This information was first published in 1888:

THE TRAFFIC IN KING COTTON.

KING cotton is an important factor in the business of Charlotte, the city being the chief market for the staple grown, not only in Mecklenburg and adjoining counties in North Carolina, but several adjoining counties in South Carolina. The average yearly receipts of cotton in Charlotte by wagon is about 30,000 bales, but in addition to this a great quantity is handled by the railroads that is not counted in the local receipts. The city has the finest facilities for handling cotton of any place in the State. The platform, built expressly for the reception of cotton, by the Richmond & Danville and the Carolina Central Railroad Companies, covers three acres of ground, and it is no rare sight during the cotton season to see it completely filled with bales of cotton. One important feature of the cotton business in Charlotte is the steam compress, of which Capt. W. H. Edwards is superintendent. The compress usually commences work on September 15th, and shuts down about May 1st. This period constitutes a season's work, and the books of the company show that the average work of the compress is 60,000 bales each season.

The cotton is compressed here and loaded on the cars for direct shipment to Liverpool. The Charlotte cotton market has the advantages of a Cotton Exchange, of which Mr. J. F. Lyon is president, and through which the buyers get direct quotations and advices from all the leading centers of trade.