The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1897-02-17
Round Bales Won't Burn.

It is q notorious fact, not only to the
cotton trade, but to the observant portion
of the public that no other commodity OF
approximate value is 30 roughly handled
from field to loom as cotton. In many
fields it Is picked and piled upon the
ground in heap before being carted to
the gin. From the gin 1t is hauled to the
railroad station. where, for days and
nights, it stands uncovered in the open
air and unprotected from depredations,
save by it's own bulk. It Is shipped to
the city where it is taken upon drays and
hauled in any sort Of weather over the
muddy,streets frequently with the mud.
dy wheels of the dray grinding mud and
slush against the exposed end of the bale.
Frequently, from improper baling or I'M
proper sampling the bagging which Gov.
ers it is as ragged as beggar's coat, and
on all sides the cotton Is openly exposed,
and almost as infammable as powder.
Next it goes 70 the compress and on ship
board for export, and the testimony from
the other side has been frequently given
to the bad.condition in which American
cotton is received. nsome ofthe consular
reports we have seen photographs show
ing bale of cotton after It reached Eu-
rope, thing Of shreds and patches, mis-
shapen and pathetic. -, -.
These facts, which are familiar to the
public, would seem to establish the TACT
that there Is room for reform IN the hand
ling and balIDg of cotton, and any system
of baling that shows improvement IN
these particulars, at least, merits conslq-
Grafton. With this view, we reproduce
the following from the st. LOUIS Repuouc
of recent date, giving an account OF an
experiment there with the round bale.
The Republic says:
bnrn to any very great extent. This fact
was proven before the board Of under
writer's Wednesday morning by the
American Cotton Co., which operates the
round-bale system.
"a round bale was shown completely
covered, ends and all, with a closely WOW
en- cover, and with no cotton whatever
exposed, The "fash hazard" one OF the
greatest risks In cotton, is thus removed
by the new method of baling. It was ex-
planned that no cutting OF the wrapping
of any sort was necessary or permitted,
as guaranteed sample Of the bale was
drawn in process of making, and proper
ly identified.
AS the objection had been raised that
the bale could not be sampled, 1t was
demonstrated perfectly that q sample
could be drawn from the round the same
as from any bale, simply by cutting 1t.
Then the ends were cut open and the
character OF the winding fully shown.
The bale was then placed upon proper
support, the bagging still further cut and
the cotton thrown back and exposed, ana
wood piled under, around and on top OF
the bale, and coal oil poured over all Of
it. 1t was then fred.
After twenty minutes the Gre died down
and the bale was rolled out, aud H. was
found that beneath the outer layers the
cotton was untouched, and it could not
penetrate the ends OF the bale, simply
charring the exposed ends slightly. 1t
was again set fire to, but The blaze quick
ly died out.
Meanwhile another bale of similar char
acter was shown, with an iron roo run
through it and properly supported, ano
this was unwound clear down to the core,
rolling off like q roll of paper in modern
printing press, delivering the cotton IN
q smooth, regular "bat." ready ior tne
machinery. There was no hitch anywhere
in the unrolling.
Then the fire bale was returned 10, ano
to show that water would not penetrate
it, as we'll as to put out any little rem
nants of fire thatmight be lett, water was
poured upon the bale. Then, with the
unrollipg of one single turn it was shown
that under the first layer the cotton was
perfectly dry and not damaged in any
manner. The bale was then recovered,
weighed, and it was found that it had lost
II per cent The large number of prom
inent men, railroaders, bankers, insur-
ance men, etc.. who were present ex-
pressed themselves as satisfied with the
success of the test.
We give this simply as the record of
an interesting experiment. Possibly cot
ton experts have objections that are prac-
tical and sufficient to the round bale; but,
howeversthis may be, the need for pet
ter bale than that now in common use IS
generally conceded and it furnishes an
interesting field for investigation and e1,
pertinent. 1t is "an acre of diamonds
worth working.-Augusta Chronicle.