Excerpts from the report: Few of the 1,400 cotton warehouses in use in 1958 were designed for the efficient use of machines for handling bales of cotton. Consequently, operators of public warehouses are concerned about the costs of constructing new storage compartments. This report contains designs and costs for four different types of compartments and a warehouse consisting of six separated compartments. The warehouse is designed for storing 40,000 to 50,000 bales and is suitable for areas of low rainfall, such as the Southwest. The main objective of this study was the development of improved floor layouts and building designs for cotton warehouses which would help to reduce the costs of handling bales of cotton and to minimize losses from fire and weather damage. This report is intended as a guide for planning public warehouses for storing cotton; it will not replace the services of engineers, architects, or builders.