The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-07-15
New Method objectionless.

II the round bale We're more expensive, or
II its use were IN any way bothersome or
embarrassing. there would be some iustiii-
cation for clinginG teuaciously 10 the old
method Bur as far as can be learned here
abouts. there is absolutely valid objec-
ton 10 the modern method OF cotton pack
ing.
The round bale IS not only cheaper, but
more compact, easier 10 handle. practically
freprocf, brings better prices generally in
the market and actually commands pre-
MUM. in some instances. for its use by
farmers.
BY the old method the cotton. after lea~-
ing the gin at or near the plantation, must
go to the compress, often 100 miles. more
or less. from the gin. thus consuming time.
entailing a cost OF freight and loss in
handling, and paying a big profit TO the
compress owners-who are the leaders in
fighting the extension Of the round bales
use, for no second process is necessary by
the new method
Saving to Growers.
The first saving made by the new method
Is IN the cost of covering. Bagging and
ties for .ao-pound bale cost the farmer
from 10 to So cents The average is proba-
bly 50 cents. Burlap for an equivalent OF
cotton In round bales costs 50 cents, 4 saw
ing OF % cents per bale.
Various local charges eliminated by the
new bale aggregate at least 80 cents. and
eompressing averages another 80 cents.
There is a large saving in transportation
expense. due to the fact that round bales.
shipped through from gin houses. load TO
the full-weight capacity OF freight cars. in
stead of to about one-fourth the weight ca
pecity. as in the case of uncompressed. and
about one-half the weight capacity, as in
the case OF compressed square bales.
Savings in Export Trade.
If for export, there is a saving at the
dock in the cost of loading, round bales be-
Ing easily handled and not needing to be
screwed into the hold of vessels, which
third compression costs shippers Of square
cotton from y TO 20 cents per bale.
There is a further saving In ocean frefghfs
end marine Insurance charges, owing again
20 the increased loading capacity OF the
from country damage"
Finally. round bales are sold less / per
cent tare. saving of hve-sixths of the
fare allowance on square bales.
The absence of the necessity for resamp-
ling round bales introduces another econ
omy, the Importance of which can hardly
be oeerestimated. ore of the foremost cot
ton authorities in this country estimates
that cotton in square bales loses an average
of five pounds Of lint per bale, thanks to
sampiine, theft and other losses in cotton
yards, at congresses and on railroad and
warehouse platforms,
Losses by Old System.
This means a loss of 10000 5oo-pound
bales out OF an average crop, worth al I
cents pound $4,000.
Country damage" claims for which on
American square cotton at the single port
OF LIVERPOOL aggregate s500.0.0 year, no
marks" frequently as high as 5 per cent OF
eliminated.
The savings at the mills. which begin witt.
the unloading OF the cars and do not cease
until the intermediate iapper IS reached
are estimated by a spinner who has used
round bales for several years at not less
than one-eighth Of a cent per pound. excIu-
sfve of tEre and loss of weight on square
bales.
The Obstructive Compress Men.
In view Of all these advantages in the
round bale. prominent cotton buyer was
asked yesterday why the old-fashioned bale
continued so generally in use.
Chiefly" was the reply, through the op-
position OF the compress men. Nest of them |
actually believe that cotton grows only for
the purpose of being compressed. The COM
press system nas been In use for years and
years. generation alter generation has en- |
gagged In the business-offen growing ricn
out OF it-ahd II is not always easy to break !
up long-established institution. big lot !
of capital is tied up in congresses. too |
and their abandonment would entail great |
loss |
ployed In the compress business. and tens |
OF THOUSANDS of people depend on it for |
ind employment With the new machines |
but the natural disposition of employees |
especially the ignorant-to stick pretty close |
TO their bread and butter no matter II |
something better, which they don't UNDER |
stand, is offered.
Hound bales Progress.
but don't for a minute lima CINE that the |
round bale is not making progress. The |
mills producing the round-baie machine are /
consta rtly behind in their orders There are /
four or five kinds OF these machines on the 1
market, and probably there are over 800 OF /
the new plants throughout the South. That /
Is not a bad showing for half a dozen /
years work. especially when you consider |
that there are probably 2eN00 cotton gins |
IN the same territory, and that this modern /
method Of packing means practically rev.
NJ hga hR.g rHEfH
outside the plantations.
Il have never heard of any legislation Cor |
attempted legislation) against the cla-fas:l-
Toned hre-brand cotton bale, but IL seems /
to me that q law against its Use would be 1
quite as practicable as many others that 1
BOW burden the statute books.