The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1898-08-11
to meet their demands in this

IHtCESSs 10 nf06t CQ6lf demands In this
respect
The determinations which may be
made against our COTTON on account OF
these objections may amount in the ag-
gregate to an incredible sum. 1t has
been found after several tests that the
best size for convenience of handling
and storing is the bale made from a
press measuring "a inches in width by
% inches in length. This isthe size adj.
vocated by all the cotton growers asso-
Citations This size, 24x54. has been
found to press to greater density, and
after being compressed for final ship
ment the original bagging will entirely
cover the compressed bale and thus
much of the injury from the rough
handling of our cotton will be pre-
vented.
All this rebounds to the interest of
the farmer, because all the extra ex-
penses from waste of space, higher in
surance and actual waste of cotton are
charged against his cotton in the gen.
eral account, and any method which
will reduce these expenses will add that
much to the price.
In circular addressed to the ginners
of the south, issued by ]. H. Sloan of
Augusta, Ca, one of the leading cotton
men of the south, he says that our cot
ton, as q rule, reaches the European
manufacturers in such badly damaged
condition that they refuse to pay good
price for it. He has made q study of
this subject and Is in position which
gives him every opportunity OF ascer-
tanning its true status. In his address
to the ginners he says:
We take the liberty of calling your
attention to the importance of exerting
all our efforts in favor of the adoption
OF the standard size cotton bale, which
Is bale made in press box, measuring
on the inside "a inches wide by BID inches
long, and deep enough to make q bale
weighing about 500 pounds, H
1t is well understood that the more
cotton that can be slowed in a steamer,
the less the freight and consequently
the more the cotton grower will receive
for his crop. 1t naturally seems that
o few inches in the size of bales would
make no difference, but a few inches
running irregularly through an ocean
steamer amounts to great loss of space,
and in slowing bales of irregular sizes,
they are SO screwed in odd shaped spaces
as to often break. and nearly always are
torn and twisted out of shape by the
time they reach the foreign ports. The
lost spaces also form air passages and
In case of fire the damage is much
greater, consequently the insurance is
higher than it should be. The same
complaints are made by the railroads
and by the mills when they put their
cotton in warehouses.
We think we have fully explained the
reasons for this change, and that it is
to your interest to do all that is in your
power to have every one make this
change by next season. AS a general
rule, the press boxes will have to be
made smaller. either one way or both.
| This can be done with very little ex.
| pense by lining the inside with boards,
one lining on another where the size is
60 be reduced several inches. Then the
follow block can be sawn off to fit the
i box. The cost of making this change
IN most cases will not exceed $500.
] We have received letters from q ma.
| 1ority of the ginners in our territory
and they promise to alter their press
boxes to the standard size. We re
1 spectfuliy solicit the cooperation of al
growers and those interested in the
cotton crop, to urge upon the ginner.
the importance of making all bales Of
the standard size. as the success of this
movement and the benefits to be derived
from it depend upon them. We are
confident that large majority of the
ginners will make this change, but it is
necessary that the change be as near
, universal as possible
Let faVmers interest themselves in
this. to them, vital question, and urge
upon their ginners the Importance of a
uniform size for press boxes.
R. T. NEsBITT, Commissioner.