The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-09-23

situation. The opinion OF many, VINO
have given the most careful study 10 the
subject is 10 the effect that under e~'se-
ing circumstances the South can scarcely
hope TO see hlgn prices FOR COTTON ui'cs,
TOR a brief period of year or TWO s"oui'
there at any time be a crop failure, De-
cause production always keeps ahead oi
consumption, and IL does not seem posi-
bic 10 induce farmers 10 make any mate
rial reduction in acreage with the ue-
crease In the price of cotton, southern
farmers are turning their attention more
and more TO diversified agriculture, ana
are thus making the cotton crop as IL
was prior to the war. more OF a Surpiu5
money crop than at any time since lso9.
with the steady increase in the produc-
ton of food stuns and the adoption OF all
modern improvements I'm ginning, balins
and handling the crop, IL may DC posi-
Bile that Southern farmers VIII yet re-
ceive as large net results from low-prlced
cotton as they formerly did when prices
were high. The only thing left 10 do un-
der these circumstances is for the South
% produce its cotton at the lowest possl-
bic cost. raise its own food stuts ana re-
duce to the utmost limit the cost OF GIN
ming. baling, COMPRISING ana sellnB' ia
order by these economics 10 Offset as iar
af
The development OF the bonded ware
house system promises TO have some ef-
feet upon the situation by enabling farm
ers. as we'll as manufacturers 10 put
there cotton IN bonded warehouses al
low rate for insurance and storage ana
get a warehouse receipt which VIII oe
good collateral in any bank North or
South for money az q low rate OF inter-
est Two or three experimental ware
houses have proved the success OF this
system. and now a number are projected
Charlotte alone having two under con-
structi0n.
While this warehouse plan is attracting
much attention, the better baling and
handling is also daily growing In import
ance. and this feature, as it relates ilrst
10 the spinner and then 10 the planter, Is
very ably covered by Mr. william {.
Lowering. one of the leading coSon mill
manufacturers OF New England, who has
been giving a close study for the last
year or two 10 this subject. and who IN a
paper which he read yesterday before the
ArkwrigTit Club OF Boston. discusses tho
relation to the spinner and 10 the cotton
producer of On. cylindrical lap bale
Mr.. Lowering takes % the matter from
the expert spinner point of view, and
shows by elaborate calculations the ar
ference 20 "a cotton mill of the round lap
bale as compared with the old-styie sys-
tenn Of square bale. He takes inc
ground that under the new system a large
amount OF machinery and half the power
employed I'm the picking room VIII ne
done away with. and that there VIII also
be a saving OF Onc-half OF the iloor space
and about onc-third Of tie labor IN INC
picking room, and that the yarn VIII ne
much stronger. He says. 1.-THE ultimate
e. fIfFHHH e o. r.
will really get cheaper cotton. and the
planter will get more for his cotton The
saving to both is due 20 the elimination
of the middle men. from the cutting OF
of the opportunities to pilter and from
reduced freight and insurance charges
Mr. r. W. Pratt, of huntsville, Ala,
n leading cotton mill manager, who mas
made a thorough test of the same sys-
TEN. claims that his mill can afford 10
pay s. "a bale more Tor the round-pale cot
ton than for the square bale.
These two statements are calculated "a
attract attention and % arouse very wide
discussion The fact that there are no"
three or four systems OF improved cotton
baling before the public. ala of which have
their advocates. makes the general dis'
cussion of the subject one of broad inter
ost TO the whole South. The fear thai
at one time existed among Southern peo
nle of the possibility OF o. cotton trust
has been altogether eliminated. and M
whole question is now simply which IS th'
best system and which will bring inc bes
results TO- the Southern planter Inc ac
1.-Two rivalry between the various Interests
renresonting the different systems o.
square and cylindrical baling insures u
tbe South a very great Improvement II
cotton handling without any danger or
MONOPOLY by any one interest.