The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1902-09-30

This question OF lafe on cotton set
forth under rules of the Cotton Buyers
Association is subject matter which
should engage the serious attention OF
southern cotton producers al this time
There are but few farmers as q rule
who really understand the meaning OF
tare on their cotton anyway, and it is
important that the question should be
fully discussed in all its bearings from
p plain practical standpoint At the
ouf4et it is Well enough to understand
that the word ''tare.'' as applied to our
rrerchantable cotton by the cotton trade
means the weight of the bagging and ties
placed ON the cotton at the ginnery We
have IN the first place the gross weight
ot the bale when ginned and packed, then
whom the ''tare' or the weight of the
covering is deducted, the net weight OF
the lint in the bale is left. The spinners
or manufacturers of our cotton buy only
the net lint from the exporters as they
buy nothing and pay for nothing which
they cannot spin into cloth. The cover
ing on cotton is a net loss to the farm
crs they being required to furnish the
covering and bands which go on the lint
to put the bale into marketable condi-
ti0n for the trade and transportation
companies to handle en- route from the
giuhouso to the manufacturing plant The
SPINNER therefore. makes to the buyer
ot our cotton a price on the net value
Of the lint, requiring the buyer or ex-
porter to deduct from that price Ger
tain per cent. to cover the tare and all
other fixed charges between the spin
ner and the producer. When the ex-
porter receives the spinners' price, there
tcre. he begins first to discount the per-
coutage of tare on the bales the cost of
warehousage and insurance, railroad and
steamship transportation. compression
loading at the port, average loss in
weight average loss for country dam
a-n, the commission charges for buying
and handling and when all these and
other charges are discounted from the
srlUners price, he reaches the point
where he can offer to the farmer a act
price based upon the different grades
of cotton. This is what happens when
straight. legitimate business is carried
on between the buyers and spinners.
At this particular time when there is
hut little legitimate demand for cot
toH the whole market being regulated by
speculation on account of the very heavy
receipts of spot cotton being daily dump
ei on the market. 1t is hard to tell just
how the buyers are regulating prices be-
vOnd their combined efforts TO depreSS
and hold down prices by taking advan-
tago Of the farmers present bad system
Of marketing their cotton within a very
short period of time. | have been thus
explicit because it is necessary in hand
ling a subject of this kind to present as
plainly rs possible all the details. in or
der that a full and complete understand
ing OF the subject of my article may be
had
\ GREAT INJUSTICE.
Some months ago the Southwestern Cot
ton Buyers Association held a conven-
lion at Atlanta and passed resolutions
providing that thereafter no farmer
should be allowed to put more than six
yards OF bagging and six ties on his
cotton and in case he did that deduction
should be made in the price offered COW
rrnS the extra weight so placed on each
bale. In other words they undertook 10
fix he taro on our cotton for the future
at y pounds per bale, and circulars COW
. frlng this rule were mailed to the gin
ners throughout the country with request
10 post in conspicuous place at the GIN
merry 50 that all farmers void be prompt
IL notified at the opening Of the season.
! promptly wrote an article on the sub
5gct when these circulars were first is
sued ana put the public upon notice or
al- Injustice and advised all farmers TO
disregard it. / also spoke against 1t at
The ginners' convention in Macon in July,
ana aided in preventing the adoption OF
fesOlutiOn by the ginners indorslng the
tI1bOsItiOn at that time. l dld not pc
H@Fe that the buyers would undertake
10 enforce their ruling over the protests
u he farmers and ginners of the coun-
ifE but it is quite evident now that 1t
Is being enforced and farmers are ac-
HuesciEg without any apparent knowl-
edge OF the heavy losses they are sus-
tanning. The truth Of the matter Is
mpiy this: The European spinners al
low deduction of per cent for actual
ttra or 80 pounds on each 800 pound
haI" Of cotton. In other words, an eX-
porter lilling out to a manufacturer any
#hrr in continental Europe 100 bales OF
+". on, averaging 800 pounds each, makes
'"I his account as follows
Ip" bales (grade) cotton. so, coo pounds
Lees per cent. tare -. 5000 pounds
~ .ooo
be spinner pays for $4,000 pounds ana
1910 1000 pounds tare, together with All
''A.r fixed charges, has already peer
"o.1e by the farmers in their local mar
aI In the interior. Now comes the
question Of injustice to the farmer Oh
.'- transaction under the new rulings
-A"d this season by the buyers III re-
..4ng the tare at all local markets 70
IL Hounds per bale or six yards bagsihs
'-a six bands. To be fair Whlle INC
"oFers were reducing the tare al lniS
'"l. they ought salso have secured :,
'"rresponding reduction for the tare al
or fh.4r tI,c
D" The spinner wou., have been as foi-
lows.
' bales grade cotton ......... .?o.ooo
. pounds per bale for tare.. NV
Net al 500