The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1922-08-10
COOPERATIVE MARKETS Open;
REPORTS ARE VERY SATISFACTORY
ALMOST 100000 POUNDS TOBACCO STATE
BY ASSOCIATION ON FIRST DAY-ADVANCE CASH
PAYMENTS TO SELLERS.

Close to 1000, 1000 pounds Of tobac-
co were handled by the forty receiv-'
ing points of the Tobacco Growers
Cooperative Association in the South
Carolina belt Monday, and from ev-
cry cooperative market come reports
of successful operation and satisfac-
tion on the part Of the member grow
ers.
Never was there more orderly
opening Of tobacco markets than
took place Monday on the warehouse
floors of the growers association
throughout the state. With tie pre-
cision of clock-work the machinery
Of the big cooperative association
moved into action without hitch,
and orderly marketing was attained
at the first days trial.
In contrast to the shouts of buy
ers, the trampling Of tobacco, the
shifting of piles and the hurried in
spection of the growers product, a
golden stream has moved continuously
from wagons to graders, from grad
eds to weighers and on to the ever
,, accumulating piles Ct the weed in the
storage rooms of the association.
Posted conspicrously in the ware
houses were the advance cash pay
ments to be made for each grade,
and as the tobacco passed by the
weighers it paid tribute to the grow
ers in the form Of checks and par
ticipation receipts, which were made
out according to the weight and grade
of his tobacco for each grower MEM
Der.
The careful and thorough grading
of each piece as it passed through
the hands Of experienced graders on
every market was the feature that
especially enthused the growers, and
the uniformity of grades and prices
on various markets was notable.
Richard R. Patterson, general man
ager of the leaf department; T. c.
Watkins, manager Of warehouses for
the association; A. R. Breedlove and
C. B. Cheatham, Of the leaf depart
ment, and other officials of the To-
bacco Growers Cooperative Associa-
ton visited the cooperative ware
houses at Lake City, Timmonsville,
Kingstree, Darlington and Olanta,
personally assisting the graders in
their work. :.
Complete satisfaction was express
ed by the great majority of growers,
who were greatly impressed by the
orderly system of marketing and the
fret cash advances paid. The first
advances on all grades were well
come surprise to most of the grow
ers, and ranged from s15.75 to s1.20.
Many growers stated that they
had received more on their first ad-
vance from the cooperative than last
years average for their entire crop.
The Market at Kingstree.
What is said in the above report
of the market in the state, sent out
from headquarters of the association
in Florence, applies to Kingstree.
The opening of the market here
was a revelation to all who witnessed
the orderly manner in which the bus
mess of the great association was
conducted. Every member who had
tobacco here was vel satisfied, and
many of them were highly elated
over the appraisement of their tobac-
co and the cash advance received on
it. One man told US tnat his advance
on a thousand pounds was more than
he received last season for all he
produced of a similar grade on one
acre.
The Wilkins and the Nelson ware
houses are in use here so far, for
grading and weighing. The paying
office is at the Nelson house where
competent staff Of clerks are kept
busy keeping the record of each MEM
ber's tobacco and passing out drafts
or checks as advance payments. The
drafts are issued on Richmond but
there are sign all about telling the
farmers that "any bank in Kingstree
will gladly cash your draft without
charge"