The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1899-07-25
f ARM AFT AIRS.
WASTE IN COTTON GINNING.
An Observing Business Man Makes Some
Valuable Suggestions

was based. He has also made thor
ough study of the causes of fires in COT.
ton gins and the conditions surround.
ing each, case which came under his
observation, and will Cff9r some sug.
gestions which if needed, will un
doubtedly save money to our farmers,
who certainly are in no condition to
lose it needlessly.
The advice offered, will as matter
of course reach many readers who will
say il S nothing new, and who may
even laugh at the trouble taken in
writing such simple matter
Nevertheless, when one or more per
sons in any given direction, manage
the interests of a greater number, GER
tain truths will be observed, the serious
aspect of which may pass unnoticed
by individuals only having their own
concerns to deal with.
CARE OF MACHINERY
The work of cotton ginning is me
chanical pursuit. It takes the agricul
turist out of his chosen calling and in
PRODUCES him to another to which he
certainly cannot be quite as we'll &C
quainted. as with the one he contin-
uaIly follows.
In a cotton mill, mechanical and
manufacturing work only, is done.
The most scrupuloUs attention is paid
to all parts of the machinery. Experts
n cd &n %hn
chimes, the boiler and engine. These
men have no other duties to perform
and consequently know more about
their special line of work than does
the owner Of the mill.
Tt is different on the farm, and as a
conse quence fires are far more frequent
from inattention to machinery. Jour
nails are not kept properly oiled and
cleaned, The bearings frequently get
hot enough to cause fires, and Rs they
are allowed to bescovered with lint
| tags saturated in OIL, fire results and
soon is beyond control.
IL will pay ginners to take time to
see that machinery is, continuously
kept in a fairly cleanly condition.
Haste makes waste" The rush of
ginning FRI q lently cause such little(O
things to be overlooked, while of course
every one knows they should be at
tended to.
THE WIND
has something to do with gin fires
In the large part of our cotton belt
the prevailing winds come from the
southw west. The boiler should never be
located on that side of the gin house,
no matter il at some distance and run
by wire rope. An open door or win
dow, and slecially an old roof, often
responds readily to strong, live spark
and fire quickly blazes out it's path of
destruction. Locate the boilers at q
distance, and never, when possible, in
the direction of the prevailing winds.
MATCHES,
as a matter of course, cause quite a
number of fires. Dropped in the seed
cotton they are heard from in passing
through the gin stand. Then, toe,
smoking on a wagon bringing up seed
cotton is a very dangerous practice. A
spark bio En in seed cotton will hold it's
own and shoulder long time. When
the wagons come up late in the ever
ing just before closing down, and the
contents are lodged in the gin house,
ia the dangerous time. and fires have
occurred from this cause, that could
in no other way be accounted for. In
some cases this has positively b en-
known to be the cause Of losses. Such
dangers should be guarded against as
far as possible.
NEEDLESS WASTE
The main point IN this article, how
ever, touches an entirely different
matter and one which can surely be
regulated. The haste and hurry of
press of work causes large NUMBER of |
ginners 20 leave cotton in bales in and |
Immediately around the gin house. A
fire especially in the night and often |
even in the day causes the destruction |
not only of the house and machinery, |
seed cotton, cotton seed, and baIed cot
ton, but not intre qIentIy of farm tools,
implements, harm nesa, etc.
The cotton gin house is the most dan
gerous place on the farm, and should
never be used as place for general
storage.
Some years ago went to large and
valuable gin on fine farm. The gin