The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-09-05
COVERING FOR COTTON.
Scarcity of Cotton Baegine and Jute
Ruling Low =


Jute bagging is being used extensively
this season. Almost all of the cotton re-
ceived up to date is covered with it. 4
member OF firm which handles cotton
bagging said yesterday that there is a de-
mand for it, but the supply is short, even
shorter than it was las5 year and there is not
very good outlook for a sufficient supply TO
meet the demand. There are only two mills
In the country, one at New Orleans and
the other at West Point, Ga The New
Orleans mill, it is said, is not in operation.
or, If it is, its present output is small. The
West Point mill, it is understood, is manu-
featuring the cotton bagging, but, of course,
one mill cannot hope to supply even a re-
spectacle demand.
Cotton is coming in much more rapidly
than at the beginning of the season last
year, and both mills, if they should run on
double time, would not be able to accomplish
a great deal toward meeting the demand.
The crop of Georgia will be, say 100000
bales; for every bale seven yards of bagging
has to be made Some are doubtful II the
mills making cotton bagging will be able to
supply bagging for one-half the crop. Ger
tainly they cannot manufacture it fast
enough, a factor said, to supply the heavy
demand for it now. He said the farmers
have been informed of the scarcity of cotton
bagging, and many alliancemen in sur
rounding counties have ordered jute.
EsThe price of cotton bagging this
season is about l4@l6 cents, and
it ls plain, factor said, if
the farmers use it they will lose more than
81 on every bale. They lost about 30 cents
a bale last season. AS far as the trust is
concerned, he said, it is "busted" anyway,
and jute bagging is now selling at 619@S%
cents.
Pine straw bagging, the factor thinks, is
much better than many supposed it to be,
and he predicted that it will become a pop
ular covering yet. IL weighs about the
same as the 1H-pound jute, is fully as
durable and retails at a less price than cotton
bagging. 1t was urged against the pine straw
bagging that it would stain, but test was
made the other day and the fact established
that it will not stain. He says that large
piece Of the fabric was allowed to soak in
water twenty-four hours, and it was then
placed between two white sheets and pressed
twenty-four hours, and when it was taken out
there was not sign of stain noticeable. 1t
is not more combustible than jute,
and nothing can be urged against
it on that score. Another OBJ
lection to it, he said, is that the small strings
or pieces of fiber from travelled ends will
get into the cotton and make it trashy. The
factor said chat bale Of cotton properly
packed Will not become trashy from raveled
ends or anything else.
Speaking of cotton bagging, the factor
said that large exporters made good deal
of money last year on recover
ing every bale with jute bagging,
making 25 cents net on each
bale. He summed the whole up by saying
that he doubted if there would be that
see-sawing which was carried on last SO a.
son about bagging. He said that the season
has started off we'll and if the open weather
continues all of the cotton will be picked in
fine condition before the farmers have time
to think about whether the covering shall
be jute or cotton.