SERVICES IX COTTON MARKETING 
Table 3. 
-American cotton landed in a damaged condition at the Manchester 
docks during four seasons, 1919-20 to 1922-23 
Season 
Total 
imports of 
American 
cotton to 
Manchester 
Country 
damage 
Sea 
damage 
Fire 
and other 
damage 
Total 
quantity 
damaged 
Percentage 
of American 
imports 
landed in a 
damaged 
condition 
1919-20 .. 
Bales 
659, 855 
234, 018 
196, 103 
190, 594 
Bales 
10, 022 
2,404 
1,081 
678 
Bales 
1,399 
234 
562 
509 
Bales 
36 
Bales 
11, 457 
2,638 
1,643 
1,195 
Per cent 
1.7 
1920-21 
1.1 
1921-22 . 
.83 
1922-23 - - . 
8 
.62 
Rearranged from reports of protective committee of the Manchester Cotton Association, 1922-23, pp. 2-3. 
STANDARDIZATION 
Standardization of cotton means the setting up of authoritative 
measures for the qualities that have economic significance. In its 
broad aspects standardization includes a classification of the lint, 
the weight of the package, and its size, shape, and covering. Con- 
sidered from the standpoint of efficient marketing, standardization 
must also include marketing practices and necessary auxiliary 
services. 
If the commodity is to be distributed widely, its standardization 
is essential for efficient marketing. Standardization is most needed 
where the competing market is world-wide and where there is con- 
siderable range in quality, which materially affects value. The 
operations of a futures market, or a market dealing in sales for for- 
ward delivery, must be based upon recognized standards. Price 
quotations and market comparisons are almost useless until such 
quotations represent known qualities and quantities. Where values 
are based on distinctions which require experts to measure, as is 
the case with cotton, the grower has little opportunity to obtain 
the full value for his commodity without standardization. Stand- 
ardization stimulates improvement in the product marketed. Stand- 
ardization of the commodity must precede adequate methods of 
insurance and finance. Standardization saves expense of inspection 
by making possible sales by description. 
The United States Government is doing much toward the stand- 
ardization of commodities and marketing practices. Since the en- 
actment of the cotton futures act in 1914, several standardization 
measures have been passed which have affected directly the market- 
ing of cotton. The last of these is the cotton standards act of 
March 4, 1923, which provides, in effect, that if any recognized 
standard grade be indicated for cotton sold and shipped in inter- 
state or foreign commerce, such grade shall be one of the grades 
constituting the official cotton standards of the United States. 
PRESENT STATUS OF STANDARDIZATION 
The American cotton bale has the reputation of making the poorest 
appearance of any cotton in the world. 5 In so far as there is a 
5 Official report of World Cotton Conference, 1919, pp. 132-138 and pp. 243-249 of the 
same report for 1921. 
