twenty million|
pounds. The association was organic
ed under one general head, with Mr.!
]. C. Stone as president and man
ager. There was one subdivision of
director of warehouses, another of the
leaf department and another of field
work. The warehouses department.
took over about one hundred and twen-
ty warehouses, which were used for
receiving and handling tobacco.
The leaf department constituted
fifty-two grades of Burley tobccco.
The farmers graded their tobacco
themselves according to the types, or
it was brought in and graded in the
warehouse. At the height of the sea-
son farmers were notified on which
day to bring their tobacco in order
to avoid confusion and a block; later
ON in the season notice was done away
with, and they brought it whenever
it was most convenient. Upon the
receipt of the tobacco in the ware
houses, as soon as it could be graded,
which was usually the same day that
it was brought in, the farmer receiv-
ed an advance upon their tobacco in
cash, and was given receipt for
the tobacco delivered showing the
number of pounds, grade and the
amount advanced. sI might state that
the amount advanced upon the re-
ceipt of the tobacco this year was
almost as much as the farmer rel
ceived for his entire crop last year
for the same number of pounds.
I have had the pleasure of meet
ing Mr.. Stone, a number of bankersl
from Kentucky, a good many tobac-I
co buyers from this and other states,
as we'll as some of our warehouse
men, and I have yet to find a man
who did not pronounce the Burley
Marketing association success.
The tobacco association, of which
we are all members, has not been
fully organized, but the officers who
have thus far been elected and the
board of directors are making prog
ress, and are giving the matter their
closest attention and their best
thought.
It is very likely that our associa-
ton will be handled and managed in
practically the same way as the Bur
ley was conducted. v :" =. La'.;
however, that it will be greatly tel