New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-12-17
NIemphis Cotton Exchange.

At meeting of the Memphis Cotton Ex-
change, held December 5, the following re-
port of a special committee was adopted
and ordered to be printed for general circu-
lation. The suggestions will doubtless COM
mend themselves to those in our cotton
interest:
Te the President and Members Of :ae Memphis
Cotton Exchange:
GENTLEMEN-Your committee has had in
terviews with persons representing the va
rious interests engaged in the cotton trade;
with factors, buyers, receivers, shedmen,
compress and transportation men; this lat
ter comprising both the companies engaged
in bringing cotton to our market, and those
taxing 1t away.
AL. are fully alive to the great evil and
losses arising from the carelessness with
which cotton has heretofore been handled
throughout the country. and are desirous OF
remedying the evil.
For a commencement to this end. the va
::ous compress establishments of this city
are erecting ample sheds to protect cotton
from the weather after it has been delivered
at the presses.
The next. in order for a reform, will be
the storage warehOusess
We recommend tina, they be held TO
rigid accountability for the order of cotton
placed with them for storage. That they
be required to keep all cotton under cover
delivered to them dry. and that all cotton
delivered to them wet be put upon dunnage,
and bs kept from receiving additional wet
ting by the use Of tarpaulins. or other
ueans ample for that end.
Next in order comes the transportation
companies, railroads and steamboats,.
We find, upon investigation, that the
greatest trouble about damaged cotton
comes from the manner in which cotton is
handled upon steamers. It is often received
| by the boats on the landing dry and in good
condition: no adequate care is taken in
| getting the cotton aboard, or in discharg
| ing it az our landing. The bales are rolled
| over in the mud and water, and the result
| is. of course, serious damage. This should
| not be so. and can be avoided. Thousands
| Of bales of hay are annually delivered at
our landing by steamers, and the damage
| thereon IS tritilng compared to that on cot
ton.
} 4 bale of hay weighing 400 pounds i.
| worth S.. A baie of cotton OF the same
I as if it were OF no value whatever, is rolled
| in the mud and water. and great damage
| and loss necessarily follows.
Steamers should be required 20 use al
the means necessary TO get their cotton OF
board in good condition; TO protect it whil'
Oh board from the weather, and to uischarg
it at our landing ON skids, cover it with tar
paulins like other freight, and treat cOttol
as they do other perishable merchandise
And so also with the railways. They shoul'
bs required to keep cotton protected from
! the weather while at their depots awaitin
shipment. also in transit, and equally s.
when the cotton is awaiting delivery a
their city terminl.
Finally. we would earnestly impress upo1
the owners OF cotton in the interior TIL
great necessity Of keeping it. while in thei
possession. entirely protected from tn
weather. Surely an article whiOh costs 9
much time. labor and money to produce,
worth taking care OF. The losses annual
On the cotton crop of the United States
trome careiessness and recklessness in e1
posure to the elements. amount to an enol
| nous sum.
fwe of Memphis and the region tradin
with Memphis will bring about a reform i
this matter. our cotton will be sought fo
bv manufacturers from. all parts of th
world, and we shall soon discover the favo
with which it is regarded, not only ln IL
cveasiug orders for it, but in price.
| 1t will give US standing in the mark e'
o. the world which will repay US tentold TO
all the care and expense necessary to kee
: this great article OF commerce from damage
and to deliver it 70 mar ufacturers in pertes
| order.
Your 3mmittee recommend the adoption
o: the following resolution: .
! Resolrea, That the foregoing report b
!. adopted by the Cotton Exchange, and ths
. 5000 copies of it be printed for general dI
tributiOn. and that the committee be Gi
| charged.