COOPERATIVE MARKETING OF COTTON 45 
the bale, records of sale and shipment, and any other information 
necessary for proper identification and proper settlement with the 
grower. In addition to the regular accounts of members, there are, 
in some cases, special accounts and joint accounts. In the final state- 
ments sent to members each bale is listed, showing tag number, 
weight, class, average pool price, deductions, prior payments, and 
the net balance. 
In general, the work of the accounting department involves the 
examination, balancing, and office handling of collateral; general 
bookkeeping, including records and statements of receipts and dis- 
bursements; examination and recording of drafts and mortgages; 
handling of expense and distribution checks: keeping membership 
records; verifying bale numbers, contract numbers, and unloading 
reports: issuing shipping tags, instructions, etc.; applying pool num- 
bers and weights on unloading reports; issuing advices of. weight and 
class; tabulating, including “the punching, verifying, listing, and 
filing of receiving pool, bale, sale cards, ete.: handling incoming 
and outgoing mail; preparing and distributing forms; purchasing 
Fic. 10.—Tabulating machines in the office of the Oklahoma Cotton Growers’ Association 
supphes; filing correspondence, preparing regular and special re- 
ports, etc. 
Most of the associations have increased the efficiency of their 
accounting units by installing modern labor-saving machinery. (Fig. 
10.) Perforated-card machines, consisting of ‘punchers, verifiers, 
assorters, and tabulating printers, are used to obtain speed and 
accuracy in much of the detailed clerical work. The cards used have 
a series of numbers in various columns, each number representing 
a pool, warehouse, compress, bank, etc. By punching the cards and 
running them through the machines it is possible to obtain in a very 
short time information and figures that ordinarily would require the 
time of several people. Duplicating, addressing, and mailing ma- 
chines also contribute to the efficiency of the general office. 
