The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1888-09-18

chiefly from the unequal sizes OF the
bales, and the consequent skill re-
uuired to stow them in a vessels hold
in such q as to leave unoccu
pied the least possible space.
When it is stated that in New Or
leans these men-the cotton screwmen
work in gangs of four men with a
foreman for each gang; that the work
of the foreman is chiefly to choose on
the wharf bales of such dimensions al
his gang can advantageously stow to-
gether in the hold of the vessel; that
no gang is aHowed, by the rules OF
their Association, to stow nor than
Is bales in one day, and cannot be
called on to stow that number, that
each man receives Sc and each fore
man 81 per day, and that it costs from
so to 80 cents to stow each bale of
| cotton on board a ship, farmers will
understand that it is high time to in
troduce some reform to effect a reduc-
ton in these charges that all ultimately
come out of their pockets. 81
When it is further stated that these
bales of various dimensions are jam
med into the smallest possible space
in vessels holds by the use of power
full jackscrews,' that the screwmen do
not scruple to cut or pull to pieces a
bale when they have difficulty in find
ing a whole one to fit into some par
ticular hole or corner, and that the
bales are torn out of the vessels holds
at the ports of discharge by main force
Of steam power, without consideration
for bagging, ties or cotton, all who
are interested in seeing the cotton
trade of the country conducted in a
manner worthy of the interests in.
volved, and comparable with the
s~plendidly organized system of hand
ling grain, -four and other Western
products, will lend their assistance to
devise and enforce measures by which
the present barbarous and shamefully
wasteful usages may be abolished, in
favor of some method more in keeping
with the advancement of civilization
and with the enforced economy of
the age. '.' '." t''1'
One of the first steps in this direc-
ton must be the adoption Of a box of
uniform length and breadth to be used
by ginners in putting up cotton bales;
and as the existing boxes can be
altered to any required dimensions at
very slight expense, the question of
the cost of such a reform need not be
considered.
The thickness of the bale it would
probably be impracticable to regulate,
nor is this a point of material impor.
lance, as a moments consideration
will show; for with bales of even run
ming length and breadth, the manipu-
lation at every stage of their progress
towards the spinner would be much
facilitated, and the expenses conse.
quently reduced. It is safe to say that
the enforcement of such a rule would
save to the cotton producers of the
country at least $780, 600 a year in
the cost of having their cotton slowed
on board ocean-going vessels alone.
The National Cotton Exchange
recommended that a standard of 81
inches by rs inches be adopted for all
press boxes, but whether this is the
most advantageous size must be a
matter for the consideration of all
concerned.
While it is evidently impossible to
fix the weight of cotton to be put into
each bale, it is certainly necessary that
some limit should be established. At
present a bale of cotton to be mer-
charitable must have a minimum
weight of 800 lbs, but there is no
maximum limit, and bales are put on
the market weighing 600, 700 and
ever as high as 500 and 900 lbs. each.
To say nothing of the inconvenience
of this to the purchasers of cotton in
all large markets, who in purchasing
100 bales of cotton may be called on
to receive all the way from 80, 900 to
6 0 1000 lbs, or over, to say nothing of
the difficulty of handling and COM
pressing these enormous bales, and the
impossibility of ocean-going vessels
avoiding mistakes in ordering the
requisite number of bales to complete
their cargoes mistakes that frequently
cause serious expense both to the ex-
porter and to the vessels), it is natural
to suppose that all who handle, carry
or store cotton at so much per bale
will take, as the basis of their charges,
the extra heavy rather than the aver
age bale. Indeed, they are obliged to
do SO, for the tendency is toEincrease
the weight of the bales beyond reason;
and country merchants, in this State