The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-08-08
COTTON rs. UTE RAGGING

Nothing OF all the evil results Of the
combines, trusts and monopoies, except
the Cotton Seed Oil Trust, comes so closely
home to the planters Of the South as the
recent advance in jute baggng. In May
last il was quoted by The Boston CONNER
ciai Bulletin at % cents per yard, whereas
now it is quoted at II cents. There is no
scarcity OF raw material to justify this in.
crease, and the only reason assigned for ii
by those who have gone into the combine
is the passage Of the Mills Bill, which pro-
poses to cut Off the duty Of 20 per cent. on
the raw material, the duty Of 30 TO 10 per
cent. ON the machinery used, which is made
in England, and TO reduce the duty on the
bagging used for cotton from 4 cents to
thrcc-cighihs Of u cent per pound. An.
ticipaling this possible though not proba-
bio change, the manufacturers Of jutc bag.
ging have, in the face Of the fact that o.
cents afforded them very fair profit, re.
solved 10 punish the Southern planters for
asking for this measure OF relief by doub-
ling the price on them. To say that this
is infamous is scarcely TO characterize IT,
As the result OF conspiracy, II brings the
parties to IL within the reach Of the Grim
inal law. Yet there is no chance for
| their prosecution unless the cotton planters
of the South combine to effect IT, But is
that practicable? We do not believe it il.
But the planters can break up this monop-
oily, II they will, by adopting a suggestion
of The Meridian MRS, that they encourage
the manufacture of cotton bagging to
make sufficient supply Of which would
take at least 10000 bales OF cotton
each year. The Nov estimates that
crop Of 7cOOOJ1 bales. with nix yards of bag
| Cling "a the bale would rrquir lAOplOlO yards oi
bhg.dug AZ two pounds Ia the yard. this would be-
| si01o0O pounds lh,. nj aul pouuds 10 the lac,
would equal 1000 bales This would be- p per
cent ola 7OOnUD halo crop. n thi, cxtm con.
sumption should affect the market price 2 per
crni, the advance 10 nm average price NJ cents
per pound, would b. - Of accent pcI pound, or u
pcr halc.
Two pounds Of very ordinary cotton worked up
Into bngging would, la that state. h. worth about
10 cents per pound. This would make the two
pound cotton hnsTlng cust ~ cents yard. or o. ~
pcf bale This would H. only ~ ccnts IN excess of
the advance In the price oi cotton per bale ON
the other hand siS yards Of lulc hagglng nj ~
ccnis yard. would cost 40 cents n bale or a. cents
mov than the cNcr,s IT cnsi on cotton bnrring
over the Increase IN the market pficc caused
through the extra consumption u cotton
beside, this cost oi 90 cvnu pr bale. tho cotton
producers would lo,e an additional 81 per bale
that they would secure In the advance In the price
oi cotton 10y the consumption oi 10000 bales Of
cotton In the manuiactup Of cotton bagging
Admitting that the advance would not follow
through this extra consumption. the possibility of
paying murv iuf cotton tagging than for juic BAG,
sing would hc avoided by inducing the weight of
the cotton birglng 10 one pound instead OF two
pounds, Ter yard. THIS would make tho cost Of
cotton bagslng aud luic harglup about the same
while making market Coz nearly 10000 bales Of
cotton.
As TO the question raised by The Ns,n
rs 10 whether cotton bagging afford q
covering and protection Tor cotton equal 10
that afforded by the iuto baggng? In
other words would the cotton bc as safely
protected against lire and waicr2' We
think It is safe To sap II would, aud that il
would be quite as acceptable TO the under.
writer's Hut anyway II Is worth while TO
agiiatc the question. Tho South as 10 the
covering Of her cotton bales aud the cotton
ties should be- independent oi the world.
She should cultivate the iuic aud manu-.
iaciurc both the bagsing aud the ties at
L,u,,