The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1886-12-08
Less IN WEIGHTS OF COTTON.
S'Earmer" Replies to the Queries Of th'
Editor of the News and Courier.

10 the Editor Of The Neacs and Co,uier:-On
my return from the fair on Saturday was
invited. to cali on Mr. Dinkins, Editor of
the NAMING inns, whom found sick and
confined to his bed. and was shown By him
your courteous note sent him to ascertain
the name Of Farmer" author Of the COM
munication published in the TINES under
date Of November 3, and while there saw
your article calling on the Chamber OF Com
merce to investigate this serious complaint
of short weights in Charleston. am ex-
tremelv obliged and feel sure that it will
lead to good results without any action from
the Farmers Convention"
The object of my letter was to call public
attention to this matter, and if possible to
cease this universal complaint that rises
from one end to the other of this district.
Ny communication to The Aeers o,.d Courier
some TWO Years ago had the same aim IN
view, but il accomplished nothing. This
feeling that the farmers are wronged IL
weighs Of their cotton IN Charleston isvery
intense and in the same proportion as the
farmers cotton crop falls short his sense Of
loss is appreciably increased.
Please understand distinctly that the homes
ty of no particular factor is questioned-but
these losses have and do occur daily, and
my honest opinion is that he cannot be held
responsible for an act which he does not
himself commit. He receives at his Office
the marks and weights Of cotton which have
been assigned him, rendered TO him by q
public weigher who is notin his employment
and whose salary is only indirectly paid
by him as well as others. When farmer"
| complains of loss of weights the factor mere
| ly encloses him statement Of the public
weigher that these particular bales weighed
so much. You write to the factor to have
bale or bales reweighed at yoDr expense, and
receive for reply that these bales have been
delivered to the purchaser and regret that
''irregularity Of mails" &c,-hpt ''they
were weighed oy a sworn weisher," &C., &c,
There is no responsibility of factor to far
much per hundred for ginning, has paid
the railroad, as per receipt, SO much per
! hundred for transportation to Charleston,
and all that thu poor fellow k7oors is that the
loss has come out Of his hard-earned labor,
/ and that he can get no redress,
Why not do away, then, with the public
weigher, and let the factor be responsible
and let him earn the twenty cents for his
weighing. anu lel nJn 80 Uach Oh Lie 1aI1-
roads if there is loss On the weight Of q bail
during shipment, that the farmer may have
some point to which he may look for re-
dress.
As we are the subject, and the Ex-
change seems TO have this matter at heart,
would it not be well to tell The farmers what
becomes Of samples that afe taken from the
bales-what becomes of them? Itlsa phys
ical ilnpossibility to put them back into the
bales, unless it might be done at the steam
press. Is it done there? Is it done any
where? Farmer does not know it, nor
does he believe otherwise than that i is 8
dead loss to him. Who gets them? What
is done with them?
| If desired will forward the account sales
alluded to at my earliest convenience, with
necessary afid&vits; also, all substantial
complaints from farmers in reference to loss
of weights in Charleston, which will be filed
at the Office of the sheriff Of Clarendon
County at my request; also all complaints
of Manning merchants on the SINE subject
left at the same Office, or any and all infor-
nation to throw light on the same subject
that will tend to a full investigation by that
honorable body, the Chamber of Commerce
and then neither farmer nor factor may be
so unhappy" FAaNzs.