20 



Table 7. --Total warehouse space and basket capacity operated in 1957 

 by tobacco auction warehouse cooperatives in Kentucky, 

 North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia 



Warehouse space 



Basket capacity 



Total 



Associations 

 reporting 



Total 



Associations 

 reporting 



Square feet 



Less than 50,000 



50,000 - 149,000 



150,000 - 249,000 



250,000 - 349,000 



350,000 or more 



Total 



Number 



2 

 4 

 5 

 2 



2 



15 





Bas 



kets 



L 



sss than 



2,5 



2 



,500 



- 7 



499 



7 



,500 



-12 



499 



2 



,500 



-17 



499 



500 



17,500 or more 

 Total 



Number 



4 



2 

 4 



2 

 12 



The number of scales required is determined by the desired rate of 

 flow of loaded baskets from the delivery area onto the auction floor. 

 The number and type of devices necessary to transport baskets within 

 the warehouse depend on the rate of basket movement both onto and off 

 the sale floor. Acquisition of both types of equipment was usually 

 calculated on the basis of rate requirements during periods of maximum 

 sale activity. 



Office equipment purchased by the associations consisted of furniture 



and office machinery. Most auction warehouse cooperatives acquired 



one or more typewriters, calculators, adding machines, and checkwriters. 



Cost of Facilities and Equipment 



Analysis of costs to the associations for auction warehouse facilities 

 is most easily made by relating such costs to a common basis. The basis 

 selected is the square foot, a measurement commonly used to describe 

 tobacco auction warehouses. 



Several factors causing differences in cost among associations should 

 be recognized. Some of these are as follows: 



1. The time period elapsing between the dates the first and last 

 associations were organized covers approximately 27 years. The cost 

 of comparable warehouse buildings and land has fluctuated considerably 

 during this period, with the general trend upward. 



2. The large geographical area in which warehouses operated by the 

 associations are located affects costs. Costs for comparable facil- 

 ties and land differ among local tobacco markets during any specific 

 time period due to the particular complex of economic factors existing 

 in each market area. 



