The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1899-06-21
,ON. S. c.. WEDNESDAY, JUNE q. 1899.
$4,000, 1000 for Cornstalks.

T0U,VUU3VOV 1UI COTuSdlhSs
Steps are being taken to form a corn
stalk combine, with q capital of $780,
OOO,OO0 It's promoters say that it they
are successful in carrying out their
ideas, 25O,O00,00O tons of cornstalk that
are burned or left to rot by the farmers
of the United States will prove. to be
as valuable as coal, or about S6 per
ton.
w. r. Tate, representing q syndicate
Of St. Louis, Chicago and Cleveland
capitalists, is now in the city, preparing
the way for meeting of the promoters
of the combine, which is to be held at
the Waldorf-Astoria on August 10,
when the scheme Of financing and the
details OF organization will beperfected.
While he was reticent when seen yes
terday, he intimated that the combine
would have for its object the sitting
of competition, but simply the develop,
ment Of the cornstalk as a commercial
commodity and the creation of markets
for it's several products.
Mr.. Tate has been in communication
in the last few days with several we'll
known promoters OF this city, and from
one of these the purposes of the new
trust, along with some interesting
figures, were secured.
Over 250,000,000 tons OF cOrnStalks
are grown in the United States every
wear, the acreage averaging $4,000, 900
and the yield about three tons to the
acre. OF this immense amount. two
thirds, OF about 160,000,O00 tons, has
heretofore been regarded as sheer
waste and litter, less than one-third OF
the total weight Of the stalks being
serviceable as fodder for cattle. This
waste matter has been a serious trouble
to farmers for a long time, not because
of an understood loss of revenue by 1T.
but simply because of the necessity OF
getting rid of it, by burning or other
wise, in order to free the soil OF an en-
cumberance.
Science has demonstrated now that
this so-called waste has value all its
own. and reckoned at its present mar
ket price it is now known that the
farmers of the country have been
throwing away or burning up and
otherwise destroying 5000, 900, 600 a
year for two decades at least. or S1S, :
O0,O00000. 1t is safe estimate that
twice that enormous sum has been
allowed to go to waste in cOrnstalks IN
this county alone in the present CEN
tury.
A company organized few years
ago bv Mark w. Marsden, of Philadel-
phia, which has two factories, one in
Rockford, H., and another in Owens
boro, KY, has been successfully man
ufacturing six different products from
cornstalks. These are cellulose, which
is used for the lining OF battleshlps,
serving as an automatic leak stopper,
the value OF which is we'll known; a
first cardboard, splendid paper,
an unequalled foundation for dyna-
mite, patent cattle food and glue.
tits these products and others that the
cornstalk may in the future be capable
Of yielding that the proposed combine
intends to handle. Whether or not the
Marsden Company will enter the COM
bine is not known, but according to
Mr.. Tate the success OF the scheme
does not depend upon the securing OF
the Marsden patents, he intimatlng
that the promoters of the trust control
their own process.
MIR. Marsden has 4 contract With the
Government for cellulOse at s400 per
ton, and it is figured that he can man
ufacture one ton OF cellulose from Il
tons of stalks, or S400 worth OF cellulose
from 800 worth of stalks, not counting
his by-products. Ground cornstalks
cooked and sweetened with molasses
and pressed into brick, is regarded as
one of the most nutritive cattle foods
yet placed OH the market. The paper
and cardboard manufactured from
cornstalks are already recognized as
exceptionally superior articles.
1t is the dust Of cellulose that is used
for making powder and dynamite. By
reason of its powers of absorption an6
retention of nitro o-glycerine, it is de
clared to be immensely superior to sea
island cotton, which heretofore has
been the chief base for high explosives
The glue manufactured from corn
stalks finds ready market with jewel
ers and artists.
Mr.. Tate will leave for Washington
in few days to look after severa
patents for which he is negotiating
As far as could be learned, the trus
will erect five factories in the North
west and Southern corn belts, and I'M
mediately upon organization will begir
operation .-NeW York Commercial.