36 



BULLETIN 277, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



automatic sprinkler equipment, which effects a great saving in the 

 cost of insurance. 



FENCES AROUND WAREHOUSES AND COTTON YARDS. 



It is very important that cotton stored in open sheds or yards 

 should be fenced in. Such a fence should he made of good boards, 

 securely nailed to railings, which are in turn fastened to strong posts. 

 In other words, it should be a good, close, substantial board fence at 

 least 6 feet in height. These fences prevent prowling, the careless 

 throwing of cigarette stubs, and various other practices that fre- 

 quently prove costly. It is usually possible to reduce insurance 

 rates materially by taking this precaution. While it is not at all 



Fig. 13. — A standard two-story cotton warehouse. 



essential, it would be well for such a fence to be erected around all 

 warehouses, together with, the adjacent yards that are used for 

 handling cotton. 



A wire fence should never be placed around- yards or sheds, for it 

 interferes with handling cotton during a fire, and consequently increases 

 insurance rates. 



FINANCIAL CONNECTION. 



When the construction of a warehouse is being contemplated, it is 

 well to take into consideration the financial assistance that probably 

 will l)e extended by the banks to those who store cotton. It is fre- 

 quently the case that owners store cotton primarily for the purpose 

 of obtaining money for use until the conditions of the market are 

 improved. If it were possible to obtain money on the best terms, 

 much cotton would be stored which at present is allowed to damage 

 and remain unprotected from fire and theft. Many companies get 



