Evening star., 1933-01-23
BARTER MOVEMENT
SPREADS IN SOUTH
Trading, However, Remains
Unorganized-Correspond.
ence Used In "SWapping."

BY the Associated Press.
ATLANTA, January 23.-The South
is seeing a revival Of barter reminiscent
of the last century. but it still remains
largely unorganized.
Country merchants are doing an In
creasing business on the basis of gal
lon of coal oil' for dozen eggs. or
set of harness for a bale OF cotton, but
the organized barter exchanges which
have sprung up in other sections have
been slow to make their appearance In
Southern States.
AT Richmond, Va, however, the Citi-
zens' Service Exchange has been estab-
lished through the efforts of social
agencies of the city. A warehouse has
been prepared to receive goods to be
bartered for work. with scrip issued by
the organization as basis for the ex-
change.
This experiment is the only one of
its kind in Virginia, and has not been
in operation long enough to determine
what its success or its economic effects
will be.
Barter Through Correspondence.
Several Southern States have pioneer
ed in the development of barter through
correspondence, by publishing bulletins
listing wants" and offers OF exchange.
with "swappers' arranging their trades
individually.
Such an exchange bulletin is pub
lished bimonthly by the Alabama De-
partment of Agriculture and goes to
$4,000 farmers and business men. Each
edition carries an average of 425 no
tices, offering everything from hound
dogs to grand pianos. State officials
SS rent nf the items offered
are exchanged.
A weekly newspaper in Geneva
County, Ala, has announced 1t will start
a free exchange column for its sub
scribers. Seth P. Storrs. commissioner
OF agriculture, commenting on the bar
ter practiced in Alabama, says:
This move not only aids those max
ing exchanges to obtain the necessary
operating material for raising their
crops and carrying on their businesses,
but it will improve the financial situa-
ton by making it possible for them to
make a profit, thereby turning more
money into the channels OF trade"
Curb Markets Operated.
Georgia's State division of markets
has a similar plan, carrying products
offered for exchange in weekly bulle-
tin This has been in operation for
several years, but no central exchange
is conducted Advertisers get in touch
with each other if they wish to make
exchange of products. This, says the
department, is widely pfNcticed through
out the State Curb markets are oper-
ated widely and in Atlanta there are
several markets where produce can be
exchanged for merchandise the farmer
needs.
Louisiana has no barter exchanges
but some merchants. doctors and
colleges accept farm products in lieu of
cash Louisiana State University took
cotton and cattle for students tuition,
as did other colleges in the south.
Some country doctors have taken pigs,
chickens and other products for their
fees.
Mississippi, Arkansas, Tennessee and
the Carolinas report no organized barter
exchanges. although curb markets are
operated throughout these States with
cash as the medium of exchange
Tifton, Ga, has revived an ancient
custom of holding swap day" at regular
intervals and sponsors expect to con-
tinue the effort indefinitely If it proves
successful. Only one has been held so
far and the success of this caused mer-
chants and business men of the com
munity to advertise that swap day"
will be held regularly. Farmers and
others having anything whatsoever to
trade are invited to make exhibits.