Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-05-03
BAND CLIPPING.
A Fact In the Cotton Business
Not Generally known.


New Orleans States.l
In a conversation with a representa-
tive of the States, last evening, an un-
usually intelligent member of the cot
ton mems combination remarked !:
"There is much feeling manifested by
gentlemen engaged in the purchase
and sale of cotton ia this city, against
those who perform the manual labor
in the movements ofthat staple, and an
impression is sought and created that
we who occupy the subordinate places
are d~eservedly hewers of wood and
drawers Of water.
To indicate how just is their esti-
mate, | will give You a piece OF infor-
nation, which perhaps not an officer,
member nor employee of the cotton
exchange knows and scarcely one buy
er or cotton factor in existence dreams
of at this minute. Upon the hypothe-
sis that every bale OF cotton which has
reached this port to date; has been
sold and shipped-which is not the
case, but in such an event, which
sooner or later will be the case, there
will be paid upon that aggregate five
hundred and sixty-six thousand one
hundred and twenty-six dollars and
forty cents which was not expended
for cotton at all, although disbursed
in sterling, whoever the purchaser
happened to be.
The proposition sounds somewhat
startling, but you will find that it is
approximately true, and true enough
t o attract the earnest attention OF ev-
cry one engaged in the cotton bust
ness
THE net receipts of cotton at the
port of New Orleans as reported 10
the daily papers this morning are L.
4l5,3l6 bales.
Suppose for the sake OF argument,
that every bale Of this cotton we're
bought, paid for and aAoat.
1T was sold for by the factor with
every band upon it, are paid for as SO
much cotton.
When hal bale passed through the
compress, it became much smaller,
the bands surrounding it became too
long to hold the bale in its compressed
form, aud they were clipped off.
II have weighed these clippings re-
peatedly, and have discovered, as any
Que else may who tries the expert
ment, that upon every bale Of cotton
the clippings weigh four pounds.
1.-THE bales with all its bands COM
plete having been purchased by the
pound, these clippings must be esti-
mated at the average price of cotton,
ten cents per pound, or say forty cents
for the clippings Of every bale.
1T 1,415,3l6 bales Of cotton were
shipped away, and forty cents a bale
we're deducted from each one of them,
you perceive that it would not be diff
fcult to tell how the aggregate deduc-
tion would amount to five hundred
and sixty-six thousand one hundred
and twenty-six dollars and forty cents.
Il do not mean to imply by this
statement that any blame attaches to
any one.
The custom Of using iron bands is
an immense improvement upon the
old fashioned rope, and it would be
very difficult to say how the produce
could be brought to market without
them.
The only idea | seek to convey is
that men in the cotton business, even
in a subordinate capacity, have far
greater knowledge Of that business
than the most pompous Of the big wigs
suppose, and that their intelligence
will direct, when in the course of
nature the more pretentious will have
passed away.
"We have no earthly intention Of
injuring the business Of the port, but
the cotton which comes to every port
in the country is packed identically
the same. and in many of tho other
ports with which l I'm familiar the
side piece" which is essential "a on a
plantation bale, but not necessary af.
ter COMPRISING, is almost invariably
removed, and just as certainly sub
tracts three pounds from the weight of
the bale"