The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-08-01
HOW TO BALE COTTON.
A DISCUSSION OF THE CYLINDRE
A AND SQUARE BALES.
Danger of a Cotton Trust-If Round
Bale Should be Adopted IL Would
ket In the Hands of a Few, and the
Farmer Would be at Their Mercy
(From Daily Free Press, Kin
ston. n. c.

Mr.. Editor:-My attention has been
called to the discussion going on from
time to time of the comparative merits
Of the square and round bales OF cot
ton; and several days ago | began an
Investigation Of the matter, with the
purpose of writing an article, by the
request of several people interested in
learning which is best. l do not pro-
fess to have made q thorough study OF
the contentious of the cylindrical bale
people in so short a time and with
such limited means of information as
l have had. but l have seen and read
enough to know that until the times
and the conditions change, our people
are not ready for the introduction of
the cylindrical bale to the exclusion of
the square bale. l hope that our cred
ulous people may not be fattered, ca
joled or bull-doZed into the acceptance
of the new bale.
/ have no interest in the matter ex-
cept as every citizen is, or should be,
interested in any and everything that
vitality concerns the prosperity of the
cotton produc ers. That interest bor-
ders, l admit, somewhat On the selfish
impulses, because what affects cotton
affects us all.
What reason is there for the change?
why should the ginners abandon as
useless their machinery worth millions
of dollars? What solid inducement is
offered to the farmers and ginners? L
have seen none. The south is praised
a little-we are told that the south is
still conservative, but not 'slOw." That
it is being aroused to modern methods
and modern improvements in all lines
of developments, and finally We are
congratulated upon the rapid accept
ance of the cylindrical bale, and it is
gently limited to us that it is coming
universally and that we had best pre-
pare to receive it kindly han to accept
ut later forcibly.
do not be thrown off your guard by
the fear Of being called unprogressive.
Be sure hat somebody has an X to
grind.
l do not absolutely deny that the
round bale will ever be found best
bulLeu LOT dill UuL So LAT lutlr
people have failed to show the neces-
sity for or the utility of it's adoption.
The only argument they have had
worth consideration is the one that the
round bale being all of one shape and
size could be packed in the holds OF
the ships so as to economize space and
therefore cheaper transportation and
export rates. That was true, but since
the almost general adoption of the uni
form square bales, 24x54, that argu-
ment falls down, because a uniform
square bale can be packed closer, if
any difference exists, than the rOundlap
bale.
1t is asserted that the round bale
people are bending every energy to
make the uniform square bale mOvemnt
a failure. If this be true, and the GIN
ners generally testify to that effect, and
you will remember that efforts like
that require immense OUTLAWS Of money
you will see that it is strong proof
that the cylindrical bale people realize
that the general adoption of 24x54
inches as the standard bale will give a
death blow to their hopes, because it
can be slowed away in the holds of the
ships better than the round bale. If
they did not see hat the only argument
they have had would be thus answer
ed, they would not be so anxious to
prevent ginners from adopting the
24X54 press boxes.
1t is freely charged that the promo
tiers of the round bale have trust ten
denotes, in fact that there is practically
but one concern in the business. They
deny the charge by saying that there
are three round bale presses sold now,
or1 +hof 1hayafaro thara &c mn 1;lyo1i-
hood of the formation of a trust to
control the ginning Of cotton.
Nevertheless two of the round bale
concerns, the American Cotton compa-
ny and the Lowery Round Bale COM
pany, will not sell their presses out
right, but place them on a royalty
only.
Ask them why it is that, claiming to
be the friends of the farmers and gin
ners, they will not sell their machines
to them at about $3.50 and realize
thereon a handsome profit for them
selves, and leave to the ginners the
profits of the ginning, and they answer
readily that they have a good thing, in
which they are protected by the patent
office, and that they intend to keep it
so that it shall operate always for their
interest, netting them from $1,000 to
$4,000 on each machine.
There is absolutely no competition
between these people-because the
American Cotton company states, n
the Lowrey Round Bale company en-
tirely in the east.
And add this fact-when you ask
them about buying the machines out
right, they refer you to the third and
only concern in the business, the Gin
ners' Compress company. Comrnuni-
cate with them and o will find the
price beyond the reach of any ginner in
Lenoir county.
Another peculiar thing will strike the
average a as significant. The Gin
ners' Compress company sends u
American Cotton company's literature
to explain the advantages of the ma
chimes.
Is it not patent that they they are
all tho same? Do these facts not