38 BULLETIN 277, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



conform to the standards of the underwriters' association. These 

 standards have been worked out very carefully and represent the 

 best thought in protecting cotton from both fire and weather at a 

 minimum cost. Many millions of dollars have been spent unwisely 

 in the construction of warehouses that do not conform to these stand- 

 ards. A thorough survey made by this office shows conclusively 

 that many of these houses cost more to build than they would if 

 they had been made to conform to the recognized standards. Most 

 warehouses, as they are now constructed, are not only subject to 

 unnecessarily high insurance rates, but are usually costlier than those 

 conforming to the standards, and the cost of handling cotton stored 

 in them is unnecessarily high. 



The diagrams in this bulletin should not be treated as plans for 

 building. An attempt has been made to outline some of the essen- 

 tial features of each type. It is very important that a competent 

 architect draw up specifications for any warehouse. While it will be 

 necessary to pay a fee for this service, the plans will save a great 

 deal in the cost of construction and insurance and add much to the 

 value of the storage house by making it possible to handle cotton 

 more economically. It is also important to have warehouses prop- 

 erly located. This is frequently the determining factor between 

 success and failure. Many warehouses erected by cooperative organ- 

 izations and by others have been so located that they are not avail- 

 able to a large majority of the people who frequently wish to store 

 cotton. This has resulted in the failure of many such enterprises. 

 Farmers should form cooperative organizations for building better 

 storage houses where adequate facilities are not available on favor- 

 able terms. 



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