A STORY OF COTTON 29 



after ginning and packing in a bale, a great degree of moisture 

 is partially sealed WITHIN this bale. 



The loss of weight, due to the GRADUAL evaporation of 

 moisture that is confined in a bale of cotton of this character, 

 that is ginned, and baled, when the lint is even SLIGHTLY 

 damp, is ENORMOUS. 



As this confined dampness or moisture is not visible, it is 

 not possible to deduct for this moisture in weighing, when the 

 bale of cotton is sold from one cotton dealer to the other. 



If the "SEED COTTON" is ginned with a very great amount 

 of moisture in it, the bale of LINT COTTON resulting from 

 the ginning of this "SEED COTTON" WILL DAMAGE IN- 

 TERNALLY. 



The DEGREE of damage is governed ENTIRELY by the 

 amount of moisture originally partially sealed in baling, that 

 remains in the INTERIOR of the bale. 



A very great deal of damage, and MUCH loss in weight 

 ensues EVERY YEAR, through the lack of care taken of 

 "SEED COTTON," before it is passed to the ginner. 



The amount involved of loss in weight, or loss by damage, 

 due to the above causes, if it were possible to be accurately 

 computed and applied to any SINGLE YEAR'S production of 

 American cotton, which is entirely due to the PRIMARY NEG- 

 LECT in the handling of "SEED COTTON," by the original 

 producer, would be recorded in "MILLIONS OF DOLLARS." 



When the producer delivers "SEED COTTON" to the gin, 

 the "SEED COTTON," so delivered, is hauled to the gin in 

 an open wagon, that usually has a holding capacity of, from 

 1,600 to 1,800 pounds of "SEED COTTON." 



The wagon load of "SEED COTTON" is delivered to the 

 ginner under the cover, of an OPEN SHED. 



The wagon loaded with the "SEED COTTON" is driven on 

 to a PLATFORM SCALE, and is there weighed, IN BULK; 

 and the total weight of the wagon, and its contents, recorded. 



While still on the scales, an iron suction pipe, that passes 

 through the roof of the shed, is placed immediately over, and 

 in contact WITH the load of "SEED COTTON." 



By means of suction, the "SEED COTTON" passes, very 

 rapidly, up the suction pipe, and is carried to the upper por- 



