The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-05-12
THE SQUARE COTTON BALE.
TEXAS GINNERs SAY 1T MUST BE
UNIFORM.

the Proceedings of the Conven-
ton.
The entire cotton belt is interested in the
discussions which are now geing on in
resnect TO the methods of baling cotton
The meeting of the State Ginners Asso-
citation of Texas, which was held in CAL
weston on May and 8. 1899. is Of special
interest to cotton growers and others and
for that reason we give below full syn
opsis of it.
The meeting was called to order at Har-
mony Hail by President Charles T. Hun
ter of Marlin, Tex.
Athur Keetch. city recorder, in behalf
of Mayor Fly, welcomed the delegates
TO Galveston.
President Hunter announced a commit
Tee to formulate an order of business. He
was about to adjourn the meeting until
the afternoon session, when Mr.. w. p
Laughter of Edna, Tea, read a humor-
Gus article. describing the troubles of the
country ginnery. etc.
Mr.. George Anderson, secretary of the
Galveston Maritime Association, addressed
I.
Laughter of Edna, explained the differ
ence between the American bale of cotton
and the India and Egyptian bales This,
Mr.. Anderson did, which brought up al the
beginning of the meeting the question of
the round bale vs.. the square bale. Mr.
Anderson spoke largely from a transpor-
tarion standpoint and did not hesitate to
IN, i i
he gotten into a given space in a vessel
than it was possible to get into
the same space with the pres
ent Irregular size rectangular bale He
favored the "a by "a standard gin box. He
urged the ginners TO see that all the Texas
gin boxes were changed to these dimen-
sions, and told his hearers plainly that
they must apply enterprise and intelli-
gence to their work, otherwise other meth
DDS of baling cotton, in connection with
requirements of transportation lines and
commerce, would drive the square bale
method of handling cotton out of bust
ness.
Mr. Walden of Temple, Texas, said he
changed his press box to the "A by 81 stand
ard several seasons ago; afterward put in
round bale press, and turned out for his
customers the kind of bale desired, round
or square. He thinks the round bale meth
~ Va ALaiAAAlAl6 COlNOu Is superior TO the
old square bale method and believes that
cotton packed in round bales is inevitable.
AT present, however, he is not operating a
round bale press; gave it up because he
lost money by using it on account of the
increased ginning expenses.
Mi Bianton of Whitewright and Mr.
Won Boecknon of Seguin, operators of
round bale presses, spoke in behalf of the
bale turned out by them, reluctantly ad-
ba;v
their ginning business had not been profit
able
Mr. Jens Moller. a well known ship
broker of Galveston, Tex, addressed the
convention from a transportation stand
point; he compared the present irregular
size and weight and poorly covered Amer
lean bales with the uniform size and
weight and well covered bales from India,
Egypt and Brazil.
Mr.. Moler called attention to the offer
which is being made throughout the coun-
try by The Inman interest to pay % cents
per 100 pounds more for cotton packed in
round bales than the market price for the
same grade of cotton packed in square
bales stating that the Inmans were re-
liable people, and usually did what they
agreed TO, and in this case he thought
they could afford Ii unless the square bale
ginners would offset the allowances which
bale, use of better bagging and ties, work,
etc.
Mr.. Moller told the ginners that the
density of cotton passing through the port
of Galveston, Tex, this season to date
averaged about twenty-four and one-half
pounds to the cubic foot, as against TWEEN
ty-two and one-half pounds for the same
period last year This, he believed. was
the result of the efforts of a few Texas
piU nj CT 10 r1
and better bale. He explained to the sat-
isfacton of all present that this small
difference in density amounted TO a reduc-
ton in the ocean rates on the Texas crop
equal to % cents per bale, saving of
100000 in freight charges alone.
Mr. Moler advised and urged the use
OF strong, closely-woven bagging for COW
erngi weighing not less than two and one
half pounds per yard; he urged ginners to
see that all boxes were changed to the 81
by 81 standard, explaining why compress
ors could compress them to a greater den
sity than it is possible to obtain on a
wider and longer bale; the advantages Of
storing bales of standard size in cars and
ships stating further that unless the "a
10y "a was universally adopted, 1t would
only be a short time until other methods
OF balng cotton would drive the present
glnuers out of business.
MIR. Moller suggested that the ginners
prevail upon the cotton buyers to deduct
from the price of cotton not put up in
standard boxes of "a by 81, and in strong
tagging a sufficient sum to put it in a stan
uard size and condition He suggested that
tho ginners take the matter of density at
congresses on the "a by "a packed bales
up with the proper authorities, possibly
the Railroad Commission, and that the
Compressors be required to guarantee a
density of 271a pounds per cubic foot, in
stead of 22h pounds, stating that 2215
pounds was entirely too low.
Mr.. Moller said that he favored stand
ara bale Of "a by g. and believed if the
slhners would all change their boxes to
these dimensions, use better bagging and
stronger ties, and charge the farmers for
A. as 1t is to their interest in the long
run and require greater density from
cVinpresses, the ginners would then have
holn'ng to fear until some new and bet
yer method Of baling cotton was discov-
Ted and put into operation.
Mf' Moller said that il would be exceed
iNsy unfortunate for the country to al
prf 10, 10, la