The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1888-07-26
4 GREAT INDUSTRY.
Utilizing Il Product Whicl, Southern Farm
erS Once Threw Away-Millions to be
Made Out of Cotton Seed.
New York SUM-

For nearly century the Southern
farmers destroyed their cotton seed.
One OF the farm problems was how TO
get rid OF it. y few Wears ago some
bcIy discovered that cotton seed w;ls
the one perfect fertilizer for the cot
ton lands that the seed held
essential elements that the cotton crop
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
fertilizer. Later somebody discovered
that it was an excellent food for stock.
Then the farmers began feeding with
it,
Along in 10 al objection was found
to cotton seed as fertilizer and stock
food. it was too rich. The excess of
oil i'll the seed prevented quick decom-
position i'll the soil, and made the wool
Of sheep too kinky. At the same time
somebody discovered that the objec-
tionable oil would sell We'll in market,
50 the first cotton seed oil mill was es-
tablished. The industry was immense
ly profitable, and in less than five years
$50 oil mills sprang up in the South.
AN ENORMOUS INDUSTRY.
\ ton ofcotton seeds yields forty gal
Ions Of oil, worth in its crude state $40.
The hulls Of the seed are used as fuel
to run the furnace, and the ashes there,
of sold for potash, and cotton seed meal
stripped Of its oil is more valuable to
the farmer as fertilizer and stock food
than it was when it held the
Oil. This season 100000 tons of cot
ton seed bave gone through the
mills. from which Sj,O00,000 worth of
crude oil has been taken. The meal
cake returned to the soil without the
oil has lost nothing. while the South
has gained S3.0G0,0G0. The crude oil,
however, is refined, Which quadruples
its value. 1t is sold mostly for export,
and returns to America as olive oil.
The mills pay the farmer about SO
ton for cotton seed, three tons of which
will make Cnc ton of cotton meal,
which they sell back to the far
mer for SIS for ferti!izing or feeding
purposes.
Now, see the progress. Twenty ycais
ago cotton seed was burned or destroyed
on Southern farms. Then it began TO
be used as a fertilizer or stock food.
Last year S, ,000,G0o worth of crude oil
Was taken cut Of 100000 tons of seed
without injuring its value for other
purposes; which oil was refined up to
value Of perhaps S20,0O0,O0O.
This enormous industry, which as
vet treats but 500, 900 tons out of 3,0O0,-
000 tens Of the full crop of cotton seed,
has lately attracted the attention of
northern capitalists, it is said, especially
the Standard Oil company, and re-
markable company has been formed.
Last season produced acid seed, very
untavorable ior oil purposes. The mills,
which had been making immense
profits, lost money. Several of them
applied to New York for money.
Others were offered for sale. The
American Cotton Oil Trust was organ
lied. \ score Of mills We're pooled, and
agents of the company went to buying
up until out Of the $50 oil mills in the
country the company owns about l26.
These mills represent a cash value Of
$1,000, 200. The stock Of the company
is S35, 100000. 1t is listed in the New
York Stock Exchange, and is now sell
ing at about 60, SO that the 100000
worth of mill property now has a sell
ing value of S21 100000.