The Opelousas courier., 1894-06-30
An Oil Mill a Practical Enterprise.

Among the enterprises of a feasible
character is an oil mill. We can have
II we want it. 1t will pay. and that
Is what should determine men Of CAPT.
'al. There is no wisdom in boarding
money u%ninvested, when it can be
safely invested and made to promote
q general benefaction.
the erection of an oil mill in this place
Is proposed by outsiders. 1t is roughly
estimated that a be put up for
about $4,000. Outsiders propose to
furnish $4,000 of that amount. We are
required to furnish a like sum, one
half of which is required ia be paid in
cash, say $12,500. and the balance after
a stipulated time. Those who are ac-
quainted with the business tell us that
the last payment can we'll nigh be met
by the profits of the enterprise realiz-
able from the operations of the first
year. But whether this be exactly cor
rect or not, the profits canno fail to
be satisfactory as it is proverbial that
oil mills do pay we'll. Ill we look at the
facts but for a moment, no other con
cotton seed here annually, to be ship
ped to New Orleans, the expenses of
which must be ~superadded to the pur-
chase price. Notwithstanding this,
those mills make money. This is in
dispntable. There is no doubt about it.
Ii then they make satisfactory profits
out of seed paid for here at market
price, with all the expenses of trans
portation and handling at the mills. is
there any reason why a mill here IAN
not or should not make money out of
the same seed bought at the same price
and chargeable with none Of the ex-
penses of traDsportation2 Again, there
is no other mill nearer US than st. Mar
tinville. The railroad passes right I'M
der the caves, as it were, of the mill.
We are surrounded by a large area of
cotton producing country. More or less
of it will continue to be cultivated and
we may safely conclude that seed
enough will annual1 be produced to
keep the mill going the year round.
The planters can afford to sell them,
because the meal a be had for fertil-
iZing purposes in exchange for the
seed at the difference in value.
In fact they have everything to gain
by the enterprise and nothing what
ever to lose.
We have not data in detail but have
enough in general to give some ap-
proximate idea of the magnitude of the
project. A great quantity of the cotton
seed of last yea was sold here n
sem to New Orleans. We believe that
investigation will show that not less
than 1,3OO,0OO pounds of seed were thus
handled. 1t is the knowledge OF this
fact that has led outsiders to pronose to
expressing a desire to erect a mill, and
it we prove d;latory in our action, we
may lose the opportunity. There is
a tide in the affairs of men which leads
on to fortune ? a great poet tells us,
and hence 1T is that during the coming
week persons will visit Opelousas to
have the question decided whether we
shall have the mill OF not. The guam
titiy of seed mentioned, although SEEM
ingly large, is perhaps not oBe-half
of that which a mill located here would
be- able to have brought to it every
season. 1t must be apparent that it
the mill can secure seed enough To keep
it going all the year, the profits must
be satisfactory to all persons having
a practical knowledge of the business.
The citizens generally would derive
several advantages from 1t.
These mills often, ii not generally,
have connected with them a soap fac
tory which, of course, a afford to sell
soap at q moderate price.
But we did not propose to do more
than present some thoughts touching
the erection of the oil mill. If those
who have capital but give the question
some reflection, we are convinced they
will discover that they cannot better
| invest a few thousand dollars. 1t were
| preferable il the Immediate citizens Of
| Opelonsas would put up and operate
it without the aid of outside capital.
Will they act in the matter9 Prompt
ness is demanded.