BULLETIN OF THE 



M«I0FA«IIU 



No. 216 



Contribution from the Office of Markets and Rural Organization 



Charles J. Brand, Chief. 



April 26, 1915. 



COTTON WAREHOUSES: 

 STORAGE FACILITIES NOW AVAILABLE IN THE SOUTH. 1 



By Robert L. Nixon, Assistant in Cotton Marketing. 

 INTRODUCTION. 



This bulletin is the result of a survey made for the -purpose of 

 determining the extent of storage facilities now available in the 

 cotton-producing States. An attempt has been made to determine 

 not only the storage capacity of the cotton warehouses now in use, 

 but to learn something of the conditions under which cotton is stored, 

 the charges for storage, the insurance rates paid, and other factors affect- 

 ing cotton in storage. Particular attention was given to the different 

 types of buildings with reference to cost of construction, insurance 

 rates, and general economy in handling cotton, and also to the dis- 

 tribution of these storage houses with reference to the production of 

 cotton, and the availability of such warehouses to farmers who may 

 wish to store their cotton. Efforts also were made to determine 

 something of the importance of the warehouses in protecting cotton 

 from fire and damage by weather, in handling and marketing, and 

 in financing the cotton crop. The relation of the cotton warehouse 

 to other business and its importance to the farmer and to business 

 men generally has been kept in mind. 



The warehouse survey of Georgia and North Carolina was made 

 during the early part of 1914, so the resulting figures, which are 

 given in tabular form in this bulletin, relate to the amount of storage 

 space that was available during the 1913-14 season, except in Table 

 VI, which is an estimate of the storage space now available. Letters 



1 The figures in this bulletin relating to the storage facilities now available in the cotton belt were secured 

 from a comprehensive survey of Georgia and North Carolina, and also by means of a letter of inquiry which 

 was sent to all the county agents of the Farmers' Cooperative Demonstration Work of the Southern States. 

 The work in North Carolina was done in cooperation with the Marketing Division of the Agricultural 

 Experiment Station. In Georgia the survey was conducted entirely by the Office of Markets and Rural 

 Organization. However, the State College of Agriculture furnished office space and extended other 

 courtesies to the writer while making the survey which greatly facilitated the work. 



Note.— This bulletin deals with the cotton warehouse situation of the South, with special reference to 

 conditions in Georgia and North Carolina. An attempt has been made to determine what storage facilities 

 are now available, the importance of the warehouse in financing the cotton crop, and the general relation 

 of a system of warehouses to other lines of business. It should be of special interest to farmers, warehouse- 

 men, and cotton factors, merchants, and bankers of the South. 

 86344°— Bull. 216—15 1 



