The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-05-28
NEW COTTON BALE INDoRsED.
New Orleans Exchange COmmends 1t
to Planters.

to Planters.
The Savannah Cotton Exchange recelv-
ed yesterday, a circular referring to sin
boxes for cotton bales. and is report %
special committee OF the New Orleans
Cotton Exchange, addressed TO farmers
and ginners.
The circular states that the New Orleans
Exchange approves of the style of box,
of which mention was made in the Morn
ing News yesterday, and is as follows;
Recent practical experiments in the
state of Texas have demonstrated that ly
an alteration of gin boxes to measure
ment of "A by "a inches a degree of density
can be secured in COMPRISING cotton
which, without increase of power, will
greatly reduce the size of bales for ship
ment on railroads and ocean carriers.
These experiments have been made with
different sized bales, and the records of
the maritime association of Galveston
show that bales made in a Is by 5S-inch
box, after compression and delivery at that
port, average 80 by GO inches, giving a SUI
per1icial area of 1881 square inches where
as the bales made in the "a by 54-iuch box
average AT Galveston 26 by IS inches, or l.
45b superficial inches. The pressure of the
compress in both cases was the same,
namely, 1850 tons, or 5000 pounds, on the
lale therefore by dividing the area Of the
bale in inches into the pressure of pounds.
II was found that on the larger bale there
was 1,Sli pounds per square inch, and on
the smaller 2,472 pounds in other words,
the pressure per square inch was SIS
pounds greater on the smaller bale than on
the larger one.
The Galveston News mentions In
stances where, because of improvements
in COMPRISING (the bale for that reason
taking up less space in the ocean vessel
a saving was effected ia freight rates of
from 40 to S5c per bale. The same jour
nal estimates that allowing for every
drawback, the improvements in compress
ing by change in gin boxes Will net at the
very lowest to Texas soc per bale, or say
81 10000 on the crop of that state, and il
is believed that when the change becomes
general, a saving will be effected of about
one dollar per bale.
THE committee of the New Orleans Cot
ton Exchange have given this question
careful study and they are convinced that
the facts are as stated.
Farmers and ginners In Georgia, Ala
bama, South Carolina and other states
have taken this matter up and the move
for a change of size to "a by "a inches is
becoming general. It is a well known fact
that all of the costs of handling and trans
porting cotton comes out of the pocket
of the farmer. In other words, that the
more such costs are cheapened, the high
competition to pay for cotton.
''At a recent meeting of farmers and
ginners held in Montgomery, Ala, it was
estimated that the proposed alteration in
gin boxes would save to the farmers of
that state 100000,
1--WE now ask whether the farmers and
ginners in Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkan-
sas and other cotton sections shipping cot
ton to and Via New Orleans will not join
in this matter? Texas estima ties the cost
of cutting down gin boxes to 2ix5l to be
only S. per gin. This means that at a trif-
ling cost, which would be reimbursed by
the saving on the first eight TO sixteen
bales shipped, a difference would be net
ted to the cotton growers of the South
on crop like the present one of between
100000 and $l1,C00000. We believe this
to be a small estimate as the reform
asked will lead to lessened railroad as
well as ocean rates, and a decrease in LA
billty TO damage, which in the end would
amount to an average saving of $3.50 per
bale; an important' result of reducing the
size being that the bale would, after com
pressing, be completely covered with bag
ging on the Sides and thereby additionally
safeguarded against fire and damage
I'VE think we are quoting inside figures
when we estimate that change of gin
boxes to 24x54 inches Inside measurement
would effect the following saving per an
mum, say to: Mississippi, OC0 to
9I,0JU,VUOs LOUISIANA, %coOtUUV 10 35SJ,UUU, Ar
kansas, $3.50 600 to $500, 600; or say In three
states, $2,50OOO0 to SO, coo.
"Wlll the farmers, ginners and com
pressmen in those states join in the move
ment?
"While its accomplishment is simple and
easy, failure TO do So means that their
cotton of irregular sizes viii be discrim-
mated against in competition with the
growth of other sections which do adopt
the improvement, and that they will I'M
doubleday be put to loss thereby.
THE committee, therefore, earnestly
urge farmers, ginners, compressmen
and all others who are interested in the
prosperity of this section to unite in in
huencing the reform herein set forth"
1t is estimated that the cost OF cutting
down boxes to 24X54 inches for the gins in
Georgia will be only So to 81, which is much
less than the estimate for the same work
on the style of gins in Texas.
The circular has been sent to the SaVan-
nah Cotton Exchange requesting that body
to take similar action, and urge the far
merssand ginners of Georgia to adopt the
new style of box and make it the standard
throughout the cotton belt. The members
of the Cotton Exchange will probably lis
cuss the matter in a day or two.