The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-08-22
PRICES KEEP GOING UP.
The Jute Bagging Trust TO Make the
Best Of lis Last Year.

The Market Steadily Advancing.
Many of the Factors and Farmers
Laid in a Supply of Bagging When
Freight Rates Were Cheap and the
Inducements for Ordering a Foreign
Shipment Under the New Tariff Bill
Are Not Great.
The National Cordage Company, other
wise the Jute bagging trust, is playing a
great game to keep the market cornered
for the present year and pull the farmer
for all II can on the bagging needed this
season,
The trust has been keeping only a small
stock of bagging on hand in anticipation
Of the tariff bill. which has taken or
the duty. 1t has been selling it, too, in
small lots. The supply now on hand is
hardly sufficient TO take care of this
years cotton crop, and it is too late under
the present conditions for the farmers
ana cotton men to talk about importing
bagging from England.
The facts in the case from southern
standpoint are that many of the cotton
factors and farmers have laid in a supply
or oagglng with which TO handle a large
part OF their crop, having bought it at a
time when the low freight rates from
New York and other northern points
were IN force, because they got it laid
down cheaper than they could have done
had the regular freight rates remained in
force. 1ney viii not therefore, need
tuIl supply with which to handle their
crops, and the trust knows this. The
farmers and factors would not therefore,
be so ready to begin importing.
PUSHING THE MARKET.
1t is fact, too. that owing to the fall
ing off in the demand the foreign mills
have been inactive. and if orders were
given now they could not be filled in time
for the present crop. The bagging trust
appreciates this situation, and is going TO
push the market for all it is worth.
The Senate bill takes of the duty of
222 cents, which was kept up by the Nc
klnley act, and consequently makes the
bagging just that much cheaper AS an
example of the fact that the trust is go
ing to squeeze the farmer for all it is
worth, 1t may be stated that not a week
ago bagging was advanced three-quarters
OF cent yard within four or five days
time. Many of the Savannah factors
nave bought greater part of their sup
ply, as nave others, on account Of the
cheap rates, and under the circumstances
there is hardly enough inducement to
purchase large importations from abroad
this year.
THE LAST CHANCE.
The trust realizes that this is its last
chance. The consequence is bagging is
advancing in price every day or two.
Unless something can be done the chances
are that baRglng will 90 much higher
than it has ever been since the alliance
tackled the jute trust. One of the mana
gers Of the cordage company is quoted
as follows:
"Bagging will be bagging before the
season is over and we expect to recoup
our losses on this season and look to the
republicans to put us back under their
protecting wing in the future"
This not only bears out the indications,
but shows they boast of the fact that
they will attempt to squeeze out every
dollar they can.
SUGAR SACKS AS A SUBSTITUTE.
On account of this state of affairs some
attempt has been made to use baggiug
made of sugar sacks sewed together, and
1t is said this makes a very substantial
and desirable article for the purpose and
a good substitute for jute. The material
is more closely woven than the jute bag
cling and while it has its disadvantages it
is considered by many very good sub
stltute. Samples have been received in
Savannah, and it may be that a good deal
OF this kind OF bagglng will be used this
season. The cotton baggiug is not con-
sldered good substitute, as it is hardly
strong enough to stand rough handling
and readily tears when handled with the
hook, The situation as it stands at
present IS rather an interesting one and
1t remains to be seen whether any means
can be devised to defeat the trust in its
expressed efforts TO squeeze the market.