Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-04-08
Street Buyers Rarely, if
Ever, Fail to Grade Cotton
Too Low, andPayLittIe At
tention to Length of Staple
BY RALPH SMITH

is the claim of officers and the
assertion of others who should
know that the farmer members
of the board of directors Of the
Texas Farm Bureau Cotton i>9-
ISOLATION are men of recognized
business ability-a circumstance
worthy Of remark because it
demonstrates the capacity of the
cotton growers to select only.
men of the highest type, from
among their number, to handle
the affairs of their cooperative
association.
There are twenty-five mem
bers of the board of directors Of
the Texas association, and it
was obviously impossible to see
each of these men in person,
since they reside in widely sep
arated sections Of the state.
However, I have come in con-
tact with several board mem
bers, and it is only fair to OBJ
sreve that these gentlemen are
something more than practical
and successful farmers; they are
business men.
Old Systems Determinations
Jeff F. Montgomery, Of Mount
Pleasant, is a member OF the
board of directors, and the eX-
officio secretary Of the executive
committee of. the association.
Mr.. Montgomery is a recognized
authority on matters relating to
cotton-its production and sale.
He is familiar with the Gus
toms and practices that have
obtained under the old system
of handling cotton, and he
knows all about the advantages
of cooperative selling. In an
interview, Mr.. Montgomery has
given a clear exposition of
many of the determinations
under the old system that have
operated to the financial injury
Of the cotton grower.
''Let us assume that the mid
ding basis price of cotton at
Galveston is 17.45," remarked
Mr.. Montgomery. "Strict mid
ding is worth so points above
the basis, good middling 100
points, and strict good mid
ding is rs points off the basis,
low middling IT'S points off,
strict good ordinary 800 points
off and good ordinary 425 points
off.
Calculated in dollars and
cents, assuming that the bale
weighed 500 pounds, a strict
middling bale of cotton is worth
$3.50 more than middIing, a
good middling bale is worth SIS
more than middling, and
strict good middling bale is
worth 1915 per bale more than
middling; also that strict low
middling is worth 1915 less
than middling, low middling
$S.75 less than middling, strict
good ordinary SIS less than mid
ding, and good ordinary $22.25
less.
"1t is safe to say that all of
the cotton bought on the streets
of Texas towns is bought at
least one grade below it's true
grade. This difference is made
in addition to the profit which
the local buyer expects to make
which is, roughly estimating.
S. per bale without regard to
grade or staple.
Staple Length Ignored
Under the present method of
selling cotton the fluctuation is
so great and comes so quickly
that even with all this large diff
ference few local buyers are able
to protect themselves from dan
gerous losses, and often bank
ruptcy.
IF a farmer sells a strictly
good middling bale of cotton as
middling he loses $3.50; if he
sells a good middling bale as a
strict middling he loses SIS per
bale; or strictly good middling
bale as good middling he will
lose $S.75.
Ordinarily on the streets of
the Texas towns the buyers give
the farmers no consideration
whatever for differences in
length of staple.
THE government report under
date of. February Is gives the
following differences on premium
staple cotton at Memphis:
ION a basis of II cents for
middling upland short staple cot
ton, the premiums for middling
premium staples average about
as follows:
One .and~ one-sixteenth-in inch,
800 points on, or SIS above mid
ding.
One and one-eighth-inch, 600
points on, or $50 above middling.
One and three-sixteenths-inch
800 points on, or $40 above mid
ding.
One and one-fourth-inch, LOO
points on, or $55 above mid
ding.
"It can easily be seen what
farmers lose by selling cotton
without reference to grade or
staple.
ut should be admitted that
some of the larger farmers with
some wealth and influence get
some credit for the length of
staple because they are usually
good business men and know
enough about cotton to force
the buyers to give at least a
part of it's actual value. But
This is not true Of the avera ge
Texas farmer.
''The Texas Farm bureau is
the only cotton handling agency
in Texas through which farm
ers are able to get the exact
value of their cotton, both
grade and staple considered.
The cotton of the eighteen
thousand members is assembled,
graded and stapled by the as
sociation's own expert graders
and staplers. 1t is placed in
even running lots based on it's
true grade and staple and sold
in large lots, as directly as pos
sible.
Pay More for Big Lots
eve find that buyers for the
export trade are willing to pay
at least IS per bale more for
being able to get cotton from