The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1898-03-01
SPRUNT & SONS LETTER.
Clinton DcmOcrat.)

Farmers have been interested for some
time in the announcement that a gi-
gantic trust was arranging to put in cy-
lln1rlcal cotton presses throughout the
cotton producing belt with q view of get
ting q little more of their life blood.
While very little has been heard of the
scheme in the very recent past. it APP
pears that he trust is hard at work in
perfecting its plans, and. that unless q
formidable opposition is raised against it,
the South will soon be in its merciless
grasp.
Below is published a letter written by
Alex. Sprunt 4 Sons, of Wilmington,
the largest cotton exporting firm in the
South. calling attention to the purpose
OF the trust and suggesting a way in
which it can be defeated by the farm
ers. This letter was addressed to Mr..
French Mcqueen. who buys cotton for
SErunt q Sons at Clinton. A cop of
1t has been sent to every agent Of the
firm throughout the territory in which
it has buyers. The remedy suggested is
III the nature of presses of uniform size
and it may be we'll for farmers and
ginners to give the same their attention.
Wilmington, n. c., Jan. 4th, 1893.
Mr.. French Mcqueen, Clinton. Y. c.:
III wv ~ Aou ICIcllIN
about the desirability of uniform or
standard plantation baling boxes of the
dimensions, fifty-eight inches long by
twenty-eight inches wide, and we are
most anxious that you use every means
of getting our ginners to adopt these di.
mansions for the following reasons:
\ Northern Trust Company clearly mi
mical to the planters interest has. it is
Sald, Il controlling interest in the new
tangled cylindrical COTTON baling process
which they are trying to force upon the
cotton spinners as a remedy for the
present irregular baling on the planta-
tons. Under the present irregular
method the long bales are broken by
the vessels stevedores to fit in the car
go spaces with shorter ones, and il
we had a uniform bale this difficulty
would be overcome. Moreover. the uni
form bale weighing 500 to 525 pounds
would be just as easily handled and a
the same expense as q bale of 45(
pounds, thereby saving charges to the
planter and to us.
Six yards to seven yards of new bag
Glng and six iron ties is sufficient cover
ing. Anything more causes difficulty
Sugar sacks, and side strips are espe
cially objected to. In order to show oul
willingness to help the platter to NEE
the necessary cost Of alterations we viii
ally next season a sufficient royalty OF
the first hundred bales for which thu
baEng box was changed, sufficient t,
cover the cost not exceeding 50, pro
vided we are given the refusal of tn
product of the gin at equal prices will
competitors. and provided also that The
bales shall be covered in accordance Will
the requirements stated. We are in
formed by our agents abroad and by
mill owners at home, that if there is no
Il radical change in the manner of balins
at the plantations next season, the re
ceivers of cotton generally may be com
PEELED to adopt the round bale and tC
refuse the square bale altogether. Th4
loss to the planter in this case would b.
very severely felt and all the benefit
go to the pockets of a gigantic Trus
Company.
We suggest that you secure the co
operation Of your newspapers for tn,
proposed standard box, and that 70,
send us the address Of all your ginner
III order hat we may communicate witt
them also.
ALIEN. SPRUNT & SONS.