The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1904-08-24
BALING COTTON.
The System Now In Use Sadly in Need
Of Improvement.

The System Now In Use Sadly in Need
Of improvement.
It has been said, doubtless without
exaggregation, that there is nothing
more crude and destitute Of proper sys-S
tenn than is the handling Of the great
staple agricultural product Of these
Southern States, cotton, from the time
the crop is gathered until 1t is mar;
keted. While there has been immense
progress in the manufacture OF the
cotton, the treatment it receives Is
barbarous from the moment 1T is GIN
ned or separated from its seed until it
reaches the spinning machine. The
cotton gin, or machine for freeing the
lint from the seed, was invented by
Eli Whitney century age, ,and while it,;
was fairly efficient when the seed and
the large amount Of lint attached to-
them were thrown away, more ac-
curate and economical processes for
ginning are highly desirable, and yet
the Southern planters stick to the old
process.
The method of baling cotton for,
transportation is a crude affair, and
leaves the staple exposed to the in-s
clamency Of the weather and to. all
sorts of waste and petty thievery.
The planters, as body, have never
been able to protect themselves against
the exigencies Of their own necessities,
which may compel them to force their
crops on the market to the greatest
disad Iva antage, when by the use OF a
system that would enable them to feed
the market just what it requires, and
to hold back Their stock from being
crowded in so as to break down prices,
great benefits would insure to the
planters and no damage would be In
hicted on the consumers.
Congresses and convent ntlons OF cotton
planters have considered the subject
and have put forth convincing argu-
ments in favor Of such a course, but it
has not been possible in the part to
consummate such an enterprise. Last
season combinations OF Southern cot
ton dealers were made with a view to :
raise and keep up the prices Of the
staple to fair level Of values, but the
operations carried cut took on so much
of a speculative character that no sys-
TEN was evolved, and nothing accom-
plished that could be made the basis OF
something regular and reliable for all
the parties interested, because any
speculation in merchandise which en-
ters into daily and necessary consump-
tion Is a spasm-a fever which may do
great deal Of harm even to those
who hope the most from it, and this
has been the result with not few ex-
perienced in the season just passed. Z
1t is claimed that, with scarcely 10
per cent. change in any recent years
in the production Of cotton, prices
have fuctuated more than 200 per
cent. In 1896, with a crop of II, ,270,-.
900 bales, the average New York price
was cents, though in many places In
the South cotton sold as low as and
cents a pound. During the present
season, with a crop of little over l0,-
900, 900 bales, OF difference OF only
about 10 per cent, cotton has sold as
high as II to 18 cents, and may aver
age for the year II cents. These chang
es in price moreover are more rapid
than in any other product. Between
the time farmer starts from his home
to sell his cotton in the nearest mar
ket prices may change S. to $40 a bale.
Under such conditions the planting IN
terests can never be on a thoroughly
sound basis, nor can manufacturing
expand as it you'd under more suit
able condition. But with prices fairly
steady from year to year, the worlds
trade would rapidly expand and In
creased production would find an ever
increasing market, whereas now q crop
exceeding by only a few hundIe1
thousand bales the actual needs cs Tie
year, makes possible the breaking
down Of the price OF tie entire crop.
In other words, surplus OF 100000
OF ], 1000, 900 bales, or 5 to 10 per cent.
excess over Immediate wants, may be
made under present condition to cause
a decline Of sl00, 900, 600 to $500, ,o0o,-
900 ia the price received by the farm
ers for their crop.
These are facts that have been real
lied to the cost Of many cotton plan
ter, and it should seem that in this
wonderful age Of combination there
should be some means, probably
through an organization Of planters,
Of improving conditions, and OF Great
ing a more solid and reliable basis for
the handling of cotton from the gin to
the spindle.
Killed by Explosion.
The boiler at the sawniu of J. F.
Arnold, five miles from Senola, Ca,
exploded Wednesday afternoon killing
four persons and injuring several
others, how many is not known. The
dead: J. F. Arnold, owner OF the
mill; Buford Arnold, Will Arnold, a
negro; an unknown negro. The in
jured include two negro employees, one
Of whom may die. The cause OF the