The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-08-19
WORKING THE WIRES.
COL. DUNCAN TALKS ABOUT The
NEW COTTON TIES.

He thinks the Problem Has Been Solved
and the Trust Gan Be Crushed In the
Long Run-The Present Outlook.
COLUMBIA, S. G., Aug. 13.-lt is be.
ginning to look as if the farmers OF
the State are going to be winners IN
their fight against the steel cotton tie
trust. which was inaugurated by the
State Alliance. Certain it is that they
are all holding back and are not yet
purchasing ties.
Col. ID. Z. Duncan, the manager of
the Farmers Alliance exchange was
seen at the Alliance exchange Office
Yesterday and asked about his recent
trip to Charleston in the interest OF
the wire and flat iron cotton tie con-
test. Colonel Duncan remarked: LAS
the public are ware, I was appointed
by the State Alliance meeting held in
this city on the 22nd of July to look
into this matter of some substitute for
the flat iron cotton tie, the price OF
which has been advanced 1OOper cent,
by what is called the cotton tie trust.
Nv idea was to use wire and made
the suggestion tc the State Alliance.
As soon as the hrst bale of new cotton
arrived in Columbia, l purchased it
and had the flat iron ties replaced by
No. 10 galvanized steel wire. l found
out by my trip to Charleston that |
had used TOO small a wire, although
up to this time it has held the bale all
right; c
ton to Messrs. Sloan & Sons with in
structions to have it compressed and
put to any and all tests that the ex'
porters desired 10 make. Monday ev
ening concluded to 60 to the city and
witness the COMPRISING myself.
II desire now to publicly make &C
acknowledgement of the courtesy l re-
ceived in Charleston in this matter as
the representative of the farmers OF the
State Alliance. On my arrival in the
city Mr.. Sloan informed me that
while there was no cotton being com.
pressed, the manager of the Champion
Cotton Press had offered to get up
steam for the purpose Of testing the
wired bale. President Frost of the
Cotton Exchange kindly called togeth-
er such members of the exchange as
were present in the city, also the cot
ton exporters and a pleasant informal
meeting was held and the merits OF
the wired bale discussed. The gentle
men all expressed their entire sympa-
tby with the farmers in this fight, al
though the president OF the exchange
called our attention to the fact that
this was a matter of very material i'm.
portance to the entire cotton export
trade of Charleston, and that there
fore the exchange would have to make
q yery thorough test of the matter be-
fore they could act officially, all oi
which we appreciated and return
thanks to these gentlemen for their
kind attentions.
"Now as to COMPRISING the bale.
Would the wire hold2 Would it cut
the bagging? Could it be done as
quickly as when compressed with the
flat iron ties
1.-THE wire held the bale perfectly
after it was compressed. One or two
of the exporters thoughtit cut the bag.
ging in one or two places. In this l
think they were mistaken, for the bag
ping on the bale was of very Door
quality and was rather torn in hand
ling than cut by the wire, and this was
the opinion expressed to me by the
superintendent Of the compress. The
Superintendent of the compress said
that we ought to have a larger wire
and a better way to fasten the wire or
he could not compress the cotton as
easily as with the hoop tie. He
thought the size wire 1 had would cut
the hands of the pressmen.
II think now we have the question
about solved if our wirs friends stand
by us.
81 shall recommend that we use No.
6 annealed wire, which will double
the size and weight of the galvanized
wire had used, will be more pliable
than it to handle, to use seven to the
bale, (ali the congresses use seven)
these seven wires will weigh 8 "a
pounds, against pounds that the six
fiat iron ties weigh. The wire will
be put up in bundles of IS wires; seven
wires to the bale, packing five bales to
the bundle. These IS wires will weigh
Al pounds and will cost rs to 80 cents
per bundle. This as against 30 flat
iron ties in a bundle weighing 45
pounds and costing now $l.45 per bum
die. These 80 ties are used to pack
five bales of cotton. This is the lnfor
nation l haue today and think in a
few days l will have the arrangements
completed to furnish these ties i'm any
quantities. State.