PACKING AND MABKETING OF COTTON. 9 



PULLING 0^ SAMPLES. 



The merchant, who as a rule purchases for future sale, retains a 

 liberal sample, which is given a mark or number corresponding to 

 that previously attached to the bale, and which may be divided into 

 several samples to accommodate prospective buyers.- The bulk of the 

 cotton is sent to the compress for recompression, and if not previously 

 sold for delivery is stored at the compress at fixed charges for ware- 

 housing, insurance, etc., the minimum charge being for one month. 

 The warehouse facilities are very limited and therefore the bulk of 

 the cotton awaiting sale and delivery is massed on the streets in 

 so-called cptton districts, in inclosed areas destitute of covering, on> 

 platforms at railroad stations and steamship terminals, some of which 

 are covered in whole or part by a roof but none of which is inclosed, 

 so that the property is without proper protection. Recompression 

 does not insure the bale not sold for delivery against further sam 

 pling, with resultant damage to the covering and loss of cotton. 



The custom of pulling samples is strongly intrenched, first, because 

 of long usage ; and second, because it is highly profitable to merchants 

 and factors. Its continuance is naturally desired by those benefited. 

 The buyer at points distant from production regards it with favor 

 because the sample furnished assists him in determining the quality 

 of the cotton or in confirming the judgment of his agent. The mer- 

 chant and factor and other intermediaries favor it because each 

 sample pulled has intrinsic value. The aggregation of these samples 

 at the close of the season forms a considerable portion of a bulk esti- 

 mated at 100,000 bales. This has become known as the " city crop," 

 and its average annual value is placed at $4,000,000. The income to 

 individual middlemen from sales of samples varies according to the 

 number of bales passed upon and " pulled." The " city crop " is said 

 to contribute largely toward paying running expenses of many busi- 

 ness houses that raise or " pull " it. The statement has been made 

 that as many as 45 or 50 bales of cotton derived from pulling samples 

 have been sold at the close of the season by an individual concern. 



CONDITION OF THE SMALL COTTON FARMER. 



Much loss is caused by this sampling to both small and large farm- 

 ers. The former class is numerous and contributes largely to the bulk 

 of the cotton crop. Whether a farmer with one horse or with four 

 horses, whether he cultivates 20 or 80 acres, his condition is the same. 

 If there be a difference in gradation the condition of the latter is likely 

 to be more wretched than that of the former. This class is without 

 ready cash or property that might be used as collateral to obtain 

 money with which to begin and maintain the work of the season. 

 Therefore those constituting this relatively large class are from neces- 

 sity obliged to consult the merchant or factor, who agrees to provide 

 the means to enable the applicants to plant and cultivate a crop. The 

 advance is conditional upon the farmer cultivating a certain acreage 

 and producing a stipulated number of bales of cotton, usually one bale 

 for each $10 advanced. Furthermore, it is stipulated that the cotton 

 when ginned and baled shall be delivered to the creditor factor for 

 sale on commission, and $1.50 per bale commission is exacted on the 



50166°— 12 2 



