The Lambertville record., 1886-12-29
sfsnauoSs IN corros sEsD.
Gathering in the Product That south.
ern Farmers Once Threw Away

crm Farmers Once Threw Away.
The Southern man never gets rich unless
he stubs his toe ON fortune. Somehow
or other, improvidence was interwrought
with the fabric of slavery.
For nearly q century the Southern farmers
destroyed their cotton seed. One of the
farm problems was how to get rid of it. On
the coast it was dumped into the ocean. A
few years ago somebody discovered that
cotton seed was the one perfect fertilizer
for the cotton lands that the seed held the
essential elements that the cotton crops took
from the soil. Then everybody was ashamed
of having destroyed the seed for so many
generations. Slowly but surely every ton
was utilized as a fertilizer Later somebody
discovered that it was an excellens food for
stock. Then the farmers began feeding
with 1t.
Along in 20 an objection was found to
cotton seed as fertilizer and stock food.
II was too rich. The excess of oil in the
seed prevented quick decomposition in the
soil and made the wool of sheep too kinky.
At the same time somebody discovered
hat the Objectionable oil would sell in
market, so the first cotton seed oil mill was
established. The industry was immensely
profitable, and in less than five years l50
oil mills sprang up in the South.
ton of cotton seed yields forty gallons
OF oil, worth in its crude state about $40.
The hulls of the seeds are used as fuel TO
run the furnace. And the ashes thereof
sold for potash, and cotton seed meal strip
ped of its oil is more valuable to the farmer
as fertilizer and stock food than II was
when it held the oil. This season 500,0
tons of cotton seed have gone through the
mills, from which $4,000, 900 worth of
crude oil have been taken. The meal cake
returned to the soil without the oil has lost
nothing, while the South has gained five
million dollars. The crude oil, however,
Is refined, which quadruples its value. II
is sold mostly for export, and returns to
America as olive OIL The mills pay the
farmers about $40 ton for cotton seed,
three tons of which will make one ton of
cotton meal, which they sell back to the
farmer for $l8 for ferilizing or feeding
purposes.
Now, see the progress. Twenty years ago
cotton seed was burned or destroyed on
Southern farms. Then ii began to be used
as fertilizer or stock food. Last year $5,-
900, 900 worth Of crude oil was taken out
of 500, 900 tons of seed without injuriug its
value for other purposes, which oil was
refined up TO value of perhaps 800, ,0O0,-
900.
This enormous industry, which as yet
treats but 500,0 tons ont of 5000, 900
tons of the full crop of cotton seed. has
lately attracted the attention of Northern
capitalists, II Is said, especially the Standard
Oil Company, and remarkable company
has been formed. last season produced
acid seed, very unfayorable for oil purposes
The mills, which had been making immense
profits, lost money. Several of them applied
to New York for money Others were
for sale. The American Cotton Oil Trust
was organized. A score of mills were pool
ed, and agents OF the company went Il, hny
ing up until out of 100 oil mills III the
country, the compaI owns about 1876.
These mills represent cash value of %3, ,000,.
900. Tho stock Of the company Is $685.
900, 600. II Is listed in the New York Stock
Exchange, and is now selling at about co.
70 that the g., ,0O0,0 900 worth of mill prop
erty now has selling value OF $2l, ,000,.
600. Efforts are being made to buy o.
break the few mills yet independent Ths
plan Is to send agents Of the company into
the territory of an independent mill, and
bid up cotton seed to an Improbable point.
The chances are that the whole business
will within year be in the hands Of tho
Oil Trust Company, which will then become
monopoly as absolute as the Standard Oh
Company.