St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1902-07-30

SEWING UP ROUND COTTON BALES.
al round bales, which are easily han
died and far more acceptable to export /
BUYERS. The cottonseed, which was |
once thrown away, is carefully pressed |
for the valuable oil it contains, and
even the refuse is utilized as stock |
food.
Perhaps the introduction of the round |
bale is the most important feature OF
the south's progression. Over 100000
packages of cotton yearly are now
placed in railroad cars, i'll steamships
holds and sent to foreign and domestic
mills. baled by this process. In 1896
but 1000 bales were prepared, which
will give an idea of the favor which
the invention has met down in Dixie.
At first the growers viewed the ''new-
tangled" apparatus with the distrust
that is common among the people to-
ward systems which differ from the
good old fashioned ways they and their
fathers have pursued. But by degrees
they have been examining the new
process and one by one are taking their
cotton to the round bale instead Of the
old compress.
If a man can save even an eighth OF
a cent pound on his crop, this means
much to him when the yield is so large
that he thinks 5 cents a pound is Il
good price for it. With 8 cent cotton it
does not make so much difference, but
when the crop runs into 10,000,OOO
bales then the arguments in favor or
the round bale are very strong, for it
costs the planter nothing to gin his
cotton or to wrap it, while he can sell
it directly at the press if he wishes
and put the proceeds in his pocket
1t is calculated that he can save all
the way from an eighth to half cent
per pound by having the staple baled
by the new process. If he has raised
100000 pounds, this means $500 to his
credit 1t goes a long way toward pay
ing the next years fertilizer bill or to-
ward settling his account with the gro
Gerry man or clothing dealer.
The round baling of cotton is one OF
. several industrial revolutions by which
the south is freeing itself from debt
incurred by the expensive methods OF
the days before the war. 1t is an inter
esting sight to visit one of these press
: es on a day in the middle of the cotton
J season. e--
Around it are perhaps a hundred
q wagons loaded with fleece just as 1t i
!, dumped from the baskets of the felt
bands.
sprawled on the top of the mass ma,
be one or more negroes fast asleep l
the sun until their turn comes to III
load. Then they start UP the mule an
,, drive under shed from which one c
. two pipes hang. These pipes may t
~ Of tin or of iron and are high enoug
!. so that their ends are about fo'
], above the top of the cotton.
When the wagon Is in the right pos
4 ton, a whirring sound is heard as Il
exhaust fan inside the building begi
: to operate. The air PUSHES up threut
D.. the bipe and sucks the cotton With
q In a continued stream. All the darl
t. has to do is to keep pushing the ma
a under the pipes until all has be
r taken up, the work OF a few minut
Then he drives away, and anoti
wagon takes his place, and 80 it g
~ all day and sometimes all night
~ On goes the cotton just as picl
70 from the fields until it reaches the
C. ries Of four or five gins. Throl
ID. these 1t is gradually worked, be
Id, separated from the seeds, dirt and
1g other foreign matter until it goes i
Ie- the receiver of the press thoroug
he cleaned. The seeds drop down into
'p- pans and are carried to the Oil
We near by, if one is operated in com
"a ton with the press.
VII The suction fans also draw the
to ton frem the gin and into the
ici- denser, which is the first section
BILE the press. Steadily it is crowded do
ward by the revolving metal
which begin to give it form. Strol
cas- and stronger becomes the pressure