The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1899-01-11
COUNTRY DAMAGED COTTON

ment OF L0SS-E1tneI Au-
vance Rate or Exclude it
as Item'of Insurance.
washington, Oct. 23.-The state de-
partment today published report from
United States Consul James Boyle, at
Liverpool, which has much OF interest
to the cotton-growers Of the South.
In part MIR. Boyle says:
among the cotton men, both on this
side and in the United States, there Is
warm renewal of the agitation against
country damaged cotton. Conferences
are being held between representatives
Of the Liverpool cotton trade and the
insurance companies to settle upon
plan Of action which will throw the
burden Of the loss caused by country
damaged cotton where, they say, 1t
properly belongs, upon the American
producer or seller Under the pressure
Of keen competition the insurance com.
panies some years ago included country
damage and indeed practically gave In
surance from the moment the cotton
started on It's journey at the Interior
point in the South until 1t was deposited
In the warehouse at Liverpool or Man
chester. so great, however, have been
the losses through country damage that
the insurance companies are very an
xious to relieve themselves OF the risK,
it being claimed that under the circum-
stances it Is not a legitimate Item or
insurance. American underwriters have
estimated that the claims arising from
country damage to cotton delivered at
LIVERPOOL last season footed up $500,0O0.
Authorities here say that this Is a very
conservative estimate. Attempts have
been made several times recently to In
duce spinners Of this district to ac-
cepr the cotton as received here, and to
have an allowance made for the country
damage. The spInners, however, posi-
lively refuse to accept any cotton unit
for spinning. When the cotton arrives
here the country damaged portions
must be picked out and the bale must
he nut into a condition At for the spin
ner to use.
There are two propositions under
consideration by the trade and oy the
insurance companies. The first is to ad-
vance the rates, and the second Is 10
exclude country damage altogether as
an item Of insurance, leaving the trade
on this side to collect the amount OF the
damage, from the seller on the otner'
There Is much discussion IN regard 10
the person upon whom the loss tor
country damageIfalls. The general opin-
ion here Is that in the end 1t falls upon
the grower. It Is said here, however
that the cotton grower expresses nlm-
self as Quite dlfadent in regard to this
matter claiming that 1t makes no imam
cial difference to him whether the cot
ton gets to Liverpool In perfect condi-
tion or is country damaged that ne
cannot afford to take precautions
AGAINST this class Of injury.
"Tbere are some shippers in America
who claim that the Liverpool traoe Is
altogether too particular. 1t should De
remembered, however. that this Is the
hest foreign market for American cot
ton in the world, and nobody famil'ar
with the condition in which our COTTON
arrives at Liverpool can dispute the
claim that there Is urgent need ror re-
FORM. There Is no other valuable pro-
duct that comes into Liverpool from
anywhere In the world 80 badly protect
ed and on which there Is such lose
because of careless packing and handl-
ing as American cotton. Some months
ayo an expert connected with the LiV-
erpool Marine Salvage Association "eht
to the United States, on suggestion OF
representatives Of the trade there, 70
Investigate the subject Of country dam
aged cotton. This gentleman, Mr.. Jas
McCabe, Is very emphatic as to the
great carelessness Of the cotton growers
and of the transportation companies IN
the matter Of protecting cotton from
country damage He asserts also that
the inspection at New York Is not tnor-
ough enough, and he gives me numoei
Of instances. He states that there is
among the cotton growers widespread
oninIon that rain and mud do not in
jure cotton"
"Mr. McCabe asserts that American
buyers and sblnners would not accept a
large proportion Of the cotton that
comes to Liverpool. If wet cotton be
put into the hold Of ship the damage
is multiplied by the time 1t reaches Its
destination. Country damaged bales
that arrive in Liverpool have to be
stripped, so that all the damaged cotton
can be picked off, and the bale must
then be recased with new canvas before
1t can be sold to the spinner. The Amer
lean producer, therefore, not only sus-
ta!ns a loss upon the damaged portion
Of the cotton, but he must also pay fol
the labor Of packing and recasing. 1r
buying the cotton the exporter must
take into consideration the amount OF
premium payable to cover the risk Of
country damaged and Is therefore moi
able to pay the producer as much fol
the cotton as he otherwise would.
Cotton men here say that one reason
why American cotton Is so poorly pack