The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-11-13
THEY WANT ALL THE MILK IN THE &C
COANUT.
Talk About Light BagSins, and the
Practice OF Putting ON Extra Ties
...Read Between the Lines.
Iiug,Lstd Chronicle.


Mr. James Tobin has received and replied
to- q letter from Commissioner Henderson in
reference to the custom OF deducting the
weight of the extra ties where more than six
are placed on bale Of cotton.
1t seen tSat many farmers who use cotton
bagging are putting on several extra ties to
the bale. Clearly the purpose of this is to
make til e bale covered with lighter baggiDg
weigh as much as the bale in jute.
This would be entirely fair where the farmer
is nJG allowed any difference In the price ol
his cotton, whether covered in cotton or Jute
But when the mill men in Augusta allow far
mers fifty cents a bale more for their cotton
covered in cotton bagging than for the same
cotton covered in Jute, and thus overcome IN
the favor OF the farmer tho difference In the
weight Of the bagging, IL would be manifeStly
unfair to the manufacturer for the farmer to
even up the difference himself with extra ties,
and then expect the Augusta mills to pay him
fifty cents besides for Il difference in weight
which no longer exists.
Following Is the correspondence:
THE COMMISSIONERS INQUIRY.
ATLANTA. Ga, Nov. 2, 1889.
Mr.. James Tobln, President OF the Augusta
Cotton Exchange, Augusta, Ga:
Dear S!r--I learn that 1t is the custom nj
some points in Georgia to deduct two pounds
for each tie in excess of those ordinarily used
upon cotton, which believe is about six ties
to the bale. learn at the same time, though
not authoritativcly, that the Augusta buyers
claim no deduction rs above stated. But to
be sure my information Is correct, would he
pleased to hear from you, as the head of the
Augusta Cotton Exchange, the unmistakable
facts Of the case.
The question being considered a matter OF
importance by farmers, and the season rapid.
ly advancing for the delivery OF cotton, hope
you will answer by return mall.
Yours truly, J. r. HENDERSON,
Commissioner OF Agriculture.
MIR. ToEIN's REPLY.
To this letter Mr.. Tobin made the following
reply:
AUGUSTA. GA, Nov. 4, 1880.
Hon. J. T. Henderson. Commissioner Of Agrl-
culture, Atlanta, Ga:
Dear Sir-Your favor addressed to me as
President OF the Cotton Exchange received
While | am not now President OF the Cotton
Exchange, can answer your question. The
number OF bales coming TO Augusta with ex-
tra ties Is very small, and there has been no
action taken in the matter, nor any regular
custom adopted, but In all cases where cotton
covered in cotton bagging and havingan eN-
ira number OF ties, are sold to our factories,
the weight of the extra ties must be deduced.
as the factories pay an additional price for
such cotton and the additional price is paid
In consideration of the increased net weight,
which the extra ties would in part or wholly
offset. This, of course, would be recognized
by you or the owners of the cotton as clearly
equitable. Augusta stands alone as the only
city in the South that pays IN extra price for
cotton covered in cotton baggiug, our mills
having agreed last summer to pay the extra
amount recognizing the fact that the lighter
the covering the greater the net weight OF the
raw material and olr factors sell most Of such
cotton to the factories.
Apologizing for writing at such length and
holding myself in readiness at any time to
give you such Information as may be In my
possession, / am, very truly yours,
JAMES ToBIN.
PSI think the putting on of extra ties
unwiSe. 1t simply complcates question that
Is already hard one to handle. j. II.