The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1889-10-17
The Jute Ba.ging Question.

The discussion of the jnte bagging
question has been instructive to the
PRODUCERS .f cotton. They have
it:arued that all cotton j. sold on a
basis Of net we ght. and that 6 per
cent. tare is deducted in Liverpool
from gross weight of bales. and that
the same per cent. is deducted in the
cotton producing states lr!m the
price paid the producer, t.: e A 500.
pound la e. gross weight. at $40.
will bring SAT, and 500 pounds, less
E per cent. 470 pounds net, at 10
cents, will bring SIT. The 6per
cent tarc WAS adopted when bales
averaged 100 pounds aaa when
seven yards Of bagging wa> used
weighing two pounds. Six per cent.
On 40O pound bale, made "a pounds
rare for hagg'ng and ties, just about
thc weight Of the baggins and ties
then used. Tie bales sold this sea-
scn have averaged over 500 pounds,
and the jute bagging about lapounds.
Six. yards to the bale il. now generally
used, taerefore the weight OF bag
ging and ties is only 2Ut pounds per
bale, u decrease of 81 pounds per
bale, while the per cent. on the 100
pounds increase in average weight
of hales adds & pounds more to tile
tare deducted. The actual weight
OF hsgging and ties is 201 pounds,
and the present rate Of iare is equal
to 30 pounds, from which it is clear
hat the producer loses94 pounds Of
cotton per bale, besides the value OF
the bageins and ties taken off the
cotton a. the mills.
A convention of the American Cot.
ton Exchanges met in New Orleans
ON tile 10Th OF September, ultimo,
and in conjunction with the various
Commissioners of Agriculture and
OF. the farming in.
lcrests, did recommend that cotton
be sold by the producers at net
weight, as solution Of the tare
question The cotton comm ttee of
the National Farmers al lance ap.
proved the action taken by said com.
,uittec, but it did not receive the ap.
proval of sufficient number of cot.
ton Exchanges to enable the New
Orlea, 8 Exchange to curry it out as
agreed upon. to.wit: October lst,
1889 Tie reason assigned for non.
approval Of the action OF the con.
vention by some Exchanges VAS,
TINT existing Contracts. basel on
present rates of tare, would be inter
ierrd with. If this bc true, let the
parties interested in objecting to the
action uf the Committee, suggest an
equitub { adjustment of the question
Of tare whereby the farmers will
lose nothing more tian the actual
weight Of their bagging and ties.
Tue Alliance does not wish to in
terfere with existing contracts, bur
they want relief from unjust ex-
acliOn> for tarc establ shed by Ex-
changes without their consent, and
they should receive the cooperation
of ihose who handle their cotton in
their efforts for relief. In the fore.
going. no estimate has been made
of the loss on cotton bagging. 1t is
estimated that at least one fourth OF
the present crop will be covered with
cotton tagging. Tie. loss On this.
amount will perhaps be Il pounds
per bale more than the jute, if the
producers permit the present rate OF
tare t. continue. The preaent rate
Of tarc results in Il loss of millions
to the prodccers Of cotton. II the
Alluuce had done nnthing hut ex.
pose this unjust rute of tarc it would
have heen worth all it has cost its
members. The equitable adjustment
cannot be much longer deayed.
J. R. II.