The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1896-01-04
AbOundS Everywhere.
Whichever Direction We
Look There Are Seen
Many OppOrtuni-
ties.

to he absolutely ignorant of the
possibilities and opportunities Of
fered them to create wealth. Not
many years ago cotton seed was
considered valueless, but now Just
as valuable as cotton. At the pre-
sent time by products, or refuse,
rather, of the sugar-mills are look
ed upon as "a nuisance" but even
this could be made a source of pro-
fit. Mr.. Gilmore. an experienced
and keen observer, on this subject,
writes:
To avoid the waste in skimmings
and to utilize low grades of molas-
ses which has no profitable market.
it has been suggested that alcohol
be made therefrom. A large dis
tillery for this purpose was last
year established in the city, but it
seems that in some way the man.
agement antagOnized the Whiskey
Trust and in consequence they
have not prospered. What is need
ed is to re-establish the ante bel
lum simple and inexpensive ta6a
plants on our plantations. By that
means every waste from cane Juice
could he averted. A gentleman
who visited the West Indies de-
scribed to us the method formerly
employed there in making rum.
Large tnbs were kept in every SUI
gar house. into which all washings
were thrown, and these and the
skimmings were distilled.
Now. as rum would be a demo-
ralizing element on plantations. we
would not advise its manufacture,
but as alcohol is utilized for SO
many manufacturing purposes, We
feel that immediate steps should
be taken to obtain Government
consent to its manufacture on SUI
gar plantations In the interest of
manufactures and science. the tax
on plantation alcohol should be
RENTED or abolished. and if our
Congressman would introduce such
a bill, and show what an immense
annual saving it would effect and
what wealth it would add to the
State, We feel sure it would pass.
For many years we have advo-
Gated better use of cane refuse,
or bagasse. than burning it as fuel
and yet there are planters who still
destroy or throw it away.
To utilize bagasse as paper stock
seems the most feasible scheme,
because it could be rapidly consul
med as it comes from the mill.
One of our largest sugar houses
would probably supply even the
most extensive paper mill with
paper stock for three months. 1t
would, however, be necessary to
make provision for stock the ba-
lance of the year, and along our
rivers and bayous that could east
ly be done by the use of barges,
wherein the bagasse could be
dumped during grinding. Paper
manufacturers would know, better
than planters, how to treat it Tor
preservation. 1t has been demon
strated, by making a practical run
on bagasse stock, that as a raw
material it has no superior except
rags. 1t is better than any other
class of wood stock, and doubtless
it would i'm time command a price
which would Justify its being sold
by all sugar planters (even those
with the best appliances for using
it as fuel and coal could be en-
ployed in its stead. True, the
whole tendency has been for years
past, to improve in the direction
(f coal saving by the use of ba-
gasse as a steam producer, but
when paper mills are established
as they should be at once, to save
that now lost in less improved su-
gar houses it will he considered
almost a sacrilege to burn such an
admirable paper stock. In this
connection we will repeat that