Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1913-06-11
Those Handling and Dealing in
Cotton Urge Uniform System.

Those Handling and Dealing IN
Cotton Urge Uniform System.
Commissioner <. J. Watson yes
terday gave out resolution which
was adopted at recent conference
conference Of cotton dealers urging
the ginners of South Carolina adopt
a standard gin box. The commits
sioner said that the standard gin
box was required by practically all
of the railways and the steamship
companies aud that millions of dol
lars year would be saved in
freight on cotton shipments. The
The standard gin box proposed is
"a by "a inches.
The following is the resolution:
Resolved, That in the sense of
this conference that standard gin
box be "a by 54 inches.
Resolved, That the standard
weight of a bale of cotton should
be approximately 500 pounds.
whereas, the American cotton
bale is notoriously unsatisfactory
and that there results a loss of
many millions of dollars annually
by reason of irregular packages, IN
sufficient covering and careless
handling, and
whereas, it is understood that
the congress of the United States is
contemplating investigation and
possible legislation with the object
oe improving conditions, and
where's, this conference in
cludes representatives of the cotton
exchanges, buyers, exporters, com
press associations, cotton glnners,
railroads and ocean carriers.
Special Committee.
BE it resolved. That special
committee of 10 be appointed by
the chairman of this conference to
take the necessary steps to place be-
fore congress such data as will as
sist in the following improved con-
ditions in handling cotton:
Il. A standard gin box of di-
mensions of 24x54 inches.
50. A standard weight per bale
of appro oximately 500 pounds.
''S. A bale so covered that the
cotton will be thoroughly protected
against damage In transit when
properly handled.
81. Tie marking of the bale so
as to insure Identification at destl-
nation.
whereas, the American bale of
cotton has for generations past been
universally condemned as the most
shameful evidence of wasteful and
inefficient commercialism, because
of the utter lack of protection Civ
en- to q very valuable product by
unsuitable, 1limsy and insufficient
covering, and
''Whereas, the government e1-
perts have figured the loss resulting
from the preseu, system as high as
s5o,0oO,ooo per annum,
Be it resolved, That this confer
ence of ship agents, representing the
North and South Atlantic and Gulf
ports of this country, hereby calls
upon the cotton carrying railroads
and all other interests to take
prompt steps to do their part in Co
operation with steamship interest
to end the present shameful meth
DDS of handling this, the second
greatest crop in the United States. "
The above resolutions were unan-
imously adopted,
Roads Did Not Vote.
BE it resolved, That if any bale
does noS show the density of 225
pounds per cubit foot, il no repress-
ed to tie required density, shall
pay an extra freight of 80 cents per
bale.
Bales of larger measurements
than can not be pressed to min l.
mum density of s2t pounds per
cubic foot shipside, shall pay an
extra freight of 81 per bale; that
this penalty be assessed as soon as
possible after the bale leaves the
GIN"
These were carried unanimously
with the exception that the railroad
interests did not vote eitEer yea"
or nay."-The State.