Evening star., 1924-11-29
INDUSTRY
COMES TO FRONT
Crop and Sales Greatly
Boosted in South-Prices
lump $40 Per Ton.
BY j. c. ROYLE.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
NEW YORK, November 29-The
shrill whistle of the peanut roasters
has grown into the buli-throated
siren call of hundreds of big mills
this year. For peanut oil mills in the
South are rapidly supplanting tho
cottonseed oil plants, the activities
Of which have lessened in volume of
late years. America has not only
learned to grow and eat peanuts, 1t
has learned to sell them. Conse-
quently this crop is taking promi-
nent place among the profitable prod
ucts of the soil.
Prices Up $40 Per Ton.
Prices have advanced around $40 a
ton since the first of this month de-
spite the Government estimate that
the 1924 crop will show an increased
yield of 20 per cent. One of the larg-
est peanut brokers In the world. To-
Gated in Chicago, attributes this in
large part to the fact that large tom
nages now have passed into the hands
of cooperative marketing assocla-
tions which are amply financed to feeo
out the exact amount demanded by
consumes ers without breaking the price.
The Georgia Peanut Growers Co
operative Association, for example,
has been financed by the Federal
Intern ediate Credit Bank through its
branch at Columbia, S. G. This asso-
citation claims it has been largely in
strumentat in strengthening the
market. which dropped from s12O a
ton In September to S65 In October
Georgta's crop, fourth in the country
In 1928 with 3S,912 tons, Is estimated
now at 59,400 tons. with yield of
700 pounds to tho acre. Since bank
ers have recognized the commodity as
of standard loan value, however,
growers anticipate no difficulty I'm
financing orderly marketing of any
excess.
Peanue production in the South has
laid its wreath at the foot of the
monument to the boil weevil, for as
a crop, It has become secondary only
to cotton and tobacco. 1t was
feature OF the diversified farming
which. though born of necessity be-
cause of the boil weevil, has revolu-
tionized Southern business conditions
Tobacco and peanuts, new money"
crops. were largely responsible for
the 46 per cent gain in farm wealth
in Georgia In the last year, according
to State statisticians. The peanut
situation is expected to benefit from
the disruption in China caused by
recent revolutionary disturbances
China is the foremost competitor of
of peanuts and while conditions are
bettering in the East. they still are
far from favorable for active COM
petition from China this season.
Sales Gain 20 Per Cent.
Peanuts also had most important
part in the Improvement of farm
sales in the South and Southwest this
year. a survey by the National As
sociatfon of Real Estate Boards
shows that the number of farm sales
in tha South have Increased 220 per
cent in number and 40 per cent in
the price paid the sellers
Like score of other industries the
peanut business is taking leaves from
the California and Florida books and
is preparing for "A widespread cam
paign of advertising and publicity to
stimulate sales, provide new markets
and cut cost OF distributing the crop.
The effect of advertising and con-
sequent broadening of markets on
selling costs is amply exemplified by
the recent report of the Sun Maid
ratsin growers. For 1922 the cost of
1928 1t was 80. So and for this year, so
far, II has been cut to 81 cents
Communities In all sections are
realizing to the full the value Of ad-
Vertising. The business men of Phil
adelphla are taking active steps to
make the products of that section ma
tionally known. and are spending
money TO do it The Seattle Chamber
of Commerce has appropriated nearly
100000 for national advertising next
year. The organization feels that
1873 Will be a record-breaking tourist
year for the Northwest and Alaska.