Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1874-06-13
THE OorroS ooNvEArION.


Ii Is with no little satisfaction We see
what work the Augusta cotton convsn-
ton has marked out to be done. There
was no useless talk. The convention
"mesnt business ana it set to work at
it. Things that have wanted attention
for years were, in a few hours, put in
good trim for coming to satisfactory
adjustment. The broad basis on which
statistical and meteorological informa-
ton should be drained was laid down,
and a committee wss appointed to carry
ont the details. In this department one
of the clesrest heads and most able sta
tisticians of Memphis, Mr.. Proudfit, took
a leading part. The mode of obtaining
information in all districts is to be uni
form, so as to be capable of being COM
pared and tabBlsled at a central point.
Each cotton exchange has distinct
district allotted TO it. This alone is worth
all the convention costs, for, if Mem
phis Sends her inquiries over a given 10
cality, and Jackson Mississippi, does
the same, the statistics are Vitiated by
one locality being reported twice over,
instead of once. The convention has at
once eliminated this source Of error. 4
plan was also sketched out for obtaining
regular and systematic reports from cot
ton centeTs, aHd-what was greatly
wantei-from mills manufacturing cot
ton. One central point is chosen where
all the intelligence thus gathered will lie
put into form, aud combined with intel
Iigence from other divisions OF the field
Of labor the convention has undertaken
10 work, so that cotton merchants all
over the world viii have before them
clear and comprehensive statements Of
facts that are all important to them.
They viii have solid ground for their
Judgment, and viii bring and sell from
the fallscies and errors which Ignorance
or short-sighted deception have so often
erected into successful obstacles to salts
factory trading. TIE subject o. falsely
packed cotton, very justly, had lis share
Of notice, and il is TO be hoped that from
the exertions Of the powers about to be
put into operation, some, at least, of the
criminals who put old iron, pine-knots
and broken andirons into bales,
aud vino "plate - wet and rotten
cotton with strict middliBg
outside, viii be brought 10 answer tothe
justice they have violated, 30 that their
neighb0rs and the world shall know
them for the rOgues they are. Uniform
ity in the weight Of bales; measures for
the more careful gathering OF cotton,
and for its protection, when baled, were
provided for. But Of all the great sub
jscts that occupied the attention Of the
convention, there was none to surpass
in importance that of uniform classi-
hcation Of cotton throughout the United
States; astandard classification TO which
all telegraphic ard official quotations
shall conform. By arranging types I'm
der the care Of experts, and forwarding
them at proper intervals to all the cot
ton center5, the great need of uniform
classification will be amply and success
fully satisfied. When this is done, the
convention will have made its mark too
paIpsbly and usefuily fOi the vast prac-
tical benefits such a body can accom-
plish, when il works and does not
"speechi'y," 10 fail Of final success; and
this success will insure the permanency
of the National Cotton Exchange"
which the Augusta convention has ere
ated. We are graiifed with the man
ner in which the convention has lsid
out its work, and with the provision
it has made for carrying out its objects
into systematic and orderly practice.
Conventions have 20 often been mere
occasions for talk leading to no practical
end, that a sort Of contempt for them is
springing up in the public mind; but
here we have an instance what good
ends earnest and capable men can put
into working train in two short sessions.
No speeches-no banquetings-the work
was set about and accomplished, and
the delegates were gone! The example
Is good, may other conventions initiate
it, It is also gratifying to US, as citizens
Of Memphis, to know that one Of the
most Important officers of the National
cotton exchange is the secretary of our
own Memphis cotton exchange. Mr..
TOof will prove himself equal to the inn
portant task committed into bis hands,
and under his auspices Memphis will
stand forward In the place her impOr-
tance entities her TO ooclpy, and we
shall have good proof Of the value Of our
own cotton exchange In advancing the
fame and business interests Of our city.
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