The daily sentinel., 1899-09-28
THE copRA INDUSTRY.
An Important Trade May Be Trans
1errsd to the United states
from MarseAlles.

| Consul Skinner at Marseilles invites
attention to the fact that the occupa-
ton of the Philippines by the United
States may lead to the transfer to the
United States of an industry now al
most exclusively confined to the city
Of Marseilles. He refers to the copra
industry, and states the situation as
follows:
"The crushing Of oleaginous seeds
and cocoanuts, tor the extraction OF the
loil they contain, has for many years
given employment to hundreds Of work
men, and the skillful use OF blended oils
in the manufacture Of soap gave to this
city its worldwide reputation for the
latter. .Inmore recent times, the Amer
lean cotton seed oil has to a large ex-
tent replaced the copra or cocoanut oil,
at the same time severely crippling the
seed-crushing business. A soap manu-
facturer advises me that the cotton oil
cannot, however, entirely supplant the
cocoanut oil, as the former, if used
alone, produces soap too soft to be
acceptable to commerce; and the lat
ter, If unmixed with cotton or peanut
oil, makes soap as much too hard.
l am informed that mixture of about
half and half produces the best results,
and that the failure Of Marseilles man,
ufacturers to maintain these proper
tiops has been followed by distinct
falling off in the quality of some ia
nous brands OF Marseilles soaps.
1.-THE copra or cocoanuts crushed in
Aarseilles come almost exclusively
;.Jm T.
year 1897 the imports amounted to $780,
100 metric quintals, in addition to
which 31,o1O metric quintals were i'm
ported from the French colonies. The
highest price paid at Marseilles during
1897 was 1904 and the lowest $5.31.
The nuts fall from the trees and lie on
the ground until the hard shell sep
arates from the kernel and decays. The
kernels appears to lose none of its use
full qualities, though permitted to re-
main on the ground for year or more.
When favorable opportunity occurs
the oopra is gathered. dumped into
some small coasting bost, and eventual
ly reaches Marseilles. At the present
time the price is uncertain and almost
double the average figure, because Of a
complete suspension of arrivals from
Manila. On January II the total stock
Of copra in the docks and warehouses
was only 1880 quintals, and the fear
now prevails that the troubles among
the natives will prevent the shipment
of any considerable quantity for some
time to come.
1.-THE assurance that means of com
nunication between tho Philippines
and the United States will soon be
established win make it appear easy
for American capital to build and oper-
ate crushing mills; and, with cotton
oil in unlimited quantities to draw
upon. the manufacturers Of soap win
be in possession Of additional resources
for carrying on their busines..'tWssh-
+ y An ILLUSTRATION of the value of the
Young Mems Christian association
work in the army Il found in the fact
that fully 10 per cent. of.the men in
the camps visit the association tents
iaaay. 20 sfs fsai .i. rse
A correspondent from Tampa states:
||When the Young Mems Christian as
socsatiOp tens azrived ~ the station the
entire cGnp tanned oat 70 cheer the
WoSkef.s - - Wess tho ha1a 70