The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-06-04

From the National Economist
The cotton planters Of America, repre-
sented by delegates from their organza-
lions, met in the city OF Birmingham,
Ala, on the 10Th ultimo, and after care
fully discussing the advantages and disad-
vantages OF substituting cotton for juie as
the substance from which the wrapping
for bales OF cotton is TO be manufactured,
they decided by unanimous vote in favor
OF the adoption Of such substitute for a
permanent covering, and as n consequence
they have gone to work in earnest TO inau-
gurate the use OF the substitute.
1t is probable that the press Of the coun.
try will now TEEN with arguments repre-.
senting all sides and views OF this ques-
ton; and should the decision made ut
Birmingham prove 10 have been wisely
made, and therefore capable OF standing
the test OF the most thorough analysis, 1t
will soon be demonstrated But IL will not
do for partsans on the subject TO introduce
the argument by saying that the FARMERS
ARE q lot OF FOOLS" 'that the profits
on jute bagging will be completely
lost by the substitution OF cotton" that
II will entail a great loss 10 wrap with
cotton" "that sufficient amount OF
the cotton substitute can not be obtained"
'that there Is an actual profit on the juto
bagging TO the planter" or THAT iute Is
the better material for the purpose and
dozen more hacknoyod assertions that
simply express the sentiments OF those
presenting them The farmers at Birming.
ham had full and FREQ conference with
the cotton mills OF the South. They also
gave fair, full and impartial hearing "a
the iute men, and received proposition,
from them based upon the largest casl
deal ever offered in this country. They
went TO work like business men in bust
ness way. They had written contracts
and propositions ~ 10 supply and price
from both the cotton and the jute manu-.
faciurcn-, aud taking such data rs that and
equally accurate information on the sub
jccl OF freights, tarc, durability, inflamma-
bility, insurance aud dcsimhility OF the
two substances, they applied the whole
mass Of evidence to the stern arbitration Of
cold mathematical demonstration. Moth
ing could be- more systematic nothing
could be more certainly correct than con.
illusions NO secured.
JurE
has had complete possession of the field as
tho standard covering for cotton bales for
30 long a time that it Is no trouble 10 COM
pile n statement OF its merits aud dement's.
Il IL made in weights OF one aud a hall,
one and three quarters. two and two and q
quarter pounds per yard, aud is used Ia
pieces OF from Eve 10 eight yards in pat
tern.
A custom has been cstabli.hod in many
places By which the ginncr furnishes bag
ging aud ties, gins wrap the cotton for q
stipulated price per bale. and this has a
tendency TO reduce the weigh, and amount
used until 1t is common To see cotton
wrapped with five and hall yards OF one
and half pound baggng. and full aver
age OF NIL American cotton would probably
show six yards OF one aud thrcc-quartcr
pounds bagging yer bale, which on "A total
American crop Of 100000 bales will re-
quirc Ij.GOO.OOO yards of ju;o bagging,
weighing ~, 0JJ pounds, and costing
the planter, at vi cents per yard, 81
80, OO0 II TO the total weight
OF the baggng per cent be
added rs waste IN manufacturing II will
give a total Of III, $780, 600 pounds or i0,6aS
tons, as the amount oi jule butts imported
from India yearly Tor the purpose OF man
uiac.uring this product alone. India Is a
rival textile producing country, aud Amer.
lca, by consuming ludia's iutc, Ia injured
In two WAYS. "a Since she has no product
20 export TO India she must pay cash Tor
the iule, aud by 10 doing she encourage.
the diversity OF textile crops In that coun
try and enables the India producer 10 sub
sit from iute rs money crop. thrreb,
giving him th. power Ia successfully com
pete In the cotton markets OF Europe will
the American cotton crop. aud with an la
ierior cotton country actually raise aud sci
cotton cheaper than America. lie coult
not do this II cotton was his main crop
but can when Il "a q surplus or profit crop
(2) The American planter must sacrifice
his cotton crop for tie scaresi OF all com
moditics, money with which 10 procur,
the hagging, aud 10y 40 doing lac increase
the tendency 10 dcprcss the price OF cotton
because II II an inevitable and iovc
exchange Of cotton ior the one substance
money. This system, Therefore, compel
the American planter to palfonizc his mo.
formidable competitor, taking from nj
own resources the elements Of succc.
aud placing them In the hands OF sue
rival. These considerations dcmonsifal
the necessity ior the use " n natiy
substitute for the foreign product-jutl
The principal uses Of iulc IN AmcriC
are Tor cotton hagging. grain. salt an
gnano sacks, twinc, burlaps and balm
cloth Tor piece goods
rARr
y a very important consideration In n
discussion Of The subject, because not only
every cent paid by the planter for bagyr
and ties an absolute los that should !
charged TO hiscxpcnso account, but elm
ing TO u afc many pounds OF the Tee,
staple. OF the uses mado by manuiactu
ors 81 lhe bagglng and ties no record
made, aud no report has ever been olcp
The public, evidently the manufacture
desire them TO be pgurdcd az a waste q
tiroly.
A little over twothlds Of the emit
American crop Of cotton IL used by forci,
manufacturers, aud, consequently. u
foreign price governs the home markr
Liverpool, being the greatest cotton ma
ket IA the world, practically controls u
cotton markets OF the world lor The aho'
reason, and i)r the further reason IA
there the cotton from ali the Cotton.pr
ducing countries meets In compotltlo
American prices represent Just as low
price as the Liverpool market will iuslil
and whenever American buyers offer on
n fraction lower than he shipper can rcl
Ia by sending his cotton to Liverpool
will ship Il there And American pric
must, therefore. represent the liyerpC
price less the cost Of all expenses that
tach 10 shipping aud selling In that ina