The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1905-04-26
HOME MARKET
FOR COTTON.
Cotton Bags to Replace
Burlap.
UP TO THE FARMER.
Good Reasons Given Why Cotton Bags
Should be Used-MOre
Economical.

Whlle cotton growers of the South
are looking across this continent and
across the Pacific for the developement
OF a new market for their great staple,
they are probably overlooking the best
and surest market right at their doors.
The farmers of the south do not realize
the number of sacks used by the fac
tories in the distribution of fertilizers
every winter-between 4,O0O,OOO and
5000, 900 are employed to hold the
phosphate bought by South Carolina
farmers alone. Nor do they seem to
understand that the material for these
fertilizer bags might be cotton but is
burlap, imported from India The fol-
lowing letter, written by Mr.. Geo. A.
Wagner, president of the Royal Bag
ging and Yarn mill of Charleston, is
decidedly interesting:
''The difference between the value of
cotton sacks and burlap sacks for fer
tilizers is 80 cents per ton on seamless
and SO cents per ton on the sewed cot
ton bags. We purchased last year bur-
laps amounting to $236, 200, and the
duty on same was $65,O0O. Now for
your further information | will state
that the total imports of burlaps from
Calcutta for the IL months of last year
from Jan. 1st to Dec. 31st was $780,
765, 900 yards of burlaps and IA, 1853, 700
burlaps bags and from Dundee, Scot
land, and other ports there were 3d.
600, 900 yards, making total of $780,
765, $50 yards burlaps altogether i'm
ported The total revenue for the
United States governments on all bur-
laps and bags amounts to about $685.
100000 annually. | note you say that
you have been talking to the farmers
on the subject and am glad to note
that they are inclined to pay the differ
ence in the cost of the bags You arc
mistaken, however, when you say that
| it will take from one to one and half
million bales to make the bags for fer
Ttiizers, for by calculation it would take
perhaps 20,0O0,0OO pounds cotton, and
of course, if they would use cotton bags
for grits, rice, grain, sugar, salt, ce-
ment, etc, it would easily take 2,OO0,-
600 bales of cotton to manufacture
these bags"
But the field is not limited to the use
of fertilizer sacks; it is unlimited in
the grocery business. and here is what
the grocers of Charleston have to say
on the subject
"Owing to the scarcity of cooperage,
number of large manufacturers have
been compelled to ship their products in
bags instead of barrels This expert
ence has taught many that the bag is
by far the better package, for the fol
lowing reasons:
First. No freight to pay on the
package.
Second. The sack is cheaper.
Third, The sack is of value when
empty.
Fourth. A sack of 100 lbs. is easier
and cheaper to handle than barrel.
Fifth. The jobber in loading his
delivery wagon can put sack in his
wagon with one man instead of two.
"SiXth. The jobbcr's delivery man
can handle the sack to advantage when
he reaches the retailer.
"Why cotton sacks should be used in
stead of burlaps is:
First. Because the empty cotton
sack is of moro value to the consumer.
"Second; Because cotton is raised
in the United States, and burlap is
imported from India.