The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1897-05-22
\ GIANT SCHEM f
On Foot TO Control the Cotton
Market by
Means Of the Eew Balina Process
John +. ScaIIcs at the
Head Of 1t.

sltfld. W tit'' " -. ! ~. 'iI".!
New York, May l5,--John Z. Sear.es.
president OF the American Cotton Conn
pany, has a big scheme OF foot to con-
troll cotton in the south. Associated
with him are Stuyyesant Fish. presi-
dent of the Illinois Central Eailread:
former Secretary o! the Interior D. K.
Francis: Jerome Hill. {. D. Ball, Sena-
tor Jones. of Arkansas; B. ?. Me-
Donald. director Of the Missouri, Kan
sas and Texas Railroad, and Bart
Moore OF Waco, Tex 1t has secured
control of patents covering a compara-
lively new machine. which packs cotton
in what is called Il cylindrical bale, a
process that makes such great saving
in cost of producing cotton and actually
delivering it to the spinners that is but
a question OF few years when it will be
impossible to rema n in the cotton pro-
ducing business without using this
machinery. This machinery cannot be
bought. 1t must be leased from the
American Cotton Company on terms
which it dictates. Experts estimate
that If the new method of baling cot
ton is universally adopted there will
be $50, ,Ooo,o eco a year saved in actual cost
of delivering cotton to spinners.
Under the new process the machinery
is such that it will be placed on a plan
tation with the gin anG will turn out
cotton in great rolled bales that is so
tightly compressed that the 5O0-pound
bale will only be one-hulf as large as
the present bale OF the same weight.
1t will turn 1t out, too. in such condi-
tion that it can be shipped directly to
the spinner and fed directly to his
machinery without further handling.
Tremendous enconomy is evident: twice
as many bales can be shipped Or stored
in given space under the new process
as could be under the old Freight
rates from gin to compressor will be
saved.
There will be, too, vast saving in
insurance, As under the new process.
rolled bales will be wrapped iu light
covering that is water proof and almost
fire proof. Commission merchants or
middle men will be driven from the
business.
Absolute control OF the new process
by the American Cotton Company
seems almost certain, experts say, to
give 1t as supreme control over the
cotton industry as the Standard Oil
Company has over the output OF pctro.
leum, or the American Sugar Refining
Company over the output Of sugar, by
guaranteeing the quality of cotton in
bales packed by the new process. The
mas succeeded in creating a
demand fer its goods that has so far |
exceeded its ability to produce it, owing
to the time needed 10 construct the |
machines.
o President Searles, in an interview,
frankly admitted that the American
Cotton Company intended to keep full
control of the new process and only
permit planters to use it under strict
responsibility as to the character of
packages and contents. 1t is very easy
to understand how, under such condi-
tons all attempts at competition can be
crushed and how the American Cotton
Company can become master Of the
planter. AS to this point Mr. Searies
says:
The present tendency Of commerce
to reach the highest economy and
through what you call trust
is bound to increase on all
sides. All attempts to check it only
serve to accelerate. One might as we'll
Try by passing resolutions to stop the
ides.'