Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-03-11

These pay better prices for clean cotton,
and producers see the necessity OF bringing
only pure cotton to market. Government
inspection has been declared, over aud over
again, TO be delusiVe snd expensive ex-
pertinent, and recently the enforcement OF
the law was abandoned. Those best sd-
vised inform me that care In purchasing
cotton from first hands, on the part Of lead
ing houses in the cotton trade In India, has
brought about 3 much-needed reform.
The condition in which bales Of Ameri-
can cotton arrive here,n says q Stockport
spinner, 'is very unsatisfactory. The
wrappers are Of the poorest stuff, and, from
the bales being insufficiently pressed and Of
such varied sizes, they are wedged in the
holds OF the vessels with force and violence
to prevent their moving in transit; and when
unloaded they are ruthlessly pulled, and
the covers torn in releasing them from the
ship. The cost of mending is considers
bic tax 70 some one, and when the covers
are badly stitched or mended, the loss from
pilfering is very great. Bales are broken to
pieces in getting out Of the ship, and all
sorts of stuff and sweepings are sgain made
up to represent the number OF bales shipped.
The condition and baling Of Egyptian and
Indian cotton are very superior and
worthy of imitation" A spinner in the
Preston district states that there is
much irregularity in the weights OF
the tsres Of American bales. There seems
to be no good reason why American cotton
should not be baled as well as Egyptian or
Indian cotton, but 1t is not st present. A
load OF American cotton which saw pass
ing along the streets of Oldham recently
looked as though it might have formed
part Of some fort and had been repeatedly
struck by cannon shot. There was hardly
bale that was not torn, and cotton was
hanging IN patches from many OF them. A
large cotton spinner assured me that he very
frequently had to pay from - to 70 lot
for REPAIRS" in mending torn and badly
covered bales-s tax not at all agreeable 10
pay. l am informed that similar charges are
seldom, if ever, made to purchasers OF East
ern cotton: and this fact, taken in connec-
ton with the far greater distance the cotton
is freighted, proves that the material used
in baling our cotton is of an inferior quality.
The importance of this subject cannot
well be overestimsted. The great cotton
producing States are deeply interested in
their staple crop. Both the good name and
profits of producers now suffer, In a sense,
through the frauds l have described in this
report. a remedy should be found for the
correction of these abuses, and the sooner
this is done the better it will be In the inter
ests Of fair play and common honesty. The
system OF packing cotton needs to be in
proved. II q large card could be placed in
the centre Of each bale, with the name Of
the producer, the number Of pounds in the
bale, the date when packed, and duplicate
record kept TO be sent with the cotton when
sold, a check would ba furnished Y witch
all frau Is could be easilg traced. Thsn there
could be no question shout damp cot
ton especially. The record of the
number Of pounds originally put into
the bale would show whether there
had been any additional weight added
| from water OF course, the cotton should
be so baled that IL tsmperiDg with 1t after
wards could be possible without detection.
This point, it Is believed By practical men,
could easily be secured. l need not refer st
any length to the great benefit which some
such system SIS thai I have sketched IN this
brief report would be to the growers OF cot
| ton 10 the Unite1 States. Ia my interviews
| with English manufacturers l have made
| full inquiries about the reason Why more
| American cotton is not purchased "to ar
rive,' Instead Of son spot" at Liverpool.
| The answer has invariably been, because
we are afraid that the cotton will not turn
cut right, and our remedy, il any, would be
remote and troublesome" Owing 10 q
| faulty system of inspection aud fraudulent
adulteration through sand and water, m?EC-
| fscturers are afraid OF "taking the chances"
| of purchasing their cotton direct from the
American dealers. There surely should be
some way Of overcoming this controlling
| objection to making direct purchases, for
such 8 course would certainly insure pro-
ducers better prices for their cotton, and
| this is the class that deserve attention.