The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-09-08
FLoRIDA'S NEW INDUSTRY.
aIR. n. n. CATHERwoOD TALKS or
the CAssAvA PLANT.

seems fu lie an Assured success.
Cassava the Greatest starch Pro-
ducing Plant known 60 science.
Fmr OutrnnLfnE the PotafO-Is
Wen Adapted GO Fforida's sandy
soil and Growers Receive Large
netnrns-The Planters Manufac-
turing Company aud Its work In
DeveIopinG the New Industry.
NIr. Thomas b. Caiherwcot former
we'll known savannahlan who Is spend
Ing q few days 10 the city with friends
and relatives. brings an interesting story
Of F.orida's new industry, the growth and
manufacture Of cassava.
The Morning News has had frequent
mention Of late OF the wonderful proper
ties Of the cassava plant and the remark
abe possibilities which It seemed to oner
in return for intelligent cultivation and
handling. Large areas are now under cui-
tivation In Florida, ana the results seem
60 prove ali that has been claimed.
SIR. Catherwood has been for the last
n,ne months IN the employ OF the Planters
Manufacturing Company OF Lake Mary.
Fla. which Is engaged exclusively Ia the
planting 81 manufacture Of eassava Be
ing employed In an official capacity. AIR
Cathcrwood's position gives him ample OPP
portunity TO observe the various processes
o. cultivation and manufacture and the
results obtained.
When seen yesterday by a Morning
News reporter Mr.. Calherwood was en-
tirely willing TO give the readers OF the
Morning News the benent OF his knowl-
edge Of the industry. but requested that
the interview be impersonaL He swas con
WINGED. however. that the uas OF his name
would serve 20 give authenticity 10 the
statements which. TO many unacquainted
with the cassava plant and its properties
would seem 10 be somewhat lacking IN au-
thority.
Unul within the lass year or two Flor
tdans pinned all their hopes OF fortune
or at least of comfort" SAID MIR. Gather
wood. 10 the orange tree. but the sue
cesslon OF freezes has simply killed that
source OF income for some years ahead.
The sandy soil, almost barren 10 ce-
reals. can be made to yield rich returns
~hen painted with suitable crops The
eassava plant has attracted much atten-
ton, and Northern capital Is being invest
e. ~ its growth and cultivation. Lands
thoroughly ysluelcse for other purposes
are hnding their uses, for the cassava does
best on the poor sandy soils with. OF
course. fair care and cultivation. aud the
Use Of proper fertilizers.
Such lands planted Ia cassava sollr
Yield with a minimum OF care. and about
20 pounds of fertilizer TO the acre, much
octtef pecuuiary results than corn OF
wheat Ten tons OF roots per acre i
not an abnormal yield. II is IN fact nbout
the average. and the starch factories pay
- per ton for che roots delivered ~ their
doors. Then the seed the above ground
source OF revenue. b. worth considerable
pufiaH the past season the average price
o. seed was about % cents per hundred
ieet' ana every bin which yields about
zen pounds Of roots. will yield also about
ten to twelve feet OF seed
The value of the Cassava root lies In
us great percentage Of starch. The starch
manufactured from cassava Is nearly 100
per cent. stronger than the potato starch
which Is bought IN the groceries. ana Il
really the only starch known to the puh-
ne IL Is % per cent. stronger than the
highest grade of starch now made a
product of wheat. The cassava starch Il
stronger than the mucilage OF commerce
ana to be used must be thinned down by
plentiful supply Of water reducing il
az least % per cent. below the same quau-
uty Of potato starch. or % per GENE OF
the wheat article.
Herein lies its great value. The great
states have bought up oargeriy every
pound OF cassava starch placed upon the
market ana that was only q Hupuly OF
about fifty tons manufactured hy the
Planters Manufacturing Company Of
Lake Mary, the result Of their expert
mental run in March II Is understood
thas one mill has made a contract with
this company for thirty carloads, Of twelve
tons each. OF their starch az a very en-
oouraging price
II Is fortunate for the new industry. said
Mr.. Wood that such a company as The
Planters firss takes M the business This
company with very large capital proves
its fanh by les works. II has bought
ahont three thousand acres 81 valuable
lands and has under cultivation about
eight hundred acres. divided into about
forty acre farms. under the direction OF
two superintendents II gives All rs
time and money 10 the cultivation OF cas-
sava. and besides supporting its own
force OF about 100 iaborers. Ii furnishes
money and supplies to other growers tho
sphere q it's influence extending through
cut many counties.
Starch. dextrine. tapioca and forina are
oil made under patents and processes.
the discoveries OF Mr.. r. g. Perkins the
president OF the company. who had been
at the head OF and thoroughly conversant
with the manufacture OF starch from 20
tatoes.
The company is possessed OF large re-
sources. has put nearly a hundred thou
sand dollars into the business. owes no
debts and owns the finest plant on the
American continent for its purposes.
The existence OF such a company on
Southern soil backed by weil-nlgh unlim-
tied Northern capital. Is simply another
demonstration OF the fact that south
ward the star Of empire takes itE way"
Naturally Mr.. Cathcrwood is enthusiast
tic over his company. but as the pioneer
H. what promises 10 prove a very impor-
tant industry for Florida the Planters
Manufacturing Company Is undoubtedly
emitted 10 very favorable consideration.
IL is 10 be hoped that Mr. Catherwoad
has not overestimated the outlook for the
new industry and the results 70 be- achieN-
81 by the Planters and other companies
engaged in itH development.
RECORDER nan A BUSY DAY.