The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-01-20
moNKEY1NG WITH COTTON.

The problem OF cotton picking machine
has been solved. After years OF expert
menting, and after waste of millions
in the attempt to invent something that
would take the place OF human being
in tho cotton field. tho announcement is
now made that the day when the Southern
darkey can pose as a monopolixer OF cot
ton picking is nearing an end.
And yet this machine 10 not mans In
vention, but simply mans discovery IT
is a machine OF life and blood--a piece OF
more or less intelligent mechanism that is
closely allied to the human being. and one
that some philosophers have even tried
TO prove had a close affinity with man..
This wonderful cotton picker that in a
few years may be seen at work In South
ern cotton fields Is that specimen of the
quadrumana commonly known as the
monkey!
That tho monkey will solve the problem
Of cotton picking is vouchcd for by Mr..
w. w. Mangum, tho owner of u large Mis-
sisslppi cotton plantation. How he made
the discovery is told in the Cotton Plant
ers' Journal. IT is unnecessary to go into
all the preliminary details. 1t will be s,lf-
lcient to state that Mr.. .Mangum got his
idea that monkeys could be taught to pick
cotton by watching several OF the trained
animals performing tricks at the Vicks-
burg fair two years ago. He thought over
the matter for long while, and In Sep
trainer OF the educated monkeys in New
York City. made arrangements to buy the
monkeys, got the services OF their trainer
and set to work upon his experiment. The
result Is thus toldi
These. were placed upon one Of Mr. Man
gun s Mississippi plantations about the e., middle
gan Tho monkeys belonged to the race known
to scientists us sphagtalis vulgnris, and the
about 90 pounds each. Bags were made for
each monkey. which would hold about twenty
fiyc pounds Of seed cotton. and a bag placed
over the shoulder OF each. II Is surprising
how rapidly the trainer taught the monkeys
to pick the cotton. Baskets to hold tho cotton
were placed at tho end OF the rows, and one
sary to take the cotton out of the sacks and
put It In the baskets. The females proved
not only picked cleaner cotton, but they would
also pick more OF 1t In day In less than u
month after the monkeys were started at the
work they could pick on an average OF 100
pounds day. They picked in weather IN
which negroes would not pick. and picked
cleaner cotton. The cost Of picking was much
| pickers than the average negro.
The experiment with the trained animals
having proved successful. Mr.. Mangum
! next brought 800 monkeys from the wilds
of Africa and last September had his
trainer begin their education in the art
of cotton picking This was not quite
so easy. but finally, with the aid OF the
ten old monkeys who we're now I'm the
graduating class OF cotton pickers. the
new lot were pretty well trained by the
middle of October and were set to work.
A gentleman who visited Mr.. Mangum g
plantation near Smedes, Miss, thus writes
of their efforts.
| must admit that Il was a glorious sight to
sec and one that did my heart great good.
| The rows were filled with monkeys. each ono
Win her littlc cotton sack around her neck,
| picking away Quietly nnd orderly, and With
our. any rush or, confusion, Whom they got
| their sacks full they would run to tho end OF
| the row, where man was stationed 10 empty
| them into tho cotton baskci. When thcy would
| hurry back TO their work. The monkeys
seemed actually TO enjoy picking.
| This writer asserts that the cost OF nick.
ing can BIO reduced s. per cent by monkey
labor; that the animals are more careful
Than negroes and pick cleaner grade OF
cotton; that they will pick In weather
when you can't get negro in the field"
In conclusion. he asserts his belief that
Mr.. Mangum is greater benefactor to
the cotton planter than Eli whitney.
The Mississippi planter says he Will
make large Importation OF monkeys
from Africa and intends to nut them at
work on several Southern plantations. 1t
is limited that in this event the negroes
Will attempt to show that his importations
are 'pauper laborers" or paupers intended
for laborers. and that according to our
Immigration laws they must be prevented
from landing at any port In the United
States.
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Right At the beginning It may DO suggested
that the frst thing necessary for the Texas
legislature To do IL to HARM iha fltrot.o,