Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1900-04-26
The Square Bale.

At recent session of tho Alabama
Compress Association tho comparative
advantages and disadvantages of tbr
square and round cotton bale wero die.
cuSScd 1t was demonstrated by statis.
tics that there has been q marked im-
provemcnt in tho square bale method.
III was shown that tho advantage de-
rived from obtaining more uniform bales
ana Tor improving tho quality of the
comprcssing has not only Increased thc
loading of cars, but has also increased
the carrying capacity of steamships, re-
sultlng in very markcd decrease i'm thc
ocean freight rates, thereby enabling the
buyers of cotton to pay a CORRESPOND
lngly high prico to the farmers.
The agitation Of tho comparative adj
vantagcs of tho square baio over tho
round bale assumed such widespread i'm
portancc as to have induced the com.
press interests Of tho South to have a
representative in tho person of M. n.
Hamilton visit tho loading spinncrs of
America and Europe for tho purpose of
observing the manner in which the two
packages have been received and worked
by the spinncrs. Mr.. Hamilton recently
returned from his trip, and was present
at the session. lie addressed tho con-
vcntion regarding his observations as fol-
lows: W. IVA
MI President and Gentlemen: | as
sumo you have seen copies of nv rcports
from New England and Europe sent Won
oy MI Hanson in circular form There
lore, | shall not go into detail, but touch
only briefly on tho subject and main
iacts who near upon the work now be-
scrvation conclude:
II. mat we'll covered and tied uni
form size square balo will be at all times
preferred Oy the consumer to any cylin-
drical package yet known. Whyp BE-
cause 1T stores better in a ship; salvage
Is greater III fire; it does not mat and
CAKE; is open to competition, and, in tho
chu, inc most economical package.
~. Cotton compressed direct from tho
gin tiue in an ordinary damp year, when
inc vegetable moisture is retained in tho
ilbrc, cannot give satisfaction at tho milh
because OF mating and caking, "causi,y.
trouble IN opening, clogging in the bale
breaker, licking and resulting i'm loss to
the spinner.
''3. The claims made by the round bale
companies that their package would
bring higher price than the so1iaro bale
IN European markets, afford better fire
RISK, etc, have proven utterly falaccous.
"PriccS-l make the assertion that in
most instances round bales have sold in
Europe at figures under current prices
Tor square bales.
Actutl flfcS-At fire in Liverpool
III whlch there were American rolndlap
ana square bales, results proved that the
savage on the square bale was greatly in
excess OF that on the round package.
Ihc trade has generally como to the
conclusion that there is no real merit in
the cylindrical bale. Many spinncrs have
given both the Lowry and American Cot
ton Company,'s bales an impartial trial,
showing 10y the purchase Of the bale no
prejudice in the matter, and tho great
majority were not satisfied, and say they
Will not use round bales; however, this
makes no difference, provided you do not
improve the condition of your square
hnlcS, and the round bale companies arc
allowed to monopolizc the ginning bust
ness IN certain sections, and give to the
trade enough round bales to cncct con-
sumption, then spimcrs will be forced
|" Buy their cotton whether they prefer
it or not.'