Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-11-12
MONEY NC0RNSTALKS
An Industry Which VIII Add to
the Value Of Cofn-lands,
BIG PLANT At WEST POINT.
A CelIuloSe Factory Soon to 30
In Operation There.
WILL USE THOUSANDS OF TONS
The Farmers VIII he Able to Make
Several Dollars Per Acre-Work On
the Plant VIII Begin at Once

An industry which Will Increase the
value Of corn land from 50 to s. per aero
VIII soon be established at West Point,
In King William county.
EOrnstalks have always been considered
about the most worthless things on
the farm. The company which win ope-
rate the West Point factory will pay tina
farmers s. per ton for all tho stalks Il
can get. The average yield is from ono
to one and half tons per acre.
The Marsden Company. OF Philadelphia,
VIII erect large plant at West Point
Just as quickly as possible for the manu-
iacture Of cellulose from the plth OF
cornstalks. Mr. A. g. Winter. general
manager OF the company, and Mr.. L..
Wilkinson. the superintendent were In
the city yesterday, arranging matters
here preparatory to the erection OF tho
buildings. Mr. Wilkinson has instruc-
tons to prosecute the work with the least
possible delay.
MANY LARGE BUILDINGS
Inc factory Will be located az West
Point between the railroad and the
bank Of the river There will be several
large buildings which. with the ma
chinery' viii COST about $4,000. probably
more. The buildings viii DO Of brick. OF
frame and corrugated iron. The main
building will be 80 feet long. 70 feet
wide, ana three stories high, With win
lowed roof. There viii De one immense
warehouse In which the celulose will be
stored, and probably one TO contain the
different EfnHe Of
DC ten large cribs for cut stalks. Each
ctiD Will be- SO feet long, 90 feet wido az
the top. and 70 feet high with a capacitv
or about l0eV tons OF clean-cut stake
Between the cribs the stalks win be
piled from the farmers wagons. or
lreisht-cafs, or boats There will ,lso
pe % Mlge 3Ialk-cutung building. 70 feet
"ae and 80 feet long. The machinery
useu ih me manufacture Of the cellulose
Is quite complicated and costly.
The manufacture OF cellulose Is n conn
paratiVely new industry. 1t is made from
inc plth OF cOrnstaks The first patant
on the product was obtained IN 1896. IL
mas now attained immense PROPORTIONS.
me Matsden Company manufacturing Il
exclusively IL has factories at OWENS
Dufg Ky; Linden, Ind, and Peoria. Ill.
The fourth Will be az West Point.
KEEPS WARSHIPs AFIOAT.
Cellulose is used chiefly FOR packing the
coifer-dams OF warshlps a layer OF IL
placed behind the steel plates OF the hull
makes IL almost impossible 10 sink tho
vessel, since when "A shot l. fired through
metal ana cellulosc, the latter, owing Ia
ITS wonderful elasticity. closes up at
once, and prevents the admission OF
water. The United states Navy Depart.
ment early made exhaustive experiments
with celiuiOse. and found 1t 50 excellent
for tho purpose that cocoanut fibre was
discarded as material for packing war
ships, and The new product Is now used.
exclusively. England. Russia. and Francs
are now using tho ceiui0se for tho same
purpose. As. the corn-pith cellulose be-
comes cheaper. "a IS expected that Il Will
como into general use for lining vessels
OF an kind which 10 f. desirable 10 pro-
tect against sinking. Naval Constructor
Lqwls Nixon says the discovery and ap.
plicstion of cellulose is Of as vital impor-
TANGO 20 the navy as the development OF
Harveyized ormor ana sm0keless powder.
SOME OTHER PURPOSES
Cellul0se Is also used for nitraung pur-
poses. for making smOkeless powder and
for packing IL being tho most nearly per-
feet non-C0nductor known against heat.
jars, blows, or electricity Pyroxylin var
nish the uses OF which aro practically
unlimited. is "a liquid form Of celluloss.
There are many other products from
cOrnstalks being manufactured By the
Marsdcn Company. and it is about settled
that these VIII Dee made al West Point.
Among them are paper pulp and stock
food made from fine ground shives. or
outer shells OF The stalks. and also from
tho nodes or Joints. The leaves and tas-
sells also furnish "A shredded or baled fod-
der Mixed Feeds for stock are made by
using the fine ground shiges as a base,
and adding blool. moiasses. distillery.
and glucose refuse. susIr-beet pulp, ap-
pie pomace and other by-products. Poul-
try foods are also made. This Is only a
bare mention Of the principal products Of
cOrnstalks.
There Is believed 70 be o great deal OF
money for tho farmers I'm the sale ~
cornstalks. Fodder has never been very
valuable The stalks can be gathered and
transported 20 market at a season when
the farmers and their teams are idle.
HOW TO PREPARE STALKS.
Tho stalks must be- cut inches from
tho ground. and be OF the current years
growth. must BE- dry and clean. and free
from AN sand and dirt OF every kind
They can be either tightly tied IN bundles
or put up IN bales. with butts al at ono
end. 90 they can be readily handled. No
stalks with roots. or In any manner
rotted, will be accepted. The stalks
complete with fodder anu tops are prefer
able.
The price OF g per ton 81 2.2io pounds
viii be paid FOR this product. delivered
az the factory IN West Point For terr'-
tory convenient 20 an rivers and 30
read stations the stalks can be- tied 90
or balcd. aad hauled 20 river ianlinao
An inexpensive plan Of baling can DO
devised on any farm. as Il is only neccs-
sary for them 20 be compact TO stand
transportation 90 the factory. Farmers
or merchants on the rivers and railroads.
can furnish their own transportation or
IL viii be furnished az as cheap rates -
com he obtained. The stalks VIII Ne re-.
moved promptly when sufficient quanu-
tses-say a carload lighter, or vessel
load-are accumulated az river-landiags
ana railroad stations, and they VAL DC IN