The Semi-weekly leader. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1905-1941, 1913-07-12
|NEW RULES FOR COTTON
Adopted by the South Atlantic and
cHIf Steamship Companies
Effective Sept. /.

agreed upon by the various inter-
ests represented at the conference
held in New York in July last has
not prevented the presentation of
serious claims to ship owners in
Europe for damage not done whilst
the cotton was in the custody of
the vessel:
Be it resolved. That effective
on and after July /, 1913, no dock
receipt, mates receipt, masters
receipt, or agents receipt or bill
of lading may be issued without
describing the actual conditions of
the bales of cotton when received
by the ocean carrier.
The following clauses were
adopted as to the description of
cotton:
/. Not thoroughly covered.
2. Covering insufficient TO retain
marks.
3. More or less wet.
4. More or less stained.
5. More or less soiled.
When wet bales have been de-
livered to the steamer, and. at the
shippers request, permitted to
dry out before the receipt is given,
that the bales be marked, Bales
have been wet and dried
"Marks-Bales be we'll marked
or branded so that the mark can be
read without any question of a
doubt; bales to be marked with a
good quality of ink that will not
fade, wash or rub away. Marks
to be placed between the bands so
that no part of the marks shall be
covered by the band: no other
marks will be allowed upon the
bale except the head brand, if any,
and the mark under which the bale
is moving for export. All other
marks to be thoroughly obllterated
SO that no part of any old mark
will appear, except upon roll bales,
then the gin mark will be allowed
to remain as this mark is very es-
sential to the shipper and will in
no way effect the mark under which
the bale is being exported.
When the quality of bagging is
insufficient to carry the marks
plainly to destination. patch of
good bagging or cloth bearing the
mark shall be put on the bale under
the band. this will be considered
durably and legIbIy marked.
DENSITY OF BALES,
1 freight engagements will heres
after be made with the following
clauses: -
The standard bale gin box will
be n by 54 inches. as the bases of
this freight engagement, and cot
ton and cotton linters must be of
minimum density on delivery to
the steamer of twenty-five and one-
half pounds per cubic foot for each
bale. Any bale that does not show
this density if not repressed to the
required density, shall pay an extra
freight of so cents per bale. Bales
of larger measurements that cannot
be pressed to minimum density of
twenty-five and one.half pounds
per cubic foot shipside, shall pay
an extra freight of one dollar per
bale.
Whereas, the American bale of
cotton for generations past has
been universally condemned as the
most shameful evidence of wastefuI
and insufficient commercialism, be-
cause of the utter lack of protec-
tion given very valuable product
by unsuitable, fiimsy and INSULT
cient covering. and whereas. the
government experts have figured
the losses resulting from the pres
ent system as high as fifty million
/ per annum.
Be it resolved, That this con-
ference of ship agents representing
the North and South Atlantic and
Gulf Ports of this country hereby
call upon the cotton carrying rail-
roads and all other interests to take
prompt steps to do their part in
lco-operation with the steamship
Interests, to end the present shame
full methods of handling this second
greatest crop in the United
States. "