The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-09-18

ne growth Oh the COTTON OIL lnQuS-
try in the United States, and particu-
larly in the Southern states. within
the last few years, has been nothing
short of marvellous. nor has the plant
at Savannah failed to keep pace with
the Improvements and extensions.
Few Savannahians know what Si-
gantic enterprise is the Southern Cot
ton Oil Company. or the diversity of
products which are manufactured at
the company's mills.
The company is one of the largest
manufacturing enterprises Savannah
has, and it is the largest of it's kind
in the world. Among the most impor-
tant of the products manufactured are
lard compound, shortening, cooking oil
salad oil, soap, crude oil. cotton seed
cake and seed meal. A trip through the
cCmpanys plant is an education in it.
self, and cannot fail to convince one
of the absolute purity of the various
products produced.
Vegetable fats or oils have largely
supplanted those of animal origin in
every department of dietary, and for
wholesomeness and economy, as we'll as
from more aesthetic point of view
they are far superior to those derived
from the animal world. An inexhausti-
BILE supply of oil is obtained from the
vegetable kingdom and many methods
are employed in preparing them for
household use. The Wesson process.
employed by the Southern Cotton Oil
Company, produces an article of most
superior quality and purity a perfect
ly neutral, odorless oil for all culinary
purposes; at price far less than the
oils and fats of animal origin. No
housewife can afford to be without the
lsrds, Shortcomings oils and soaps made
by the company. AS a matter of pride
in home industries they should investi-
gate.
History of the Enterprise.
The history of the growth of the cot
ton oil industry in the South is inter-
esting. The industry did not commence
until after the Civil War. In 1870 the
principal mills were operated by Jules
Aldige and the Union Oil Co of Provi-
dence, in the latter of which the late
Simon Clapp made his fortune In 1878
enormous quantities of the oil was
shipped surreptitiously to Chicago and
worked into lard. Up to that time hog
fat supplied the material for making
all lard. The refined lard business in
Chicago rapidly grew to enormous pro-
| portions until in sc it was discovered
that Chicago was shipping more lard
than the total weight of the hogs re-
| ceived in that market.
The matter was brought to the atten-
| ton of Congress, and an investigation
was instituted, the result of which was
| the full Vindication of the good charac-
ter and quality of the compound lard,
which made the hog product look in
| ferior In comparison. Since that time
lard compound trade has been staple,
resulting in a great increase in the
consumption of cotton-seed OIL This
| had its direct results with the South
| ern farmer, for whereas cotton seed
was before considered almost a waste
product of the farm, it rose in value
until it was worth from SIG to SIT per
ton. AS half a ton of cotton seed is
realized from every bale of cotton, it
can be seen that the industry causes
the farmer to get about eight dollars
more for each bale of cotton produced.
How the Industry Has Grown.
Some idea can be gained of the
growth of the industry by COMPARE
son of the output of the mills in 1870.
and the output in 1897. In 1870 the
total output was less than 5000, 900 gal
Ions of oil. as against 60,000,000 in 81
The growth has been even more phe-
nomenal within the past five years.
The total number of mills in 1897 was
| 1885, There are many more than that
number in the state of Texas alone,
to-day.
This growth is attributable largely
! to the policy of the Southern Cotton
| Oil Company in sparing no pains or
expense to attain the most improved
| quality of products and in placing
! them in the homes of the country. This
result is only possible, it can be readily
seen, with a company of large capt.
! tai. The necessary talent for making
| needed improvements in all processes
| of manufacture and carrying on costly
experiments is very expensive.
Mr.. Haskell and DIR. Wesson.
! The commercial strides made by the
company in this section of the state
| particularly as we'll as throughout the
country has been due in no small de-
! gree to the efforts of the vice presi-
| dent, Mr. Lewis W. Haskell His pro-
! gressive business methods and tireless
/ pursuit OF the most approved methods
/ VI Manufacture haNf AAAta hDDIEtia-
/ bly, to the commercial prestige OF the
| greatest Of cotton oil companies. An.
other dominant spirit In the hustle
and push Of the company. for which
! IL is characterized In the commercial
| world, is Or David Wesson It's en-.
/ terprising manager. Or. Wesson g.
! the discoYerer and originator Of the
/ world famous process for making cook,
4 ing Oh and salad oil
The mills an Savannah we're started
| Ia 1857, largely through the efforts %
/ Mr. Haskell. u was arranged then 4.
/ handle i20 tons of serd day TIL
mills We're operated as crude 81 MILL
4 for more lhhn b year, when ln 1857
{ purifier and refinery were erected a.
ace0rdanre sim fhe plans arranged hi
i ~. Nssa2u and Ar George Dr. Ten
pile in 1889 the capacity ~ ftf o.
i nnerY Was doubled. and in fhe fllisw
ipE ye@r ihe Meaaon Process soUlpan.