Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-03-19
WE CALL IT THEFT
To Put Sand in Bales OF Cotton
Some Testimony to that Effect
which should
Have the Immediate Attention OF All
the Cotton Exchanges Of the
United States.

Minister Lowell is going down into the
cotton-spinning country to ind out what
foundation there is for the unpleasant re-
ports about sand in American cotton. His
report upon the facts will be awaited with
interest and received with unquestioning
confidence, for while Mr.. Lowell has never
posed as an expert in the matter of cotton,
neither in respect to sand, and has given far
more time and study to the poetry OF Dante
than to the subject OF adulteration, yet he IS
a man OF strong common sense, and Is en-
tirely capable of judging whether the sand
OF which the Oldham spinners complain
80 much was intermixed with the delicate
fbers of the cotton by the innocent winds or
by the fraudulent act of the unprincipled
planter. As between these two possible
agencies, the evidence thus far at hand points
with unmistskable positiveness at the plan
ter. There is not a wind in all the caves of
Eolus that can blow hundred pounds OF
sand into one bale of cotton, a stone weigh
ing FIVE pounds and half into another.
These are among the instances of adul-
teration cited by Consul Shaw, of Man
chester. 1t is clear that there is wicked,
intentional frand here, and the fraud
is practiced to q very large extent.
English spinners complain that Amer
lean cotton Is the worst they receive in re-
spect TO impurities and adulteration. A
bales was charged with fine red sand to an
extent varying from nine to twenty-six per
cent. of its weight. A Warrington firm of
spinners, by a series of tests of Texas and
New Orleans cotton, found that seventeen
and half per cent. was sand. There is also
a suspicious dampness about cotton from this
side of the Atlantic, and sometimes the
presence OF caked masses of the staple in
the middle of bales gives evidence OF
heat was found TO reduce the weight
of some bales from ten to fifteen per cent. A
Preston spinner declared that with Egyptian,
Brazilian or Surat cotton his firm could ac-
count for every pound bought, either in yarn
or waste, but there was always from three to
five per cent. OF American cotton which dis
appeared altogether in the process of spin
ming, appearing as neither yarn nor as waste.
This loss was chargeable to impurities. This
is shameful state of things. The finest red
sand the South produces is not worth seven
pence per pound in Liverpool. To put
it in cotton is q mean, low, contemplate
fraud. Besides, it mi lures the machinery of
the spinner, and the cotton with which it is
mixed will not work properly. The placing
of a ten-pound holder in each bale would
be far less mischievous form of adultera-
ton, and the actual burglary of the spinners'
counting rooms would De noble act COM
pared with this vile cheating. But it ia an
evil thai Is very easily durable, and as soor
ga careful investigation has determined
the extent to which it is practiced, steps
should be taken to this end. Minister Low
ell will no doubt do the country and it
commerce a good service by fully in
vestigating the facts on which Consu
Shaw's recent report was based, bu
ence. 1t is the first thought OF a very larg,
class of people to demand government in
spection when complaint is made of ths
adulteration of food or merchandise. 1t ii
TO be remarked in general that this demand
is not a reasonable one, for government in
spection, with certain exceptions, yields
lower average of efficiency than almost am
other system yet devised. An inspector sp
pointed and paid by the government bring
no such vigilance to the performance of hi
duty az is constantly exercised by thos'
| who have direct and personal interest il
the detection of the imposture. The dis
honest cotton planters who make too free {
use of sand and water should be dealt will
by the cotton trade itself. The Natioua
Cotton Exchange can put a stop to thes'
wicked practices at any time by requiring
that every bale of cotton shall be iDdelibl,
stamped with the name of the grower anC
packer, and that cases of pslpable adul
teration shall be published, while tn,
presence OF ordinary impurities and trash
in neediessly large quantities shall be con
sidsred a sufficient reason for q deduction
of Eve ten per cent. IRON the price paid
| The experience of the East Indian cotto
buyers may be proitably studied by our cot
ton exchanges. Until something like doze
years ago sand and water were used with al
| together too much freedom by the packers Q
Indian cotton. The cotton frauds act O
1853 made it penal offense to adulterst
cotton or to sell it when adulterated. In
-pectors were appointed and presses set up b
| the Bombay government, but in 1878 tn
| law was repealed and new one passed
Government inspection did not furnis
the desired protection, and the la
| is now a dead letter. Its place ha
been taken by the natural laws and regu
| lations of the cotton trade. The buyers hav
come into closer relations with the nativ
planters, and every man is made to under
stand that il is for his interest to send pur
cotton to market. The buying houses hav
their own skilled inspectors, and under thi
| system there is practically no adulteratio
| Of Indian cotton. The organization of on
| own cotton trade is admirably complete, bU
| the exchanges and the buyers have strangel
| neglected TO take advantage of the pows
| that ia in their hands.