The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1909-06-10

The following report on the intesr
national Cotton Congress at Paris
June /, and 3, 1908, was read by
Mr.. ID. Y. Cooper of Henderson, be-
| fore the convention of the American
Cotton Manufacturers Association
i'll Richmond, Va, 1926. It will be
read with interest aud profit we are
sure for the information it contains
and the vital bearing it has upon the
cotton industry of the South:
AS delegate from this association
attended the Fifth International Con
gress of the Master Cotton Spinn ers
and Manufacturers Association, at
Paris, June /, and 3, 1908, with
William D'Olier, of Philadelphia, and
W. X. Meadows, of Mississippi Agri-
cultural College. James r. MacCoIl,
of Pawtucket, represented the ma
tional association. 1t was regretted
that the Southern Cotton Association
was not represented. The attendance
of American manufacturers and rep
resentatives was small. This, how
ever, did not make us less enthusi-
astic. We were received cordially by
our brethren across the water and
treated most cOurteOusly during our
stay among them. Every facil ty
was afforded us to attend their M ct
ings and hear the reports, discus
sions, etc, and general intercourse
with the members from the different
natiOnalities.
The Congress was organized June
l., at 9:3O A. NJ, with Casimer Berger,
president, in the chair. After the
usual addresses of welcome and re-
sponses were made the Congress be-
gan business, with an attendance of
about 500 manufacturers from Is
countries. This association, which
is SO compactly organized through
out Europe, represents to-day ap-
proximately S5,OOO,OOO spindles in
Europe of the 135 100000 of the
world. 1t was formed for the purpose
of considering labor disputes, wages,
fire insurance, transportation rates,
tax assessments, purchasing cotton
and other supplies, curtailment OF
and increase production when neces-
sary, and all other questions that
would be of interest and profit to the
| members.
Visit to America.-A large number
of representatives from this associa-
tion visited the United States and the
South, October, 1907. They held at
Atlanta, Ga, their most important
congress with the cotton growers,
spinners and manufacturers. In their
reports it was pleasing to note ex-
pressions of their appreciation of the
kindly and courteous manner in which
they were received and treated every
where.
Report of Cotton GrOWers.-The
reports from members who attended
the Atlanta Congress from different
nations were very interesting and ex-
haustive. The mass of accurate and
detailed information that they gath
cred was surprising, possibly the
fullest and most detailed reports that
have been made upon this subject.
These embraced the whole situation:
Modes offarming, experiments, plant
ing, cultivating, handling the crop,
ginning, compress, forwarding and
shipping, cost of production, and
sale of cotton. Also cotton by-prod-
ucts, cotton seed, hulls, cotton seed
meal, oil, cakes, extraction and re-
tining of oil. In fact, their analysis
covered the cotton crop and its by
products in a most comprehensive
manner, and will prove valuable to
those who wish to know the cOndi-
tions that surround the Southern
farmer and the growth OF one OF the
most valuable and important crops
on earth. The cotton field was new
to them. 1t was amusing at times to
hear the impression made upon their
minds when they visited the fields
and saw the cotton growing. Ihey
solved many questions satisfactorily
to themselves, but were rather sur
prised that the actual cost OF produc-
tion of cotton could not be given ac-
curately. The explanation that eli
mate conditions entered SO largely
into the yield and cost OF production
was not satisfactory.
EViLs.-Reports of the visiting mem
bers criticized the careless methods
with which our cotton is baled and
handled. They show many photo
graphs of our bales. some taken at
Liverpool on arrival and Others at
the mills, in comparison with the
baled cotton from India and other
sections. The American bale shows
badly by comparison. They are
strong in their condemnation that
so valuable "a product should be
handled in such a careless and waste
full manner. They complain OF poor
baling, heavy tare, damage. damp
and waste, and could not understand
why it was necessary to patch the
sample cut in the bale with piece OF
bagging, 2x3 feet, weighing from