The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1882-09-21

.ug gt,rTOg lf1ORfNu sfAsOH AHD
soaE srAsOsAnLE sUo0fuiONs
Now that our cotton picking season is
,pening, % few words of advice 70 ou' pan
ofi may not he inowortune' The com
,laints from Europe 10 regard 70 American
,otlons are numerous and widespread ana |
II such serious character as endangcr inc
interests Of the leading article OF southern
growth and expectation Our consuls az
the leading manufacturing points III
England, France, Germany, switzer-
land, ETC., were instructed last
year by congress to procure
all possible information on this subject
and TO furnish the same as II might DC
gathered to the Department OF state. Ihey
found among other things, that in the hrst
place, American cotton in the same bale Is
often of different staple, although the color
nav be quite uniform. This, the spihhefs
Thought, rose as rule, from want OF
proper sorting or over.ginning yet where
layers of different sorts were found II weuiu
seem to proceed from fraudulent admi2-
ture of different kinds OF cotton. lhls 10
matter of great importance, as 1t vastly
affects the price. The same complain.
was made some years ago against
India cotton, but that trouble with the
Indians was remedied by plan oil careiui
inspection by first purchasers. Another
complaint against us is of damp cotton"
Tn this regard it is rather the packers that
are censured for infusing steam, throwing
on off water, etc, during the packing. by
this the cotton is increased in weight from
5 per cent. to 10 per cent. Another COM
nlaint is of the adulteration by the addition
of dnst or sand, and this evil is sometimes
most fragrant and extensive, for thousands
of tons of white and red sand are
sent out annually in the paies'
II is sometimes found as though thrown III
nv shoyelsfull, and sometimes weighing over
| ,0Onounds. and often with the appearance o.
having been wet at the time. Many OF the
spinners say they average loss from thi'
source of from 10 to 10 per cent. ms prac'
tice seems to be growing. Another com
nlaint is of our wretched baling ana pack
| ing. as compared with other places. Inc
consumers urge that the slovenllness VIII
which we pack, and the consequent ragged
dirty and disreputable appearance Oh oui
bales largely tends to depreclate the price
The poor material with which We
wrap the 500 pound or larger
mass, the insufiiciency OF pressing
the irregularity of size, the covers otter
torn. witt the staple hanging in hlthy
and dusty patches here and there severa
hoops busted off, one end bullying WIFE
| cornulence. while the other tapers to the
shape of a stumpy cigar, all beget SO mucl
of a tax which nearly always comes ou'
of the American farmer or shipper, as INC
case NAV be. Much trouble is likewise
riyen by inadeguacy of marking WHEREBY
our cottons often go astray, or get mlxeo
nm. In India and the Levant the bales
from the plantation are repacked, etc.; the
consequence of this is that these Egyptian
and Surah bales are square, clean,
uniform in size and weight, sheathed
with fine strong hempen ana 1ute
cloth and securely bound with iron bands
six inches apart, and hence the American
bale stands prejudiced against at once
alongside of them. Another matter ON
farmers should pay great attention to, ano
that is to pick their cotton as clear OF lear
seed. stem and all other trash as it shall b'
possible. Some ten years ago Just as serl
Gus structures were made against Egyptian
Brazilian and Peruvian cottons, but since
the passage OF the British Cotton FRAUDS
Actn and the severe laws enacted in Bonn
bay against the selling OF the adulterateS
staple, a great change has been ct
fected, and if we Americans, that
to say, we southcrners desire to stand SID
by side with them we must observe TN
practices which make their bales, othe
things being equal, so largely preferred
Possibly law by the next Legislature
making penal all fraudulent patkinI
might help the cause considerably, an'
preserve the reputation of an. honest class o
farmers against the rascalities OF some dis
honorable packers, as also, perhaps, II thu
PLANTER and packer should be compelled Il
Mace their names inside every bale o
cotton. We desire TO see Texa'
cotton at least rank high in the markets o
the world as to all these requirement
which beget excellence of price and CORES
bonding reputation. Let the farming in
terest as the great base of this pyramid SCI
| to it that no flaw shall be traceable to then
and that our great staple starts out iron
their hands clean.