The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1894-07-28

these farm DalcS are very idrSc anu
awkward to handle, being of such bulk
that only three can be hauled convent
emily on two-horse wagon. In this |
shape it is sold at the nearest market |
and placed in some convenient cotton
ward 1t is then assembled, classed |
and sent to the nearest compress, where
it is repressed by power steam or hy- |
draulic presses. There is here con-
stantly assembled during the season
from 1000 to 10000 bales of cotton, and
for this reason cotton is often delayed
for many weeks at the compress in its
original form waiting for the second
operation of compression. causing nu-
!. merous vexations and necessitating
! Extra insurance, which is always neces-
farily high. sex
|. Its second experience in the press
puts it to the fequired density for ship
ping, which is about 221z pounds to the
~
4 BY the Bessonette method all of this
extra handling is done away with As
the ncotton comes from the gin it is run
into the Bessonette compress and
placed on,a wooden core around which
it is rolled under the pressure of two
rollers. Each fiber of cotton is thus
subjected to a constant and increasing
pressure from the large rollers. as it
grows in size.
This press is designed TO, take the
place of the box press on the cotton
farm It takes up less room and as it
is self-feeding it dispenses with the
services of the men required to feed the
press at the gin plant. The Bessonette
operation is final, and when the bale
has been through the press it is merely
wrapped in bagging and is ready for
shipment. No metallic ties are neces-
sary, and their cost as well as the cost
of adjusting them is saved. The bale
contains thirty-five pounds OF cotton to
the cubic foot instead of twenty-five
pounds as by the old process, and being
| cylindrical in shape is more easily
handled. and packed.
The necessity of some great reform
in American cotton baling is apparent.
| The subject was recently touched upon
in consular report by J, c. Monaghan.
| He says: e
'sThe packing of American raw cotton
causes deal of anxiety and complaint
here. The jute cloth covering is so
| torn before the bales reach Chemnitz
that the cotton is exposed to mud, wa
ter, fire and theft. OF the original six
or eight iron bands, two, three, four
and sometimes more, are loose or bro
ken; the cotton bulges out, takes up
dirt and dust when in a dry place, mud
+ in the docks, sea water when in the
ships and rain water when on land. on
wharves, or in transmission by boat,
rail or wagon. In transport every gust
of wind tears away pieces of the valua-
BILE commodity. The wharves, custom
house floors and freight cars are usual
ly covered with pieces torn or dropped
from such bales; and the danger from
fire is great, fm cotton ignitese 9sily,
and sparks from cigars or locomotives,
famed by winds, even those caused by
the movement of train or wagon,
could cause not only the<burning of the
cotton, but of other valuable property.
| "Contrasted with the packing Of Egyp-
tian and Indian cotton, the American
must be regarded as very bad. Both
Egyptian and Indian have close, com
pact, tough coverings. are rather long
and smooth. leave little or noneof the
cotton exposed, are easily and plainly
marked, and are wrapped close and
bound strong and tight. Along the
sides the firm s or sellers name appears
On both ends the kind of cotton is indi'
Gated to aid in Identification should one
end be torn off in handling, as some
times happens. Thus, in the case Of
Indian and Egyptian cotton, mixing o.
bales and bales without marks seldor<
if ever occur; on the other hand, with
American cotton both happen very fire
quently-too frequently-hence thu
complaint.
1.-The Indian and Egyptian bales arr
SO tightly pressed. so well covered and
bound, that injury from fire, water
dirt, dust, ETC., is minimized. Take thi
table as to space occupied BY the diff
ferent bales:
Weight Space occupied
Bales OF cotton pounds cubic feet
| Egyptian. -..............70 10
Indian .4U ~
american. ~
s.The Lloyds, who can pack into thei
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