The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1897-10-27
The Round Cotton Bale.

According to The New Orleans
Tines Democrat the cylindrical cotton
bale ia not destined to work the reyolu-
ton which has been very generally
predicted.
1t uill be remembered that the round
bale was exhibited at Cotton States aud
international exposition, and attract
ed much attention. At that time there
was contest over the patent ADD it was
asserted that as soon as this was settled
the ne. bale would rapidly dispIace the
square bale.
Those who control the manufacture
Of the rouud bale expected to see it
used for a great pars of the present
crop, but for some reason it does not
seem TO .ttake."
A few days ago cylindrical bale Of
cotton was exhibited at the Office Of
Mr.. Parker. New Orleans cotton fac
tor. The Timas-Democras declares
that the verdict of those who examined
the bale was practically unanimous
against it. Il says:
.sTbere we're cotton factors, mer-
chants, steamship men, cotton meo,
sorewneu, stevedores. and many others
Interested in cotton who went in there
to inspect it. and of the 500 people, at
least, whom Mr.. Parker says saw the
cotton, not one Of them in his presence
gave it q favorable opinion.
: ..The suggestion of this style of cot
bale taking the place Of esquare has,
of course, created q great deal Of In
teress among local cotton people. If i.
ever becomes 4sbe style in .bis section of
the country. as one of the cotton men
said yesterday, 1t will ooly do away
with local cotton factories. local buyers,
local compress. and screwmeo. but will
close up all the country compresses, OBJ
.yiate the necessity of having country
buyers-in fact, revolutionize the whole
cotton business aud paral5zethose braoch-
es indicated above Il isipropose that
the hackers aud promoters OF the round
bale buy their cotton direct from the
consumer in the field. thus doing away
with all middle.men. The cotton men here
say tha. the system would result event
uaily in the trust people dictating terms
to the producer of cotton. They might
give probably better price than sny
one else for year or tuo, bot as 5000
as they got control Of the staple they
would dica.e prices to the farmer.
.Mr. Vincent. Of the firm of Vim
cent + asyne. who Was present. said
that she adoption Of that kind of cot
ton baIiog would throw oot Of business
all the 200 congresses Of the south.
aod would mean revolution-not only
revolution 10 business eense-but
one in which the people Of the country
will rise up in arms against the closing
up2ol business that now gives en-
sployuaeus to so many working people.
q ..The bale is not. we'll pressed-nosh-
ing like the square bale. Il adopted.
it woald do away with the compress.
the cotton factors, screwmeDs etc.
..Ihe cotton men have not made any
plans yet for concerted action against
the invader of the south's greatest inter
ests, but will do so. Tbero is plenty Of
time, they say. bus something must and
shall be done TO overt the threatened
ruin 10 southern planters and the people
whose interests are Identical With
tbem.''
The adverse comments of the New Or
leans cotton dealers will not be taken
as 6oal
II the rouud bale eau be used to
greater advantage than the rec.an-
sular bale, if cotton can be packed more
closely 10 it and without injury, if it
will better protect it from fire. aud if it
il cheaper than the present meth
od-all Of the points of gu
periority are confidently claimed for
it. she round bale will surely make
iss way into very large use.
II 10 evident, however, that iss pros
poets have received q severe blow in
New Orleans -Atlanta Journal
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