The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1886-08-03
THE CACTUS.
The Prickley Pest Likely to Be.
come a Commercial Com
modify.

| EVERYBODY is 1amlllar Win the cac
tus plant in some Of its varied forms,
and few indeed are the housewives
who have not one or more specimens
ameng their house plants. The cac-
tus as a rule, is a tropical growth, but
some Of its varieties are found in q
wild state, almost to the snow lines.
The common "prickly pear" being a
native of Missouri, and extending
south throughout Texas, where it
grows in such abundance as to cover
whole acres TO the exclusion of every
thing else. Owing to its numerous
and poisonous thorns it has ever been
regarded az nuisance and a pest, but
of late years science has turned its at
tention to this humble plant and has
discovered in it many valuable med
ical properties. 1t was not, however,
until the last twelve months that its
great value as an oil producing plant
attracted attention but since the dis
covery Of the fact it bids fair to
create a general revolution, not only
in the history and value of the plant
but in the matter of lubricating oils.
Recently company was organized
in st. Louis TO manufacture this oil
and from Mr.. j. B. Van Dyne, ex-
superintendent of the NJ. K. & T.,
and a member of the company, the
BAzoo learns the following particulars
of the new venture. 1--WE have"
said he, passed the danger line in our
undertaking and established beyond
the possibility OF a doubt, not only
the value of this oil but the feasibility
of Its manufacture at a price within
the reach of oil consumers. As a lu-
bricator it is admitted to be superior
to anything else in the market. As
an experiment car on the limited
express on the Wabash was oiled with |
it and ran 400 miles without being
touched and at the end of the journey |
it was found to be in the very best |
without a particle of heat. +"
'The business, then you think,
will be permanent"
"Most undoubtedly. We have es-
tablished large factory in East St.
Louis, but already our orders are
heavier than We can fill, and we will
be compelled to enlarge our facilities
at once"
For what is the oil used 2"
CAT present for lubricating pur.
poses, for which it is far superior to
any other oil manufactured. We
have not yet manufactured any large
quantity of refined oils, though we
expect to, as it makes one of the best
and purest vegetable oils in the mar
zet when properly refined. Its great
st use, however, viii be for lubri-
,ating purposes, and to this we expect
mainly to turn our attention, as it can
De manufactured at about the same
Price as crude petroleum oils, and is
our or five times its value"
"Where do you get your cactus ?"
"We are having it shipped from
Texas by the carload. 1t is brought
o St. Louis in a green state and is
fterward dried and the oil extracted
It our factory in St. Louis"
Mr.. Van Dyne further stated that
Ie would have samples of this new
ii on exhibition at the state fair in
'edalia when it meets, where the
urious and the interested may see
nd Judge for themselves as to its !
.alue. The BAzoo congratulates Mr.. /
IAN Dyne On his new discovery and /
rusts it may prove all his most san /
uine hopes anticipate.