The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-07-21
OF INTEREST TO Correr MEN
The savannah Exchange Recommends
That All Farmers n Their Cotton
Pressed Into "A by "a STANDARD Ralea

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The savannah Exchange Recommends
That All Farmers Have Their Cotton
Pressed Into "A by "a Standard Bales
The Savannah Cotton Exchange on
July 9Th received an interesting report
from a special committee appointed to
report on the "a by 81 standard bale
of cotton. The report is as follows:
Your committee after a careful in
vestigation of the 24x54 standard bale
movement, beg leave to report:
That We find by recent practical ex-
ton press boxes to the measurement
Of 24x54 inches a degree of density can
be secured in COMPRISING cotton which
will greatly reduce the size Of the bale
for shipment on rail and ocean car
riers.
That the country press boxes, with
the exception of a few that have been
changed to the 24x54 standard dimen-
sions, range in measurements as fol-
lows: 28x54, 30x66 and 33x72.
That the average thickness Of a 500
pound uncompressed bale Of cotton is
43 inches; the average space occupied
by a bale Of cotton based upon these
dimensions would be IS, 713 cubic inch
es, against SIS, 728 cubic inches for the
same amount Of cotton packed in a
24x54 standard press box-a saving
in space Of IS per cent. in favor of the
standard bale, which is an important
item in storage.
That the bale, as it leaves the gin,
is a heater package, better covered with
bagging, therefore better protected
against damage by exposure, and is
more easily handled. That two bales
can be loaded fiat into an ordinary two
horse wagon body, which enables the
carrying of the cotton to market with
out damage by rubbing CT the wheels.
That the ordinary bagging, when the
standard bale has been compressed, en-
tirely covers it, which makes it a neat
and we'll protected package for ship
ment.
That the larger the bale is in excess
Of the 24x54 standard dimensions the
less density per cubic foot can be Sc
cured in compression. The least Of the
above mentioned three irregular size
bales, namely, 28x58 inches, averages,
after ordinary compression, 38,O61 cubic
| inches, against 20,736 cubic inches for
the same amount of cotton packed in
a standard press box Of 24x54 inches
"a saving in space Of As per cent. in
favor of the 24x54 standard bale of cot
ton, which reduces ocean rates pro-
~portionately.
That ocean rates on cotton are based
upon the number of pounds that the
bale contains to the cubic foot. A saw
ing in space of As per cent. on account
of increased density in compression,
which can. be secured by packing the
cotton in standard press boxes, will re-
suit in a reduction of at least 40 per
cent. in the ocean rates. For example,:
Take the irregular size bales: 1000
bales, Savannah to Liverpool, 500, 900
| pounds, at As cents, $2,25O. Against
stanard bales: 1000 bales, Savannah
to Liverpool, 500, 900 pounds, at As cents
less 40 per cent. account increased den
sity, $1,350-a saving in favor of the
standard - ST 5000; equal to 80 cents
per bale.
That we learn from the actual expe-
riences of a large number of ginners
throughout the states of South Caro-
1iho, NOOlSld dlu N1AdUdlLld tudC tAC
cost of changing their gin press boxes
to the standard dimensions was nOmi-
nal, ranging from 81 to S.. The cost
depends largely upon the make Of the
press box in use md whether or not
the ginner makes the change himself
or employs others to do the work for
him. That heavy bales of cotton,
weighing, say, from 500 to 700 pounds,
can be packed in a 24x54-inch press
box with as little power as is required
for the same amount Of cotton to be
packed in a 28x58-inch press box.
Therefore your committee is con-
vinced hat the 24x54 standard bale of
cotton is a great improvement over the
old irregular size bale, and we heartily
recommend and urge that all ginners
change their press boxes to the 24x4
standard dimensions without delay.
We further recommend and urge that
all farmers insist upon having their
cotton packed in a press box of the
24x54 standard dimensions.
Mr.. James M. Seignious said yester-
day that the Charleston Cotton Elk
change had taken action similar to that
recommended by the Savannah dealers
nearly two years ago.