The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-04-01

'VWer treignt rate and a more satisfactory
condition Of the bale at the port of dis
charge Tho more uniform tho size OF the
bale and the greater the density the better
II Is for stowagc. for the reason that It
takes up less space. and space taken ZIP
by tho commodity to be shipped is the
main factor In determining the rate Of
freight to be charged, and in addition the
greater the density the less danger there is
OF the bale arriving at destination In bad
order To hold the density the bands must
be spaced evenly and the bale properly tied
out OF the press blocks. II is the loosely
put UP and poorly compressed bales that
get adrift. There is not enough pressure
on the band to keep them from rendering
through the buckles when cargo Is being
broken out Of the vessel. And | might say
here that it is largely from this cause
that complaints as to bad copditioned bales
arise. The light baggiug tears In handling
and the bales are ragged aud present to
say the least, ptiabc condition along side
bales from other cotton producing coun-
tries.
as 10 country damage. The causes OF this
are many and often commence in the field.
1t is oft-tmes picked wet. or II dry, al
lowed to get wet before being ginnod;
ginned wet, or II gnned dry, turned out
OF the box into the gin yard and gets wet:
hauled home, thrown out of the wagon
1
weather: II hauled to town. thrown out
in one OF your open cotton yards or open
railroad platforns-gets vets; or to your
open compress platform If at 4 compress
point, gets wet; often loaded on Nat cars,
hauled to congresses and gets wet. And
we all know that one OF the best protec
tions that can be applied to prevent fires
caused by spark throwing engines, where
cotton platforms are provided with them,
is water plug and few feet OF hose so
that the cotton may be well wet down.
| Thus IL Will be seen that the only known
reason for the bale not getting wet and be-
coming damaged is because sometimes
wind and weather will not permit 1t.
There are few warehouses throughout
the State, but they are. not properly con-
structed, or II so constructed, are often not
in good repair. Many have dirt floors and
are not provided with ventilation, and II
cotton is held In them for any length Of
time 1t will become damaged,
believe you all realize that it is neces-
sary to do something TO change the exist
ing state Of affairs and TO put the handling
of cotton on business basis. and II must
be doue. Otherwise 1t not only means in
creased losses. but 1t will eventually shut
the Texas bale out of every market that
can buy It's cotton elsewhere or In some
way get along without 1t, To make the
change and ship our cotton without coun-
try damage and otherwise in coed conil-
ton is 10 reduce the cost of shipment and
| build up a demand for IL in the markets
OF the world.
| Gentlemen, we can bring about this
| much-to- be- desired state OF affairs, and
| expect TO see within the next few years
| the Texas bale not only the best American
bale, but the equal, If not the superior. OF
| any bale that is produced anywhere in the
world. | must trench upon your time for
! nj "a
| have done at the port IN the past two
years for the better handling OF he bale
| We have at present sheds on the wharves
for the accommodation of over 100. 900 bales
of Gotten stored on their heads, and by
| September next there will be additional
sheds built that will increase the storage
| capacity to approximately 2OO.oOo bales
| | will give you some idea of their size
| They are as follows Pier TO- 15GXl560;
piers IL and 10, 250X350; pier 10, lo0XiOO;
| pier IS, l6OxS75; piers 1921, l50Xlt00; piers
2S-2S. 15oxiiO0; piers 29-33. lS0xlo6o, The
| total length Of the sheds Will be SoS5 feet
| or a little ever one and hall miles, with
| an average width of l57 feet. These sheds
are as we'll protected as they possibly car
be from fire by complete system o.
water mains and fire plugs put in by the
| city last fall All vessels take their full
cargoes at the wharves. There has MOI
| been one bale of cotton lightered or loadec
|
chance to supervise the loading Of ell cot
| ton, which is done by the Maritime asso-
| citation and the individual steamship
| agents, and We know that we are making
every effort possible 10 handle the bale In
| proper manner, and tho fact is evidenced
and borne out by the reports of the dis
charging of vessels at port of destination.
Instead OF delivering the worst cargoes OF
anw American port, as was the case season
lS9i95 We have delivered the past two
seasons tho best conditioned cargoes of any
American cotton port except as to country
damage
We thought that when we had made
these improvements that We would be able
TO get reduced insurance rates through the
port but no. While we have the best and
acknowledged best docks for protection of
cargo not only in the South but of any
American port. our insurance rates remain
AT an advanced rate over any of our sister
cotton ports. And the insurance companies
say 1t is on account of the damage losses
thai they sustain. This is not only 4
hardship on us at the port, but 1t affects
every one Of you IL hardship on all
Now, gentlemen. | would suggest that
this organization issue call to the follow
ing organizations. asking them TO appoint a
delegate or delegates to a meeting to be
held rs soon as possible In conjunction
with this association to fully discuss ways
and means for the better handling of the
bale, namely; The Cotton Growers asso-
citation, the Ginners association. the Com
press association and the railroads of the
State. ] make this suggestion because
believe that 1t is largely a matter of ed
ucation with many. and that their atten-
ton can be best called to the present bad
condition of tho bale through the Joint ac-
ton of the several different interests that
must be brought to work In harmony be-
fore we can expect the best or perhaps any
lasting results that will be OF benefit.
Gentlemen. in conclusion pledge you the
support and hest efforts OF the Galveston
Maritime association In this work OF up
building Of our bale of cotton, realizing, as
wa do, full well that your success is our
success.
thank you for your attention.
Motions were then made to appoint four
committees consisting OF five members
each, which provoked a little discussion If
parliamentary usages the motion TO APP
point committees on credentials. permanent
organization, constitution and bylaws and
ways and means was adopted. The chair
announced the following committees:
\ ~ ican