Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1901-09-16
COTTON SEED OIL TRUST.

For the benefit OF our readers. espe-
ciaIiy those interested In the production
OF cotton. cali attention 70 the follow
ing special dispatch recently sent out
from New Orleans. which win throw
some light upon one OF the problems We
are likely 70 face this fan and winter:
New Orleans. Sept 5-The leading
cotton seed men OF Louisiana and Missis-
sippi met here last night 10 fix the price
they would pay the farmers for coeSSa
=~sed this season. The meeting was strict
Is private. but II Is known that most OF
the leading members OF the National OIL
company. which controls the price OF cot
ton seed and cotton seed products. were
present. The price agreed on was Is
cents free on board river with the usual
rebate o. one cent per sack. equal TO
rate OF Y cents free OF board rail- This Is
a much lower figure than the farmers
received for their seed last year"
Less than - days ago I wrote an arti-
Gle on Cotton Seed Products" In which
! expressed apprehension that the recent
wholesale purchase OF southern oil mills
~ a syndicate organized for that pur-
pose. would result an an early attempt
to reduce the price OF cotton seed. II the
oil mill people in accordance with the
Information In the above dispatch. are
making an effort to put down the price
OF seed 10 ~ ceRts net per bushel to the
farmer. there Is but one course for the
farmer % pursue. and that Is to keep
his seed al home.
Cotton seed at II cents per bushel
means only $50 per ton. which Is $500
cheaper than the oil Is worth IN a ton
OF seed at present market prices IN the
old states east 81 the Mississippi a ton Of
cotton seed Is worth sl2.o0 to sl5-o0 per ton
as q fertilizer on land West Of the river.
where the farmers do not need the seed
for fa~tfffrfnrr rhar Enrfh
equally as much for fattening beef cat
tie. Beeves can be fattened for a short
period OF time with cotton seed and on
as profitable a basis as BY feeding the
meal and hulls. The mills should give
some good reason why cotton seed should
be a hundred Per cent cheaper this sea-
son than last. other than their ultirnatum.
that they only intend 10 pay II cents per
busheI-
Evil Of Monopoly.
The great evil OF a monopoly OF any
kind Is that its power may be used to
the injury OF the producer on the con-
sumer- A trust, as we understand its
meaning IN the commercial world. Is a
combination Of capital in the hands Of
a few men for the express purpose OF Sc
curing absolute control OF certain COM
modities. break down competition, die
tate prices either as purchasers OF sellers
and force the producer and consumer 10
nccede 10 whatever terms the trust pro-
poses 70 make. The producer Of an i'm
porfant and valuable article OF COM
merce can keep posted on the true value
OF his products and BY the introduction
OF good business methods and co-opera-
ton became largely independent OF the
dominating influence OF any kind OF trust.
no matter how powerful Il may be finan-
claily. The consumer on the other hand
IS more helpless and 10 a certain extent
- al rraH krsra-
dens Of higher prices Capital. whether
Il be In the hands OF few OF many. when
concentrated. becomes the most powerful
factor IN the world and can be used sue
cessfully as the agent OF either good or
bad influences. The combination OF cap
ftal has come 10 be one OF the most pop
ular methods OF the day in shaping the
course Of nearly all business interests In
the commercial and Industrial lines OF
trade. The organization OF the trust Is
getting 10 be as common IN financial CEN
tiers as il was a few years ago 20 organ
fze a country bank with small capital.
Both Federal and state laws seem pow
erless or Indifferent TO the rapid devel-
ment OF monopolistic power Whether or
not any law could be passed which would
absolutely put a check on the growing
disposition OF capital 70 combine, IL a
question which has not yet been fully
tested. Certain IL is that legislation must
become necessary 10 abate any evil. when
IL grows beyond the endurance Of the
public
North Carolina Moving.
In another column on this page will be
found a call which has been recently sent
OF by the North Carolina State Alliance
bearing directly upon the cotton seed this
season. I have mailed copy Of their cir
GUAR 20 the Official heads OF the Cotton
Growers Protective Association IN all the
cotton states. and requested them 20 pre-
sent the matter 10 all sub-branches OF the
association IN the various counties In their
respective states. Legitimate and fair
prices for our cotton seed Is OF equal i'm
portance with those for lint, and the two
products are entitled 20 equal considera-
ton
The cotton seed market can be more
easily controlled by the producers than
can the market for their cotton But few
farmers are forced to sell their seed
within a limited period OF time: while
thousands are often compelled to part
with their cotton as fast as IL is gathered.
in order TO meet maturing obligations due
for the purchase Of supplies or other nee
essaries TO make the crop. Every indica-
ton at this time points to an advance in
the price OF all the byproducts manufac-
tured from cotton seed The shortness OF
the corn crop in the west will call for
more meal and bulls for feeding cattle
this fall and winter. There viii be less
lard On the market. because OF the scar
city Of corn with which 20 fatten hogs.
hence an Increase in the demand for lard
made from cotton seed OIL
The country Is IN a highly prosperous
condition and there Is starting up a re-
vfvaI OF trade in all the different mar
- ~ wn-nrfN The v,~FETu w~,a~ -..--n.-