The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1878-09-27
Cotton wsights---oar Merchants.

ana malicious report is being circulated through
the County chat Cotton weighed upon the Union
scales soWetihes loses 10 or 1G POUNDS. Wcun-
hesi;stinsl trtate that the Union Cotton soalcs
are as ty9sHpd dsir as any scales that ever
FAIRBANKS allowed, to leave his Factory, and that
Mr.. james FAINT, our Cotton weigher, not only
knows his duty, bd4 is as honest and oonscien-
tious man in its performance as walks in any
part Of the Stale. If he has any preference it
is>for the farmers who bring tfe:r Cotton to him
to weigh but he has no preference. Knowing
his dpy he dares to do il faithfully. Besides,
we kntw the merchants of this tows too we'll to
believe there is one among them who would for
momelt countcnance SO gross fraud upon
the farmers. They would oust the weigher the
momenthey suspected him of such a dishonor-
able act.
Last yea an intelligent farmer made some
what similS complaint To us, and we asked him
when he weighed his cotton at the gin and when
he sold it. {is reply satisfied us-and we soon
satisfied himt t-how the discrepancy arose. He
weighed at y gin just after four days of rain,
doors as we'll rs out of doors, was filed with
moisture, onS after the cotton had been exposed
fer five days awasm dry atmosphere he brought
| 1t to markeyand found it did not w,igh as much
as ut tho gA by 10 or II lbs. on the bulc.-
Being faf man, he readily accepted our ex
planation ind went away satisfied.
Again, 10 open are our Cotton buyers and
merchants, that, instead Of ''setting the scales
to allow for tho usual "break" of Abs, the
scales are balanced the same Us those used in the
of oNI
of after tie cotton is weighed, SO that the far
mer can see the transaction.
AS we have often sail before, the Merchants
of tho town of Union are as high-toned, honor
able men os can be found anywhere, and some
business transactions we have known in other
towns would not be tolerated by them. When
person buys Of or sells to them he can rest as
sured or receiving g'rxse,fy What he-pargasns
for There's no short weights, short measure,
OR inferior article substituted, to make up for
boasted low prices.
We Know this is not the popular opinion in
the country, but we know it is the truth, and
:Te further know VIC are only actuated by sense
1dt justice IN telling what we believe to be the
Il tuth. That they charged high prices fer their
,fieir goods, in lien times we do not deny, but
Nsntt was a nptual understanding between
aver and sellers and most astonishing fea-
,of most of those transactions was, that
many\uycrs appeared more eager to buy, if on
credit, ut those high prices, than they are now
at low prices, for cash and then many thought
1t was no Cline to attempt to evade paying for
whatthey parchased-in which a large number
,aSa Sncca~sf f,l- srLiln- aEsa.sA ~ o.o,.
"N ''n'r Unforeseen occurrences, q large num-
DER were unable to pay at all so that the losses
materially reduced the profits.
We don't think our Merchants arc as enter
prising as some we hear of, who buy cotton a,
more than thky can get for it, and sell goods be-
fo~ cost. We, however, have reason to believe
that even in this they are actuated by the hon.
0faole desire to keep up their reputation and
credit BY paying their debts and avoid disas.
trous failures.