Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-03-12
The Round Cotton Dale.


All the signs of the times 10 to show
that the South is on the eve of a TevOlu-
ton IN the methods Of preparing cotton
Tor the market. The Constitution well
comes these signs, for 1t is certainly time
that such IL revolution should be brought
about. In the history of the world there
IS no parallel TO the carelessness and
consequent wastefulness with which this
valuable crop has been prepared Tor the
market
in the first place. it has been wrapped
in baggng. the fibre Of which Is import
cd from the other side OF the world. This
fibre being Of Il coarse and inferior
quality in every way is usually in h
state Of decay before it IS wrapped
around the bale. The result is that for
five generatiOns-mOre than q hundred
years-a very large proportion OF the
cotton crop has been permitted to go TO
waste between the farm and its final des-
tination.
In the second place, IT has been ginned
and packed without regard TO grade or
condition. 50 that fifty pounds of inferior
staple stamps the whole bale as inferior.
We repeat that the history of the worlds
industries will show no parallel TO the
wanton careiessness with which tho most
valuable and important crop OF "A great
section has been prepared for market.
Millions of dollars have been thrown TO
the wind.
The signs of the revolution TO which
We refer are 10 be found in the rapid de-
velopment Of the new process of baling
cotton, by means of which the staple is
packed in cylindrical form and is com
pletely enCascd from end 60 end in
covering OF cotton cloth of sufficient
strength 20 prevent all waste. This pro-
cess does away with jute bagging and ties.
The advantage to the farmer OF this
round-bale process may be very briefly
Stated.
1t does away with the expense known
as taro. which amounts TO about per
cent. A great many farmers (and others,
too, who should know betteO have an
idea that when the producer sells his
bale of cotton he receives back the price
he has paid for bagging and ties In
point OF fact, this is very carefully de-
Quoted by the purchaser. The price Of
cotton is made I'm Liverpool, and Liver
pool buys nothing but the actual cot
ton. Therefore. about per cent. Is de-
Quoted from the weight or every bale.
But the deduction is made i'm the price
paid for cotton. and amounts TO from
s. TO $3.50 bale.
For instance. large cott9n-buying
Hrm in Georgia has pledged itself TO
pay IS cents more for each 100 pounds of
cotton packed in the round bale than
for cotton packed i'm the old square bale.
This amounts TO S2.25 on each 800
pounds. and practically represents the
tare that would otherwise be collected
on the weight of bagging and ties. The
amount will go into the pocket OF the
farmer instead OF coming out or II.
What this firm proposed 20 do other
In, t1.. nd IL.
so that, packed in round, compact bales,
the cotton crop will put into the poclH-
cts of the farmer an amount which in
a 10 900 OOO- bale crop viii reach s., 80 600.
Another advantage will be the saving
of the large amount of cotton which.
under the old process has been annually
blown TO the four winds This waste
has been, and IL now, enormous. AS cot
ton Is money. especially IN the South,
A. may almost be said that our farm
ers have taken pains 10 throw II away.
Their carelessnoss in handling and pack
ing the cotton Is so pronounced and no.
ticeable that It might almost be said to
be deliberately premeditatcd.
There is still another advantage, Which,
in the end. may have very important
erect on the price OF cotton. The round
bales are covered with cotton cloth, and
will therefore add considerably 10 the
consumption Of the raw material. The
round bale will, in fact. not only add to
the price OF cotton directly by doing
away with the per cent. tare exacted
at Liverpool. but indirectly by creating
new demand for the staple to weave
into coverings Already mills are offer
an quarter OF a cent a pound more for
cotton pressed In round bales. They
can afford TO do this because the rOunG
bales are easier 10 handle and store and
the staple is I'm much better condition
and there Is considerable saving In
freight charges.
We 10 not know how long IL will be be-
fore the cotton-growers generally will
adopt the new process, for custom and
habit are as tenacious as cockle-burrs.
but as the saving Is so great. no very long
time should be- required 10 dismiss for
ever the old square bale. which Is as
primitive and clumsy as the plows OF
ancient Egypt The very first methods OF
packing cotton was by ramming into gun
ny bags with some blunt and heavy in
ftrnment. Clumsy as that process was II
WAS less wasteful and therefore less
costly, than the method which followed
II. and which. with few improvements,
has been In vogue ever since.
Ihe tins bas come foy = change, aud as