The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-09-17

WANT MORE CARE FOR COTTON.
The Manchester Association COM
plains of American Methods.

The Manchester Association Conn
plains of American Methods.
Considerable interest in cotton trade cir
cles has been aroused recently by an an
nouncement by the leading marine insur-
ance companies of an advance Of about IS
per cent. in their rates on cotton risks,
says the New York Journal of Commerce
and Commercial Bulletin. This action, 1t
is stated was due to the fact that cotton
merchants in Europe had made heavy
claims for what IS known as country
damage" which the insurance companies
are called upon to make good. This coun-
try damage covers injury received by cot
ton while in transportation from the field
to the consignee such, for instance, "a
wetting, dirt and shrinkage. 1t not infre.
quently happens, for instance, 1t is said
that cotton coming from the interior is
left exposed to the rain either in fields or
upon open piers, OF is rolled through mud
all of which Injuries the exterior portion
Of the bale to a greater or less extent
In addition to the action of the insur-
ance companies there has recently been
considerable complaint among cotton mer-
chants abroad over the condition in which
American cotton arrives at foreign ports.
The Mancheste4&Cotton Association re-
Gently sent communication to the local
exchange as well as to others In southern
cities urging the need of more care in the
baling and handling of cotton. and there
has for some time been continual pres.
sure from the other side for an improve
ment in this direction.
There has, 1t is claimed by local mer-
chants, been considerable Improvement in
the handling of cotton in recent years in
this country. This is, however said to be
confined mainly to the seaports.
Galveston for instance, has recently
material In bar tta
age facilities. In the interior of Texas,
on the other hand, there has been COM
parativelys little advance. The insurance
rates on Texas cotton are about 4 of one
per cent. higher than those on cotton from
other states. The Galveston Maritime AS
ISOLATION, as noted in these columns yes
terday, has been urging planters and
others in Texas to bring their methods of
moving the crop up to higher standard.
The association calculates that the diff
ference in the rate of insurance amounts
to 10 cents per bale, or to 10000 on a
Texas crop of 100000 bales. 1t urges
that this loss could be prevented by the
exercise of more care on the part of those
handling the crop
The complaint of the Manchester Cotton
Association has had the effect Of arousing
action by the local exchange, which has
instructed It's trade committee to investi-
gate the matter. The Manchester Asso-
CidlIOil CdiAGQ dltCUNlOtl 10 the UlCL1OQ Oh
putting up Indian and Egyptian cotton,
which is covered with a close woven bag
ging, bound with more bands than are
used in this country. The covering used
in this country, which is very loosely
woven, has been condemned in some
quarters for a long time, but thus far no
better bagging has come into general use
here.
John L. Bullard, of the firm of Billiard
& Wheeler, dealers in cotton ties and bag
ging, when questioned yesterday in re-
gard to the need Of a better covering, said
Twenty years ago there was no trouble
on this score, as a much closer woven
bagging was used, but the competition
of ginners has led to the use of the present
loosely woven article, which is cheaper.
Efforts to induce the planter to use bet
ter grade of bagging have been practically
without avail, and the only way In which
this can be brought about is by a dis
elimination in insurance against poorly
covered cotton or some similar means,
which will make it to the interest of the
planter to adopt a better article. The
planters formerly used rope for tying
bales instead of iron bands until the in
surance companies practically forced
them to use the latter"
A. b. Shepperson, who has devoted con-
siderable attention to this question said:
There Is no commodity In the world that
Is put up for shipment with so little regard
to it's protection and security as American
cotton. II is covered with a more inferior
bagging than Is used for any other cotton
Ia the world In no other country would
such bagging be considered for moment
as fit 10 be used for protecting cotton or
anything else. The wretched manner in
which American cotton is baled has been a
matter of comment and of protest on the
part of European receivers of cotton and
European cotton exchanges for a number
Of years That American cotton is the
worst protected cotton In the world IS a
fact which has been well known, yet, not
withstandlng this, think it may safely be
said that American cotton Is baled as
poorly to-day as 1t ever has been.
"It is not surprising that the Manches-
ter cotton Exchange has complained to the
American cotton exchanges of the wretch
ed manner Ia which American cotton Is
baled. The only cause for wonder is that
Europeans have not protested long ago
o,d In mara qunrpaffc 1ua on uaraa rsbarn A.