Time capsule

As reported in The Columbia News 60 years ago on Thursday, September 3, 1942.

Heavy losses on low-grade cotton

County agent LeRoy Jarboe advised county farmers this week that picking cotton wet or damp and improper ginning will reduce profits three times as much as it did in 1941.

"Frequent rains or heavy dews often make it difficult to pick cotton dry," he said. "Usually, there is enough sunshine to dry cotton in the field as it is picked if it is spread on sheets."

Last year, if a farmer took cotton to the gin damp and the ginner roughed it up so it was classed strict low middling or one grade below, it sold for $2.75 per bale less than middling cotton. Cotton too damp or in bad shape to be two grades below middling was only a loss of $6.

This year's situation is much more serious. When cotton is lowered to one grade below middling, a loss of $6.75 per bale results. Two grades below middling means losing $19.75 per bale.

Jarboe encourages farmers to pick cotton clean, take it to the gin dry and insist on a good ginning job to avoid these losses.

"One of the most common causes of rough ginning is operating the gin with a tight seed roll," Jarboe said. "But ginners who rough up cotton enough to lower it's grade this year will cost their customers real money."

Scrap Drive underway in Columbia County

Due to the huge efforts of the Victory Volunteers and the response of county rural residents, the Salvage campaign is underway. The scrap has turned out quantities beyond expectations.

Because of the large amount of scrap, the volunteers cannot keep the schedule set at the meetings. If they do not get to your house on the day set, they will be there as soon as possible. The group congratulates residents on their efforts to collect these vital raw materials.

The group urges everyone to do their part in this campaign to keep our factories turning out vital war materials.

Harlem High School opens

Students, faculty and patrons gathered in the Harlem High School auditorium Monday morning for the school's opening.

Superintendent O.A. Henderson recognized new faculty members.

The speaker, Augustus Verdery, a school alumni, to lead the devotional and expressed the importance of rule and law in the school life and the importance of the Golden Rule in all of life.

Henderson explained that athletics have been abandoned for the duration of the war by the county board. It is being replaced with a system of voluntary military training for boys and first aid and physical education for girls. W.K. Warren gave details of the courses and stressed their importance. Every boy and girls who takes the work will benefit, he said.

When registration and enrollment is complete, an announcement will be made as to the number in each department.