The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-07-27
Standard Size Bales.


in favor of the adoption of the stand
ard size cotton bale, which is bale
made in press-box, measuring on
the inside, "a inches wide by 81
inches long, and deep enough to make
bale weighing about 500 pounds.
The complaints made by the trans
portation companies and the foreign
mills, about the difficulties Of slowing
different size bales, and the damaged
condition in which the American cot
ton is received, and so numerous that
we are sure a great discrimination will
be made against our cotton next sea-
son, unless there is change made
and an universal size bale adopted and
enforced.
After number of experiments with
bales of all tie differest sizes it was
found that the oest results could be
had from those made in press-boxes
"a inches wide by 81 inches long, and
this size has been adopted as the
standard by all the Cotton Growers
Associations in the Western and Gulf
States; also by the Convention in At
lanta, Ca, last May.
This size (24x54) was found to press
to greater density, and when pressed
at the compress, the bagging usually
placed on a bale of cotton would then
cover the bale completely and prevent
any damage.
It is we'll understood that the more
cotton that can be slowed in steamer,
the less the freight and, consequently,
the more the cotton grower will re-
ceive for his crop. 1t naturally seems
that few inches in the size of bales
would make no difference, but few
inches running irregularly through an
ocean steamer amounts to great loss
of space, and in slowing bales of ir-
regular 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
wareh ouses.
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 everyone make
this change by next season. As a
general rule, the press-boxes will have
to be made smaller, either one way OF
both. This can be done with very
little expense by lining the inside with
boards, one lining on another where
the size is to be reduced several
inches. Then the follow block can be
sawn off to fit the box. The cost Of
making this change in most cases will
not exceed $5. This amount is too
small to spare, and thereby continue
to suffer the loss caused by discrimi-
nations in the past, as we'll as addi-
tional ones that will surely follow.
The European mills use about three
fourth of our cotton crop, and Of
course they have great deal to do
with the price Of cotton, therefore it is
to our interest TO see that it is shipped
in the condition they want it, and by
reducing the damage and the cost Of
transportation, the grower will get
that much more for his cotton.
We have received letters from a
majority of the ginners in our terri
tory, and they promise to alter their
press-boxes to the standard size. We
respectfully solicit the cooperation of
all growers. and those interested in
the cotton crop, to urge upon the gin
ners the Importance of making all
bales Of the standard size, as the sue
cess Of this movement and the bcnc-
fits to be derived from it. depend upon
them. We are confident that a large
majority of the ginners will make this
change, but it is necessary that the
change be as near universal as pos
sible.
We are anxious to hear from those
that are interested in this movement
and especially those that have made
this change.
Yours very truly,
j. IL. SLOAN,
Augusta, Ca, July IS. 1898.
= Charles Warren Stoddard says
tbot whom he and other white mon