The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1902-08-20

and manufacture from $ll.7O the net
difference between the original cost Of
the seed and the value of the by-pro-
ducts at present prices and we get the
net amount Of $500 per ton, which
should go to the profit Of the mill on
the business. If mill should work
1000 tons in one season and nearly all
OF them do that, the net profit on this
basis for the seasons business would
amount to, in round numbers, TO $lS,.
600. This has been about the average
profit to the mills the past season,
which as stated above, was probably
the most profitable season oil mills
have had in several years. Whether
the coming season will be as profita.
BILE is of course entirely speculative.
TRUE VALUE OF SEED.
The farmers who have seed to sell
this fall should study the situation,
and, after getting the facts and figures
as given above, be able to arrive at
fair price which they should demand
from the mills. The oil mill people
claim that they will be satisfied with
81 net profit on each ton they work.
Basing that estimate on present prices
for oil, meal and hulls, and deducting
$3.50 per ton to cover the cost of
freight and manufacture, leaving the
mills 81 profit per ton, the present
price of seed should be $500 per
ton, or about 80 cents per bushel.
These figures are based upon cold
blocded facts which the oil mills can
neither deny or refute. At the open
ing of the ginning season, for some
reason the price Of oil is always forced
down, and the price Of seed based up
on existing low markets for oil. For
the same reason, doubtless, the price
of cotton is depressed at the opening
of the season, 80 that tho spectators
and spinners can get the staple cheap
while the rush is on. Cotton seed oil
is several cents gallon cheaper now
than it was three months ago, although
the demand, in view of the fact that
no oil is being manufactured, should
be higher.
SOME WHOLESOME ADVICE.
There is no need to be extravagant
with printers ink in condemning the
oil mill people for buying their seed
as low as they can get them. They
are not in the business for their health.
The oil mill man will depress the seed
market as quick as the cotton buyer.
Both have the same object in view and
that is to buy the raw material as
cheap as possible and sell the manu-
factured product as high as possible.
What the producers should do, is to
keep themselves posted and demand
the true value OF their seed, which at
the present time is 80 cents per bush
ell. 1t does no good to sell your seed
at s12 or S14 per ton and then "cuss''
out the oil mill people for getting the
best of you in the trade. Stand firm
for your rights and you will receive
them. Protect the local, independent
home mills by selling your seed to
them, instead Of strengthening the
power of the oil mill trus: by selling
your seed to the agents of the trust.
The independent mill can and will pay
just as much for your seed as the
trust. IF the trust can live and grow
fat, give the local mills the preference
and the best chance. 1t is on the
line of protecting home industry and
making the power Of the trust weak
for the future.
l have given you all the figures need
full to work out the value of ton of
seed from the oil mill standpoint every
day in the year. These market values
arc always printed in the market col
umns Of your paper. If the price &c
oil should drop for any cause, hold
back your seed until prices advance.
Don't sell on low market just to get
rid of your seed and then after the
seed are hauled from the farm and de-
livered to the mills see the price of
oil advancing. The farmers cao oer-
tainly control the seed market if they
will.
The effort is certainly worth making.
Ii farmer wants to exchange his seed
for meal and hulls, get the full mar
ket price for your seed and pay the
mill the market price for meal and
hulls. a fair exchange at present
valuations would be one ton of seed
for 1000 pounds Of meal and one ton
of hulls, or one ton of seed for 1850
pounds Of meal. Of course such an
exchange cannot be perfected if you
allow the mills to price your seed at
$i4 per ton. The f,pht for hetter nr;cea