New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-12-31

ton factories should now be building in the cotton
belt with many more In contemplation. II any
one be in any doubt respecting the new South.
let him take tramp about the Carolinas and
count the number OF cotton factories, and he will
open his eyes.
Closely connected with the main staple of the
south have sprung up since the war. two other
industries Of very great economic importance
TO the planter. One is the manufa cture Of COM
mercial fertilizers from phosphate deposits on
the coast ana in river beds. There are rex
haustibe supplies Of this material in the Nicin-
ity of Charleston. and the mining and manipula-
ton of the deposits into arhcial fertilizers have
become an immense business. second only to
cotton in this State. The discovery Of similar
beds in Florida, Alabama. Georgia and else
where. has furnished the means not only for
stimulating the cotton crop and increasing the
yield per acre. but also of redeemng immense
tracts of Southern land which previously
considered worthless. The extraordinary eX-
pansion in cotton production is to be explained
largely from the Introduction of these fertilizers.
While the cost of the fertilizers has been re-
duced one-half in the course Of a few years the
planters are everywhere declarings that they
must have cheaper guano. or else they will be
forced To stop raising cotton 1t Is the main &c
ment Of expense in the cultivation of cotton, and
doubtless can be materially reduced in cost:
The other industry which has been established
since the war is cottonseed oil. Factories are
In operation throughout the cotton belt. and offer
effective means Of utilizing what was once
merely source of waste in cotton-raising. ]
visited in Columbia one of the best conducted
of these factories. the Southern Cottonsced oil
Works, and listened with interest TO the full
explanations Of the various processes and prod
ucts given by Christopher FitZ Simons. the
business manager. About 120 tons Of cotton ICED
are carried through the mill In twenty-four
hours. II is first famed. or cleaned, waste
product being obtained which is sold for 50 cents
a ton The next processes are limiting ana hull
ing. from which two other salabc waste prod
ucts are supplied-linters for carpet ana mat
tress factories. and hulls for fuel or cattle feed
The oil is finally extracted by pressure. and the
surplus product also has a commercial value as
mealcake. The fuel for the furnaces is obtained
from one Of the discarded elements. and when
burned the ashes are sold by the carload the
planter sells his cottonseed ard gets good
price for II. whereas he formerly either wasted
Il put II back on the land; ana variety oi
commercial products are obtained from II which
are having every year larger sale Expert
ments in feeding cattle on the hulls and meal ~
the Cottonol mills have been tried with r"miit-
able success This oil business. which has m
creased indirectly the profit of cotton-planlnS'
may also transfer stock-raising To the South n
a large scale Their are tweniy-scNen oi tPrSr
mills in South Carolina. and 213 IN the cotton
belt There are other manufacturing n'ei'ai7
referred are cl0scy> connected with the great
agricultural staple Of the cotton belt
From long habit Northerners arc accustomed
II look upon the South mainly a. an agrichltnrd!
region with a single Industry. and upon ,h'
Southern people : lacking in scenth kno"I'uE
OF the conditions Of farming ana aIH' as u'
fcent in thrift practical adaptabihty ana sihai
economies The facts do not corrob'late TINS
Judgment The enormous increase in thr pro
iuction If corn in the southern States during
the last wear proves that they can hc u large
extent se,f-supporting In food products Ihe de-
velopment of cotton manufacturing III me ''I.,
linas and Georgia the opening oi th' non "nu
coal resources in Wes, Virginia. Tennessee ana
Alabama. the expansion # tn" sugar ana i.'c H
dustrloS in Louisiana and Of the Wool interest
and cattic-raising In T"Xas. point To a han'-
veil pus diVers!fcation q southern industries me
remarkable extension II the aruhcial fert.HH'
business also indicates i general apphcdu' u "'
the first PRINCIPLES Of scientific farming no
rapnitude Of the coltonsced oil industry ana the
increasing market for It's products. ana eSp'-
cial,v the use 10 which the meal and nuns can
be nut in fattening cattle. prove thai southern
agr culture is not lacking in thrift with All IN"
desuairinC talk about scent cotton, ] h"i'N"
that # 4 balance be struck between tn" wheat
farmer Of the Northwest and the cotton planter
Of tho South. who raises MS own corn. Soils ms
cottonse and his main crop 10 the nearest
factory and has no trouble over farm iaH'' III"
latter will be found To- be better IF i'm every way.
The prosperity Of the South as lH al '',.I
former save countries. depends NpO' 'tp ~
for the diversifi alton of industries, ana IN 'h''
respect great progress IL nov making IN h'
cotton belt; \ marked change In e'1n"Ih.. p'.! y
will b.. one of the inevitable results. itric III
south Carolina. which was once thc ho''"d o'
free trade mon 81 influence and Intelligence 20.
already changing their views. IhtN "rr" Al,
free traders ten years ago; and no" many HI
them are either protec'inlisis or thNy r"hkN
say that they do not know where they s'and on
the tariff question The everlasting negro gu's-
ton Is not the only thing to-day ia SOU h.fh