The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-11-16
SILENT THOUGH
CONVINCING EVIDENCE
A Tell Tale Exhibit Out at the
Fair.
FACTS AND FIGURES ONLY
Pres ented in the Square Bale Exhibit
The Public Can Form It's
own Conclu-
sionS
FACTS AND FIGURES ONLY

An exhibit which has attracted the at
| tention of every visitor to the state fair,
and one which has been observed with the
| keenest interest by the cotton growers,
| ginners and others engaged in the cotton
| business is that of six square bales packed
| on the standard box press and one bale put
up by the roundlap press. Each of the
square bales, as is also the round bale, is
placarded showing the dimensions, total
weight and number of pounds to the cubic
foot. 1T Is stated on the placards that the
entire lap of seven bales exhibited was
obtained in the usual course of trade and
was not prepared for exhibition purposes.
The square bales, which were pressed in
standard boxes, and the round bale, packed
by one of the American Cotton company'S
presses, are shown with their relative meas
urements and weights for comparison pur-
poses. The facts and figures are given and
are left to speak for themselves, and, judg-
ing from the comments heard from visitors
to the fair, they are very convincing argu-
ments. In fact a moments study of the
figures presented is sufficient to convince
any person of ordinary intelligence that the
round bale possesses no advantage what
ever over the square bale when the latter Is
made of uniform size and is properly COW
cred.
The cotton is exhibited as follows: One
American roundlap bale, ginned and pressed
at Belle Nina, Ala. weight 235 pounds, oc-
cupies space of 24x2ix35 inches, and has
20 pounds of cotton to the cubic foot of
space. 1t should be noted here that an I'M
compressed square bale, 24x54 inches, has
II pounds to the cubic foot.
One standard, uncompressed, 24x54 square
bale, weight $40 pounds, 10 pounds to the
cubic foot.
ra5 Ya
bale; weight, 557 pounds; Sc inches high; 30
inches thick and II inches wide, 30 BIO
pounds Ito the cubic foot
One standard 24x54 compressed square
bale; weight, 564 pounds; Sc inches high, %
inches thick and 16 inches wide, Al ITO
pounds to tine cubic foot
One standard 24x54 uncompressed square
bale; weight. 500 pounds; 81 inches high, 40
inches thick and "a inches wide; weight per
cubic foot, II pounds.
One standard 24x54 compressed square
bale; weight, 500 pounds dimensions, 54x26x
Is inches; weight per cubic foot, "a 2-10
pounds.
One standard 2x54 compressed square
bale; weight, 532 pounds; Dimensions, 54x24x
II inches; weight per cubic foot, Al 6-10
pounds. ~
1t will be observed that the round bale
exhibited, which weighs only 235 pounds,
occupies about II 2-3 cubic feet, while the
square bale, weighing .532 pounds, or 81
pounds more than double the weigGM of the
round bale, contains only about cubic
feet. Or in other words, a round bale of
equal weight of the standard square bale
will occupy nearly twice much space as
the latter 1t must be remembered that
one of the chief claims made for the round
bale is that 1t is ready compressed, and
prepared for the spinner. Granting this ITO
be fact, the thoughtful planter, who has
observed the difference between the space
nPanniad nv "a md co.7
square bale, will readily appreciate THE ad-
vantages of the latter over the former in
the matter of shipping. That bulk figures
largely in marine shipping cannot be de-
Ned, and this important item concerns the
cotton grower perhaps more than any other,
for it is he who in the end bears the ex-
pense. 1t has been demonstrated beyond
the possibility of contradiction that the
round bale possesses no advantages over
the square bale in the way of space occu-
pied, but, ON the contrary, THE latter pos
sesses a decided advantage.
Another important feature of the exhibit
prominently shown Is the uniformity of the
square bales. In fact one of its principal
purposes of the exhibit is to impress upon
the farmers the Importance of packing their
cotton in uniform shape and covering 1t
well. In a greater portion of the cotton
belt the standard size boxes are now in use
and 1t is predicted that another season will
witness their use almost universally. The
change Of the boxes to this size is made at
very small cost, in many cases not ex-
ceeding two or three dollars. Shippers and
spinners are demanding uniform bale, but
are not specifying its shape The planters
appreciate the fact that 1t Is to their own
interest to conform to this demand, and In
so doing are remodling their presses, very
properly holding to the rule that 1.-THE old
way Is the best" Few will discard their
presses and adopt a new scheme-a scheme
that has already haen tried and found
wanting. They will be slow to throw away
their present outfits, which in many cases
are good enough, for one in which they can
, only obtain an interest as lessees. 1t is also
doubtful If they will be deluded into taking
ON the obligations required for the use of
the round bale presses by the purchase of
more for their cotton when packed on same.
They have discovered that only cotton men
who are interested in the manufacture of
the round bale presses will pay the prem
ium. Other cotton buyers make no differ
ence between round and square bales.