Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-10-05
AN ANSWER.
From the Cotton Seed Association
OF Memphis te the Cotton Plant.
era Association of C~rittendeu
County, Arkansas.

County Arkhnshhs
CARD.
The Cotton Seed Association of Mem
phis deem it proper that they should re-
ply to the card Of parties who held q
public meeting in Crittenden county,
Ark, on the subject Of the price paid for
cotton seed by the association Of mills
in this city. The statements, as set forth
in the meeting referred to, are to a great
extent untrue, no doubt made 80 by a
want Of knowledge of the facts. We
deem it only necessary to state the true
facts to satisfy our friends and the public
that our action in the premises was cor
rect. Last season the Memphis mills
paid, except for a while in the early part
Of the season, eight dollars per ton for
seed. Then oil was worth twelve to ff-
teen cents per gallon more than at pres
emit; oil meal wal then worth nine dollars
per ton more than it is at present,
and oil cake was worth in England
eleven to twelve dollars per ton more
than now. The hire of hands and
other expenses of manufacturing
are now as great as they we're last sea-
son. Hence it will be seer that the great
difference in values of cotton seed pro-
ducts compels the mills to reduce the
price of seed to the present value, or
cease to consume them. The reduction
in price Of seed ia much less than the
reduction in price of oil aud cake, and
it is doubtful II the mills can pay expen-
ses Of running and interest on capital
invested at present values. A general
shrinksge has taken place in many, il
not all commercial articles, in the past
twelve months. Cotton seed and their
products are not an exception. A year
ago middliDg cotton was worth over four
teen cents; nov il is worth near four
cents less. Then bulk pork was worth
about ten cents; indications point to
its being worth about six cents this fall.
Then plantation mules were worth thirty
three TO fifty per cent. more than at pres
ent. A ton Of cotton seed at the present
value will now purchase more Of such
things as are consumed on a plantation
> than would the same quantity at prices
of a year ago. With that state Of facts
have our friends just cause Of complaint
The association was organized for the
purpose Of facilitating the handling OIL
seed, preventing the loss of sacks
and dispensing with expenses o.
/ travelling agents. A general Office hal
been established at q convenient place
aud for the convenience of the people il
ordering sacks, making settlements, etc.
etc. And to prevent any just cause o
complaint as regards weights, the mill
determined to have all seed weighed oil
city scales, at their own expense, by thI
city weigher, whom they believe to bt
honest and competent for the work
Should cotton seed products advance
from present values our friends may rel
on the price OF seed being advanced
But the present outlook hardly justife
the hope of better prices. We must &c
is seed at corresponding value with oil an
cake or we must cease to work them. W
deem it unnecessary to say more, an
only say this much that the ~situatio
q may be properly understood.
MEMPHIS OIL COMPANY,
u Pamela OIL AND FERTILIZER Co 4,
u SOUTHERN OIL Works,
n City On, Works.