Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1914-09-04
The Problem of Bagging



President NJ C. Peters NM Co
lraeucally all Of the jute the world is grown in
india Large quantities this jute are imported nv
various countries for the manufacture Of cloth known
as burlap and for twines mixtures with other fibres
and various other purposes The protective tariff
ouiIt up very few burIsp cloth manufactures in
america one or two minor industries on the east
coast making special fabrics which, perhaps pros
pered TO some extent but the major part Of blrlsp
cloth manufactured IN this country has been produced
og the penitentaries at San Quentin Cal, and waila
Walia, Wash These panltentiaries import the iute
ana manufacture cloth for wheat bags used by
FARMERS on the west coast These wheat bags are OF
heaVy texture and quite expensive and they are re-
CURED on the west because vessels CARRYING
grain around the Cape fear that bulk grain win list
100 much and are forced to have all grains loaded in
sacks for safe carrying.
Because of the that there are no looms in tbia
country suited to spinning coarse jute fibre into cloth
Tor bag purposes 1t is necessary for all manufao-
turers Of bags 20 import the bulk of their burlap
cloth from India.
English capital controls nearly all Of the
burlap cloth factories India although certain Aer
cans are heavily interested in India. In fact one of
our leading bag manufacturers owns one OF the larg
est Indian jute cloth mills.
The importation of burap cloth to America is
mainly through our northern ports. there are no
steamers direct from Calcutta to our southern gulf
ports Shipments to New Orleans for instance re-
quire transfer at Liverpool. whereas shipments for
Instance. TO New York Boston may be made direct
from Calcutta as these ships find immediate return
loading
It has been stated good authority that most OF
the vessels carrying exports from India are owned
Oy Germany and 1t has been proved that a number
OF these German vessels have been seized by the
British and the goods taken contraband Of war
In consequence for at least thirty days or more no
ships have been loaded expectation to this country
and naturally the limited amount Of tute or extra
amount Of burlap in Scotland IL It possible to
-, hFa
to supply the demand OF American millers
The custom Of millers in this country is TO depend
upon the bag manufacturers, and the bag manufao-
turers seldom carry in stock sufficient quantity Of
cloth TO serve the trade beyond period of sixty days.
as these goods are bulky and into money very
fast Likewise the burlsp bag manufacturer to keep
his trade supplied, must necessarily have burlap
cloth constantly In transit from India, for which he
establishes his foreign credits and during present
worldwide financial strain any import commodity
compels the exporter and importer to use extreme
caution in order TO avoid heavy losses.
The stoppage of burap goods In transit from Cal
cutta and the widespread advertising seizures
of vessels; tho immediate orders of all millers upon
the bag manufacturers for larger supplies than they
really need. produced immediate shortage Of
burlap sufficient TO supply all demands and In con-
sequence burlap cloth in the standard width has
really doubled in value within the last thirty days
One needs only to look at the map to discover that
1t must take some time for burlap shipped from India
possible to ship any goods via the suez canal and
the longer route south will probably as much as
three weeks extra time In consequence there is no
Immediate expectation OF any relief a large supply
OF burlap to fill the requirements OF the mllers.
1t is quite impossible to weave cotton as coarse as
burlap and produce substitute for burlap at q
fair proportionate cost In the first place the mills
OF this country not equipped to spin the yarns
as no condition has heretofore arisen value of
burlap making It possible for cotton cloth to absc-
lutely substitute in all places, but confronted
today with another peculiar situation far cotton
is concerned
In accordance with the past shipments IT was
expected that Germany this year would import at
least 100000 bales OF staple cotton produced in our
southern states The expectation OF any cotton
from our southern ports to Germany or Austria is
very improbable this season. and committee OF
the New York Cotton exchange has been actively
working, not only to iqudate the contracts between
cotton brokers and the allied interests also to
open fields of credit the relief OF local banks
In the south In fact OF the suggestions advanced
is that arrangements be made with the Federal Re
board, by which banking members may use cot
ton warehouse receipts collateral whereby the
OF cotton may officially be recognized, high
rs cents in order that the southern planter may
not lose heavily II is figured that the actual
OF producing cotton is at least 10 cents per
pound. and IL the price goes below this figure |
the hardship upon the south will be very serious
This brings to the point of inquiry as to the |
ability OF the south to turn n large surplus cotton
into fabric which will make reasonable substitute
for burlap TO be used particularly in the milling and
allied trades.
The great bulk Of cloth used in the manufacture OF
bags for commercial purposes Is generally speaking
forty inches wide. and large number Of southern !
mills equipped with looms to make forty-lnch |
cloth. Not all OF these looms will produce cloth that
is perfectly satisfactory and strong substl-
tute for the hard service required for bag purposes
but unauestonSby millions of yards Of cotton goods
can be used this winter II the thoroughly |
realizes that prime necessity exists. not only be-
the cost win be less TO the consumer but be
cause of the general advantages derived from the
substitution OF surplus cotton for the ute hereto
fore purchased in India