The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1888-03-23

erent conditions of STOCK raising in this
country and Europe, and the fact that
our stock growers do not seem to appre-
late the value of oil cake as an article
IF food for stock, nearly all of the cake
in this country goes di-
rect to England for consumption. The
oil is used in painting, the manufacture
Of oil cloth, grinding white lead, the
of varnish, putty, printers
inks, and the raw oil to some extent for |
medical purposes. When foreign oil |
alone was being used in this country the
of the articles enumerated
was confined exclusively to the East and
IT was thought impossible to manufacture
them ut a profit in the West. In fact all
these branches of industry IN our coun-
try were largely controlled by English
capital. Gradually the business of man
has extended westward, the
raising of fax seed has been encouraged
and as the linseed oil industry began to
assume G permanent position in our
Western commerce, its Sinured manu-
features such as white lead, paints, var
nishes, putty, etc, came also, and to-
day the successful continuance of these
interests depends upon the continuance
of the manufacture of linseed oil in the
West. But one of the industries IN
which linseed oil is extensively used has
failed to become represented here and
that is the manufacture of oil cloth. We
may remark right here that to our GER
tain knowledge, were it not for the du
bious prospect for the linseed oil indus
try steps would before long be taken to
establish such a mandatory not many
miles from Mankato.
The crop of flax seed in this country
amounts in round numbers to 1000, 600
bushels annually. 1t costs an average
of 20 cents per bushel for its manufac-
ture INTO oil and cake. This means the
payment to farmers of about ST., OO0, 900,
and to laboring men and for fuel, bar
rels, sacks, insurance, commission, etc,
of about s., 800, 900 more. The manufac-
ture of the articles before referred to us
depending upon the continuance of lin
seed oil as Western product, gives
employment to an amount of capital
and labor about twice the extent of that
involved in the linseed oil industry.
This is mentioned 10 show the import
auce, particularly to the West, of the
latter business.
No one will deny that it would be a
great misfortune to have this industry
wiped out, and it is the belief of those
best informed upon the subject that
such would be the effect of the Mills
bill, while the stoppage of OIL manufac-
turing could not but result disastrously
to the other industries with which it is
identified az shown above.
Now, let us more plainly show the
evil effect the adjustment of the
duty would have. To-day a
bushel of seed costs, and the company
here is paying for it delivered at their
works $l.35; add the cost of manufactur-
ing 20 cents, and it is seen the cost of
the product of bushel of seed is 81 .55.
This bushel of seed yields p gallons of
oil which brings so cents per gallon, or
81 .25; also 3S lbs. of cake at 90c. per 100,
or 35c., which added to $l.25, leaves the
manufacturer net profit of five cents
per bushel. Take the duty off of oil and
it can be laid down in New York from
England at 32c. per gallon. This would
fix the price for the whole country and
would make it about DC. per gallon in
Mankato. Now, figuring as before:
q gals. to bu. a. 27c.....................$ .6S
Cake, 80 lbs. a. SOC. per 100............ .35
LOB
Deduct cost to manufacture............ 20
Leaves value at mill. .S3
Eighty-three cents, therefore, would be
the value of a bushel of seed at the mill.
But to get it there would cost in freight
and commissions at least - cents more,
which would leave for the farmer 20
cents per bushel for his fax seed, not
counting anything for profit.
In considering this question it must
be borne in mind that the present price
of flax seed is extraordinary and is ac-
counted for by reason of the short crop
last year. Two years ago there was very
large yield and full crop the next year,
which made low prices and discouraged
sowing by farmers so that last season we
had light crop and extra prices. The
price is usually twenty to thirty cents
below the present and on the above |
basis would allow only forty to fifty |
cents per bushel for the producer. If
the prices last year were low enough TO
the growing of fax, it Is not
difficult to surmise the r, suit if by means
Of the Mills bill the manufacturers were
to offer prices based on the
Indian grown seed. 1t would simply do
away with the raising of the sced 10y
close every linseed oil mill ia
the West and disastrously effect large
line of other industries.
The magnitude of the flax industry in
the Northwest is little understood by
The people generally. In Southern Min
nesota alone we last year raised one and
4 half million bushels of the seed, Iowa
and Nebraska combined about three
millions, and Dakota two and half mil
iOns-the gross amount of which
brought to The producers in these re-
,ions nearly 100000. The oil mill in
consumes about 360, 900 bushels
Of seed annually, from the products of
which IL 500 barrels of oil ard over 800
.ons of cake are manufactured. OF the
only 500 tons is sold in this coun-
Try, the balance being sent to England.
Take the tax off of seed and England
would push oil into this country at such
prices as would ruin our industries, af-
er which trusts would be formed, prices
raised and the consumer left at the
mercy of foreign monopolies, while the
armer would have to abandon the rails
ng of fax or if not to at least have the
pains for his trouble.
OF the amount o. oil made by the
Mankato Linseed Oil Co. 1000 barrels
ire shipped direct to consumers, $500 to
obbers I'm Minnesota, Dakota, Iowa and
U;,oons;n K 6n0 N Chicauo ST Ionic