The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1899-11-02
ROUND VS.. SQUARE BALES.


have been reading book publish
cd by the Standard Bale and Compress
Company of Louisiana, Arkansas and
Tennessee, and other reading matter
sent out by Mr.. @. G.. Hanson, of Sa-
Vannah, Ga. The book and circulars
ore for the purpose of showing the bad
features of the round bale and tho
good ones of the square bale. 1 was
anxious to know why Mr.. Hanson was
SO much interested in the farmer, for
they claim it is for his benefit, and l
find that he has all the congresses of
the Central Railroad Company over
this section leased. Mr.. HansOn's in
tcrest is for self. Round bales are
compressed at the gin, hence his objec-
tlon to them. Now, the only remedy
Tor all dependent upon the COTTON in
dustry, say the square bale people, is
to change all press boxes to 24x54 sue.
1t will lower freight on land and water,
also insurance, and even the buyer
says he will pay SO cents per bale more
for cotton in the standard size. This
24x54 bale will still be square, and
handled the same old way. 1 under
stand that the sample must be taken
out before cotton is baled at the gin, ,
under the round bale system, for it is
compressed there and cannot be sam.
pied afterward. What deadener on
cotton buyers and railroad compress
men and warehouses, say tho square
bale folks. 1t is curious fact that all
the documentary evidence, such as cir
culars, newspaper articles, etc., in fa-
nj hn Il 1~ol~
from parties interested in, or holders
of shares in the company. Well, 1t is
equally curious that tho evidence
against the round bale is from COM
press men, cotton exchanges and cot
ton buyers. The shape of the bale,
unless it raises the price, cuts no fig
ure with the farmer.
Farmers have been "horn. .snogeled"
by cotton middlemcn sc long that they
will try anything if that class opposes
1T. They have run over them with
over production, although nakedness
staring them in the face. Now they
say change all presses to 24x54, and
we will give you so cents more per bale
than for same cotton in irregular bales.
This so cent offer is to offset the round
bale people, who say they will give 45
points more for cotton IN round bales
than their limit for same cotton in
square bales. Now il is fact and has
been for many years, Liverpool fixes the
price, and it is based on the condition of
the cotton when it reaches them. They
have years ago found out how much to
deduct for short weight, caused by so
much sampling, and, Mr.. Farmer, YOU
don't get one cent for your bagging
(you are told to believe you are making
profit on iD, for they buy net cotton.
1t should be known that all of the
costs of handling and transporting COT
ton comes out of the pocket of the
farmer. The round bale stops one
evil, if not more-takiiig samples by
everyone who handles it. 1t IS COW
cred with cotton goods Chat's an itcnl)
and it lands in the market without a
break from sampling. The opponents
of the round bale say it is trust
that Inman e. Co. are the only buyers
of the round bale (theY can buy if they
want iD and will control the market.
What if they do? Better be con-
trollcd at home than from Liverpool.
They cry aloud that 1t is great mo-
nopoly, they rent their presses. Bet
ter for the ginncr. If the system does
not suit his customers he is not the
loser. Suppose a company should Of
fer gins or saw mills OH those terms
The round bale does away with so
many middlcmen and overthrows cot
ton gambling, for while at least. 1
think it will be a good plan to put up
about one-third Of the crop in round
bales, as it will get up competition be-
tween the non-producers, and there is
where we want it. They claim there
is no market for the round bale. In
man u Co. only, they say, will buy it.
Yes, the factories will do the same
they must have cotton The farmer is
asked to put on heavier bagging, not
giving enough bagging now, although
making tho cotton at loss, more or
less, according to tho part of the cot
ton belt in which he is living.
l think the showing below will about
give the next crop. Say VIC make rs
large crop per acre. Say crop of last
year u1 10000 Dales), less 1000 900
decrease in acreage, / 100000 decrease
in fertilizing, and 100000 put up in
round bales, leaving 5000 900 square
bales. take out the 100000 round
bales, as it is out of tho hands of the
regular trade. 1t goes direct to mills,
and is not held to squabble over by
cotton exchanges. l notice they are
very much troubled now to find out
how much of 1893 and 1899 crop is in
| round bales.
If the farmers will hold back their
cotton and put it on tho market by do
yrees the market will continue to adj
vance. The mills will soon be out of
cotton, and they must get :hcIr supply
from the now crop, as the cotton re-
naming from the last years. crop is II
low grade. Judging from prices of
cotton goods, cotton should bring 8
cents today. The mills are getting 10
cents for cotton rope, and it is made
from the very lowest grade of cotton.
I hope the ginnors will use the round
bale system, get up some competition,
change the manner of handling, and
thus stop the gambling to some extent,