The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1900-05-15
THE PRICE OF
COTTON BACCING
Savannah News.)

The cotton planters of the South may
again have to resort to cotton sheeting
as a covering for their cotton. and to
seek some substitute for ties to hold the
bales in shape. These needful supplies
are now entirely controlled by the trusts.
Last wear there were half a dozen compe-
titors in each line. This year there are
none. One concern has absolute control
Of all the cotton bagging in the country,
and another has absolute control OF the
cotton ties.
The American Manufacturing Company.
Of New York. controls the cotton baggln&
Of the country, and the American steer
Hoop Company. which is included IN the
great Federal Steel Trust, controls the
tie output. The latter is a comparative
~ recent am~algamation Of several con
Germs. The Ludlows. of Boston, Mass, are
stiu in the cotton bagging business. but
they are in close alliance with the Amer
can manufacturing Company and make
exactly tho same terms and prices.
The result is seen in the changed quo
taticrs. For several months the QUOTA
tions on ties and bagging have remained
Lnracticalv unchanged. Today'S quota
practically unchanged. Today's quota
lions quotations will be found 10 differ
considerably from those which have been
IN force heretofore. An increase o.
about 22 cents a yard has been MADE III
the price Of b%agging, and 1t IS not unlike
w that there will be further increases.
The trusts have in fact given notice mat
a further increase in prices may be e%-
pected in June.
While ncminally the bagging business is
being conducted both by the LudloWs amt
the American Manufacturing Company.
both send out the same prlce lIsl anu
make exactly the same terms. Both de-
clined to sell any bagging for this year
crop until this week, and both opened at
the same prices. Their terms are Spol
cash and nc credit.
All the cotton ties used in the tnIfed
States are now made by the Federal steer
Co,nranv as agents for the American Steel
Hoop Company. The latter IS an aihai-
eamation of the several different concerns
which were engaged in the hoop and tie
business last year. The result OF the
amalqamatjoa was felt Immediately. FROM
60 cents. the price at which most OIL the
tics were sold last year, the price lmme-
diatelv Jumped 10 - cents, from Whlch
# was run up to 1926, at which price
ties have been quoted for the last several
weeks. The latest dictum makes inc
nrice 1871 SPOT cash and $l.5b lot A"-
a,ct delivery. This is to merchants III
large lots. To farmers the cost VIII ~ o
, 10 10 cents a bundle more.
With the complete control OF the p"9'
mass now enjoyed by the bagglhg an"
tie trusts it can very easily be seen 'h"'
,beca concerns are in position to squeeze
> tho farmers of the South at their pleas
,,ra For several years the cotton plant
orc have secured these supplies at fea-
- sonabIe prices. but this will evidently not
= ba the case this year. Being protecleu
IN, q heavy tariff against foreign compe-
,ition and having knowledge OF the 1aeI
that the farmers CT the South are III q
r,ore nrcs2erous condition than for sever
n wears past. and with the assurance Oh
= q large demand for the present year the
two trusts realize that they nave the
planters at their mercy, and mat the
= time is ripe to multiply their prolIl9' -
will he alleged, Of course, that hlghel
4 nrices for the material entering INTO the9t
products account largely for the increased
nrices. There will be just enough trutA
in This to lend color TO the assertion ou'
if is easy to predict that cotton grow
ers of Egypt, India and the rest OF the
=" world will pay no such prices lot 'neii
baling materials this year as VIII ''
Southern cotton planters.