The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1895-07-06
COMMERCIAL DISGRACE.
How Our Cotton Crop Suffers In
Foreign Markets.


ST. Louis, May 11.-TheWashington
correspondent of the Globe-Democrat
writes as follows:
America is the laughing stock of
the world in this respect, for there is
not country, no matter how poor 1t
may be, that does not not ship it's cot
ton crop in better shape than we do"
This is one of hundreds of expert
opinions sin like tenor gathered and
about to be published by the state de-
partment. From all parts of the world
comes the testimony, to the shame of
the United States. Some months ago
an American consul in Europe called
attention to the shabby and damaging
condition of American cotton in COM
parison with the product of other coun-
tries at the markets of the world. This
prompted the state department to un-
dertalke thorough investigation of
the subject, and the results have just
been complied. Under the instruc-
tions, American consuls have sent in
reports, giving dimensions and weights
of American. Egyptian, Indian and
South American cotton bales received
at their ports; describing the covering
of bales, the character of material,
both as to wrapping and bands, and
the condition in which the cotton is
usually received; stating whether
American cotton suffers directly or in
directly by comparison with foreign
cotton on account of either the style
or manner of covering or the quality
or extent of the COMPRISING.
One of the best of the reports is made
by Consul Nettles, of Trieste, who
says all cotton from America, India,
Egypt and Turkey has casing manu-
featured from jute, but the coverings
of the bales differ materially as to tex
ture and degree of protection afforded
to the cotton. The American cotton
bagging is made of large, course
strands of jute, with interstices be-
tween the strands, which are consider
ably increased by the expansive power
of the compressed cotton. The cover
ing on the Indian, Egyptian and Turk
ish bales is of bagging made of smaller
strands of jute, and more compactly
woven, and, while it does not seem to
| be as strong as the American, it comes
in better shape and more effectively
| protects the cotton.
| 1.-THE American cotton" Mr.. Nettles
reports, ''comes in worse condition
than any of the various sorts received
at this port, both as regard bands and
covering material, and exterior condi-
/ a. - -
the cotton is not injured, l am in
formed, its compressed condition re-
sisting the penetration of rain and wa
ter, except in cases where many bands
are off. The jute casing is torn, and
the cotton exposed to mud, water. rain,
theft and fire. The bands easily come
off-one, two, and sometimes more,
being frequently loose or broken
the cotton bulges out. and
more easily absorbs water, takes
up dirt and loses on every
handling. The Indian and Egyptian
cotton, On the other hand, usually
comes i'm good condition-neat and
trim. The bales are cased in close,
4 compact covering, leaving little or none
of the cotton exposed, and are firmly
bound with bands, which are rarely out
of place.
AFTER careful investigation / am
satisfied American cotton suffers in
comparison with foreign cotton, both
on account of the style or manner OF
covering and the extent of compress
ing. Dealers in cotton complain oil
the condition in which American cot.
ton reaches the market and the diff.
ficulty they experience in handling it.
The covering is torn, frequently hoops
are off. the cotton exposed and liable
to loss from mud, dust, theft and
handling. 1t is almost impossible to
decipher the marks on the bales, and
great confusion and trouble arise
therefrom. The marks are well nigh
invisible on the coarse covering. On
the other hand, the Indian and Egypt
ian cotton comes well and closely GOV
cred and wrapped snug and tight. The
bales are clearly marked on the sides
and on both ends, are easily identified
and the mixing of bales or bales with,
/ out marks very seldom occur. The bales
are of uniform size, and are more com
pressed than the American, and thus
expense is saved in ocean freight, stor
age and freight in the transport wagons
to the interior. The American bales
vary in size, which also adds to the ex
pense, preventing compact and close
storage. Buyers in the interior know
exactly, in ordering Indian cotton BY
the wagon load, how much they will
receive, one wagon holding fifty-fivt
bales. One wagon holds twenty-five te
twenty-eight American bales. This, al
the comparative weight of 40 pound.
for Indian and 500 pounds for Amer
lean. gives a freight advantage of from
5000 to 10000 pounds per wagon load
in favor of Indian cotton. The same
holds true as to ocean freight and te
storage. The loss in weight on Ameri
can cotton from the various sources,
am informed, Is about l per cent. in
excess of other cotton, and that, with
the increased freight and other ex
penses, gives about 8 per cent. advan
tage to foreign cotton.
Indian cotton is the competitor Of
the American, the best grades CHASING
about equal to the inferior grades Of
American. Spinnersprefer the Ameri
can, and buyers would like to dea
more in it, but at present it is as easy
to handle 1000 bales of Indian cotton
as 200 bales of American.