The evening light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1881-1883, 1882-06-05
Monday. June g.. 'S2,
COTTON ADULTERATION.

Not little of that lusty ado which
is Brother Bulls specially and which
no one would think of denying him the
indulgence of, either in commerce or
diplomacy, has been recently expend-
ed in charges of adulteration of Amer
lean cotton. A great deal of the So
called evidence bearing upon the adul-
teratlon has been collected in England
and presented with damaging empha-
sis, not to say ferceEess, not only in
British newspapers, but in the reports
made by our consuls to the state de-
partment at Washington. 1t would be
something too exemplary to be Eng
lish if this testimony were not greatly
composed of such exaggerations as
would make up, in their aggregate,
a goodsized wonder, calculated to ex-
cite the amazement Of the average
American mind. In fact some of the
frauds alleged to have been discover
ed by English buyers of American cot
ton are strikingly allied with the gro
tesque, and Will require great back
ing in proof to cause any real belief in
their existence. The best way of test
ing the truth of these charges was
adopted by the Philadelphia Textile
Record, which was by learning and
comparing the experience of American
spinners, who handled precisely the
same raw material as was sent to Eng
lish buyers, with that denoted by the
character of the authorizations describ-
ed, The Record also extended its in
quiry to commercial firms of the lead
ing cotton centers and shipping ports,
as New Orleans, Galveston, Charles
ton, etc. All these experts were inter-
ested in the question of adulteratlon
the factor in having the staple in salea-
Bile condition and marketable, and the
spinner in handling it free from all for
eign substance. The result of the in
vestgation has given much salts fac.
ton. Almost all these competent ex-
perts declare that, in their opinion, in
territorial fraud is extremely rare, and
may easily and at all times be known
and detected. The great British ado
has been probably altogether caused
by the droutn of last year, In which the
growing cotton bolls gathered the dry
sand in extraordinary quantities. 1t is
doubtless out of this that the com.
plants have been fashioned. 1t has tc
be confessed on the American side
that the crop of last year was a very
dirty one. That it was put upon the
markets in such condition was repre-
hensible. 1t denoted an unpardona-
bic Incidence, or that penny wisdom
which, to save little expenditure il
the line of duty, incurs heavy loss in
returns. The planters therefore are
the ultimate losers, for all intermedla
ries between the planter and the spin
ner are likely to turn to their aCcoun
and benefit, at the cost of the former
every disadvantage with which the cot
ton in its marketable grade can be as
sailed.
A qualified expert has estimated the
loss on last years crop resulting from
the want of proper attention to clean
ing, and to some extent the want of bet
ter facilities for rapid and effective clean
ing, at 5000 900, all of which loss i
housed by the planter. 1t is ascertain
ed that there is more in condition thai
in quality. A well cleaned inferior cot
ton will bring more than a superior ar
ticle dirty. So that every grower O
cotton who shall neglect to apply the
diligence and skill required to escap,
this danger, deliberately throws AVA
no moons derable portion Of his income