The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1908-07-22
"A COTTON COVERING FOR COT
TON.
Interesting Experiments ir PROGRESS
at Columbia,

Columbia, July 19.-The Mount
'eriioh-" oodbury Duck Company,
which owns large number of cotton
mill plants in the South and which is
largely engaged in the manufactures.
OF cotton duck, is now conducting q
series of interesting experiments in
the manufacture of cotton bagein~
The Mount Vernon Company has the
nnest machinery for the manufacture
or heavy cotton goods, and the oues-
ton now is how to get ont nroduc+
that Will not cost too much. Latest
goods on which they have experi-
mented are gotten out in fifty one
inch width and those who have ex-
amined the goods are satisfied that
1t will make most excellent covering
for the cotton.
The goods have been examined by
planter from the coast who thinks
that the covering would be excellent
for long staple cotton, where a COM
PiCSc covering IS required.
1t will be remembered that a num-
Der OF years ago, when Col. DARCY
P. Duncan was at the head of the
farmers Alliance in this State, that
the Alliance made a vigorous fight
against what was called the "Jute--
Trust" The trust ran the price of
jute covering UP three cents the
pound, whereupon the Alliance or
sanized a defensive fight and had the
farmers use cotton osnaburg, sugar
sacks and every imaginable covering
for the cotton. The price Of jute
bagging went down to normal fig
ures. and there has been no further
talk Of a fight or the use of cotton
bagging.
To look the situation clearly in the
face, the farmers today are doubling
their money by buying jute bagging
at prevailing prices and selling it at
prevailing prices for the cotton, as
the bagging is not divorced in the
selling prices of the entire bale, al
though it may be counted out in the
price that is actually paid per pound
for the cotton. Jute bagging is now
made in weights running from one.
and a half pounds to two pounds to
the yard, and an average of six yards
of jute goods is used to the bale of
cotton. In other words the farmer
buys and uses six yards Of jute bag
ging to cover bale Of cotton costing
him 36 cents, and sells it for $1.2o
on the basis Of 1O-cent cotton, MAX
ing the difference in the cost of the
jute bagging at prevailing price Of
the cotton.
Good, heavy cotton covering would
require from ten to thirteen pounds
to cover each bale. If the farmers of
the South insisted on the use Of cot
ton for covering their cotton crop this
use alone would involve $4,000 bales
Of cotton. If low grade cotton and
particularly waste cotton were used
in the manufacture OF this covering
the covering could perhaps be put
on the market at such a price as
would appeal to the consumer, but
the farmers would not be able to
make money out Of the bagging, or
at least figure it that way. On tho
basis Of putting out high grade cot
ton covering 1t is figured that the
farmer could come out about even on
the sale Of the bagging at what it
cost The chief advantage, of course,
would be In making use of a consider
able portion Of the cotton crop in an
entirely new line. If the cotton as
sociations in the South were to &C.
lively take up this matter they
might, with the cooperation Of wide
awake manufacturers, find a new and
profitable market for a good portion
Of the crop of any of the States