The Jute Industry: from Seed to Finished Cloth | Page 7

the successful
prosecution of the work. Two such presses as that illustrated in Fig. 5
are capable, under efficient administration, of turning out 130 bales of
400 lbs. each in one hour. The fibre is compressed into comparatively
small bulk by hydraulic pressure equal to 6,000 lbs. per square inch,
and no packed bale must exceed in cubical capacity 11 cubic feet after
it leaves the press; it is usual for freight purposes to reckon 5 bales or
55 cubic feet per ton. (Now changed to 50 cubic feet.)

The jute bales are loaded either at the wharf or in the river from barges
into large steamers, many of which carry from 30,000 to 46,000 bales
in one cargo to the European ports. One vessel brought 70,000 bales.
As already mentioned, jute is sold under guarantees as to quality, and
all disputes must be settled by arbitration. Although this is the usual
method of sale, it is not uncommon for quantities of jute to be shipped
unsold, and such quantities may be disposed of on the "Spot." It is a
common practice to sell a number of bales to sample, such number
depending generally upon the extent of the quantity, or "parcel," as it is
often called. The contract forms are very complete, and enable the
business to be conducted to the satisfaction of all concerned in the
trade.
[ILLUSTRATION: FIG. 5 NATIVES BAILING JUTE FIBRE IN A
WATSON-FAWCETT CYCLONE PRESS]
It will be understood that, in the yearly production of such a large
quantity of jute fibre from various districts, and obtained from plants
which have been grown under variable climatic and agricultural
conditions, in some cases the fibre will be of the finest type procurable,
while in other cases it will be of a very indifferent type and unsuitable
for use in the production of the ordinary classes of yarns and fabrics.
On the other hand, it should be stated that there is such a wide range of
goods manufactured, and additional varieties occasionally introduced,
that it appears possible to utilize all the kinds of fibre in any year;
indeed, it seems as if the available types of fibre each season create
demands for a corresponding type of manufactured product.
The crops produced will, obviously, vary in amount and value annually,
but a few figures will help the reader to estimate in some degree the
extent of the industry and its development in various parts of the world.
EXPORTS OF JUTE FROM INDIA
Year. Tons. Bales.
1828 18 300 lbs/bale 1832 182 300 lbs/bale 1833 300 300 lbs/bale

1834 828 300 lbs/bale 1835 1,222 300 lbs/bale 1836 16 300 lbs/bale
1837 171 300 lbs/bale
[Illustration: FIG. 6 VESSEL LADEN WITH JUTE AT QUAY-SIDE
ADJOINING JUTE SHEDS IN DUNDEE HARBOUR]
JUTE PRODUCTION IN INDIA
Season. Tons. Bales (400 lbs.).
1850-51. 28,247 158,183 1860-61. 46,182 258,619 1862-63. 108,776
609,146 1863-64. 125,903 707,056 1872-73. 406,335 2,275,476
1880-81. 343,596 1,924,137 1886-87. 413,664 2,316,518 1892-93.
586,258 3,083,023 1896-97. 588,141 3,293,591 1902-03. 580,967
3,253,414 1906-07. 829,273 4,643,929 1907-08. 1,761,982 9,867,100
1908-09. 1,135,856 6,360,800 1909-10. 1,302,782 7,295,580 1910-11
1,434,286 8,032,000 1911-12. 1,488,339 8,334,700 1912-13. 1,718,180
9,621,829 1913-14. 1,580,674 8,851,775 1914-15. 1,898,483
10,631,505 1915-16. 1,344,417 7,528,733 1916-17. 1,493,976
8,366,266 1917-18. 1,607,922 9,004,364 1918-19. 1,278,425 7,159,180
1919-20. 1,542,178 8,636,200
A large vessel containing bales of jute is berthed on the quay-side
adjoining the jute sheds in Fig. 6. The bales are raised quickly from the
hold by means of a hydraulic-engine, scarcely visible in Fig. 6 since it
is at the far end of the vessel, but seen clearly in Fig. 7. When the bales
are raised sufficiently high, they are guided to the comparatively steep
part of a chute from which they descend to the more horizontal part as
exemplified in Fig. 7. They are then removed by means of hand-carts as
shown, taken into the shed, and piled or stored in some suitable
arrangement with or without the aid of a crane. Motor and other lorries
are then used to convey the bales to the various mills where the first
actual process in what is termed spinning takes place. It will be
understood that the bales are stored in the spinner's own stores after
having been delivered as stated.
[Illustration: FIG. 7. HARBOUR PORTERS REMOVING BALES OF
JUTE FROM THE VESSEL SHOWN IN FIG. 6]

CHAPTER V.
MILL OPERATIONS
Bale Opening. Each spinner, as already indicated, stores his bales of
jute of various "marks," i.e. qualities, in a convenient manner, and in a
store or warehouse from which any required number of bales of each
mark can be quickly removed to the preparing department of the mill.
In the woollen industry, the term "blending" is used to indicate the
mixing of different varieties of material (as well as different kinds of
fibres) for the purpose of obtaining a