PACKING AND MABKETING OP COTTON. 17 



at that city May 15 which was largely attended by representatives of 

 the several branches of the cotton industry. The sense of the meet- 

 ing was expressed in the following resolutions : 



That it is the sense of this meeting that cotton should be properly covered, 

 with the ends sewed and the bale of proper density, and that we will lend our 

 efforts toward accomplishing this end; but we consider that a bale of cotton 

 with two uncovered sample holes does not constitute bad condition, such 

 sample holes being absolutely necessary for the proper conduct of the business, 

 and we believe the steamship agents have shown that claims due to open sample 

 holes have been frivolous and trifling. 



That it would be impracticable and unnecessary to cover the sides of the bale, 

 from which source the steamship agents admit there is practically no damage. 



It was further decided at the New Orleans meeting that a confer- 

 ence of all parties interested in the handling of cotton should be called 

 to meet at New York July 15. In compliance with this call upward 

 of 100 delegates met at New York on the date stated, representatives 

 being present from cotton exchanges, shippers, steamship and rail- 

 road companies, bankers, and insurance companies. After discussion 

 of the differences, a committee was appointed, which reported the 

 following as a compromise: 



It is mutually understood and agreed that the description of the condition 

 of the cotton does not relate to insufficiency of or to the torn condition of the 

 covering, nor to any damage resulting therefrom, and that no carrier shall be 

 responsible for any damage of such nature, nor for any damage not caused by 

 Its negligence. 



This agreement, reported by the committee, was given unanimous 

 approval by the conference, and following September 1 the above 

 paragraph will be added to bills of lading of railroad and steamship 

 companies. 



TESTIMONY OF A PEODUCEE. 



Mr. G. R. Hightower, of Jackson, Miss., a large producer of cotton, 

 in a discussion of baling and handling American cotton at the meet- 

 ing of the International Congress of Master Spinners' and Manufac- 

 turers' A.ssociations held at Barcelona, Spain, in May, 1911, thus de- 

 scribed the manner of handling cotton in the United States while in 

 transit from gin to mill. The description applies particularly to the 

 product of small growers. 



It is found by the buyer at the market place of the small town on the 

 grower's wagon. The covering is there cut by the small merchant or local buyer 

 and a sample drawn, and the bale is then thrown on the ground and weighed. 

 From this moment it is abused, reweighed, resampled, weights padded find 

 grafted on in every conceivable manner, until it reaches the mill. The ground 

 Is usually wet and the bale absorbs moisture, and after remaining on the ground 

 a few days exposed to the weather, the first buyer will probably have accumulated 

 enough cotton to attract a larger buyer, who collects larger lots, and sells to a 

 buyer higher up or to an exporter. Many times it passes through a dozen hands 

 before reaching the exporter, and each time a new sample is drawn. After 

 being bought by a larger buyer or exporter it is ordered to be shipped to the 

 large compress, and oftentimes lies on an open platform for weeks before being 

 shipped from point of origin. This delay and exposure Is particularly common 

 during the rush of the season when the railroads are crowded. On .arrival at 

 the compress it is more apt to find a place on an open platform than under a 

 shed. The averags period of exposure after the bale is sold by the grower is 

 about six weeks, and it is during this time that 85 per cent of the country 

 damage occurs. The great trouble lies in the fact that the dozen of small 



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