The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1873-03-22
DUSTY IND SANDY COTTONS.

We invite the attention of our friends In the
country to the following article from The New
Orleans Price Current. The excessive supply
of dusty, sandy aud mixed cotton sent to lhls
market, the present season, hos been the
cause of much complaint and serious annoy
ance. Charleston, alike with New Orleans,
Memphis, and other markets, has suffered
greatly from this evil
Que OF the principal features Of the market,
as indicated by our cotton report. Is the ex-
cessive supply of these dusty and sandy cot
tons, Moreover, 1t is not New Orleans alone
that suffers from this evil. II prevails at
Memphis and other markets as we'll, aud has
been caused no doubt partly by the dry ana
dusty spell during the picking season, but main
ly by carelessness In picking. Negro laoortrs,
working on shares, foolishly suppose tat the
heavier the cotton, from sand or dust, the
greater will be the retu: ne, when the contrary
is the case. Every dollar OF Increase by
weight Ia Offset by TWO dollars In the
diminished market price. or the l25,OO0
bales now uusold In this market, con-
siderable portion consists OF cotton which
cannot be disposed OF unless at concession
OF 70. per pound from the ruling rates tor
clean cotton OF the same grade. In these
cases there Ia o net loss of l23 per cent. 10
prices, or So per bale, against gain In ad.
ditlonal weight equal TO not over 81 per bale.
30 far as these considerations may Induce
more careful handling next season, they will
be of the most Importance when the picking
season approaches, but 10 the meantime, to
prevent disappointment, the matter should be
fully understood by planters and country mer.
chants. An Interior shipper, who is confident
That his cotton should class here as Ordinary
or good ordinary, and from our market quota
lions is led to expect l5a .l5lc. II the former,
or l83alS2c. If the latter, Is dissatisfied With
returns OF l3A4l4c. In the one case, or l6sal7c.
in The other. And yet he constantly urges his
factor 10 sell. The factor finds the cotton
dusty or sandy, and 10 effect a sale is
willing to make concessions OF 3a2o. per
pound but can 1nd DO buyer VINO will
give 1t moments attention at such hg-
ures. His constituent again adVlces him 10
realize, and he Ia then willing 10 give way "a
lc. Der ID. Sill no one will touch IL. Again
comes letter more emphalically urging hlm
to sell, and from showing the table when bro
kers visit his cotton room, ne 0utlonhnles
them on the street and In the Exchange, ofrr-
Ing bargains, but even when he consents 10 q
reduction Of &c. per ID. he finds very lew VINO
are willing TO touch 1t. The constant reply is,
ave have cubled to Liverpool, Offering to put
such cottons tree on board at ID, and received
The prompt reply, not wanted We have
cabled to Havre with no more succes8." Oc-
CaeiOpally, tempted Dy Inc low prize. uuS ef
will come forward and take so or 100, or per-
hap, as much as 200 bales, on basis of lac.
for what, II 1t were clean, would be l6c.
cotton. but the demand is limiled, and 10 force
sales is simply impracllcable, unless at ruin
ous concessions. Our friends in the country
must, therefore, be prepared to receive very
unsatisfactory accounts-sales, but they must
blame their own carelessness, or the negligence
or intentional fraud of their labOrers. In the
meantime the accumulation OF such cottons
presents not only au inloleraole load for fac
tors To carry, but drags down the entire mar
ket We have had serious thoughts OF giving
two sets of olalions-one for clean cottons
and the olher fori dusty. In their efforts 10
unload their excessive supplies of the latter,
factors endeavor to work them off gradually
in mixed lists, but with very little success.
We nave heard of cotton losing 100 lbs per
bale and more, from dust or sand. 1ndepen'
denllv, moreover, of The check to the move
ment by dusty and sandy cottuns, 1t Is also re.
slricte6 BY tho excessive supply OF the
lower grades, including low ordinary, ordina'
~ and good ordinary. All of these are neg,
lscted and slow oil sale, and cannot be forceo
off except al liberal concessions.