The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1902-09-04
THE ADVANTAGES WHICH ACCRUE
TO THE FARMER
Some of the Profit He Realizes by the
Establishment of Cotton Seed Oil Mills.

Establishment OF Cotton Seed Oil Mills.
No manufacturing industry stands
80 close to the farmer as the cotton
seed oil mills. The interest Of the two
are mutual and inseparable. A very
large part of the products Of the Oil
mills is now returned to the farm and
practically all Of 1t in some form can
be utilized.
The mill provides a profitable market
for the surplus seed, and returns the
product to the farmer, with greatly
enhanced value in finished condition.
While the larger part Of the business
between the mill and the farmer IS
conducted on a basis Of barter and ex-
change, it does not actually differ
much in results from the toll system of
the corn mill.
The oil mill purchases the seed In
the open market, and sells Its products
in the same way, but ultimately, all
Of the hulls and meal should get back
to the farms from which the seed were
shipped. While this Is now the result
In many cases, it is not as common or
general as the practice should be. Ev-
duced in the South should be returned
to the land, either as fertilizer ap-
piled direct, or stock feed, the latter
much to be preferred, as their value
in that way is immensely increased.
About 1880 a cotton seed oil mill was
established at Columbia, S. G. The
historian Of the time only considered 1t
of sufficient Importance to congratu-:
late the "public-spirited" citizen who
had enterprise enough to establish the
business, but did make the further
comment that the owner expressed
from cotton seed a very fair grade Of
edible OIL" No further reference is
made to this beginning Of the bust
ness, and it can only be inferred that
the improper handling Of the product,
or the prejudices Of the people against
this edible OIL" prevented it from be-
ing successful. In 1860 Aldigee
found thousands of tons Of
seed dumped on the commons, and
placed under guard to prevent the
COWS from eating them, as they were
regarded as poisonous to cattle.
From such conditions has grown a
millions to the value Of Southern
farms, increased the traffic Of the rail-
| roads, established an immense foreign
trade with this country, earned fair
returns for its promoters, while giving
employment to thousands Of men at
remunerative wages, many Of whom
otherwise would be idle at the season
| when their work Is required at the
mills.
| In all Of this development the great
est benefits have been derived by the
farmers The mills have taken the seed
which prior to their establishment,
were either lost entirely or wastefully
used, and converted them into valuable
products, easily and economically
handled, resulting in the cheaper pro-
duction Of crops, and increased yields
per acre.
Raising and fattening cattle has been
| one Of the interesting features Of this
development. The fattening Of cattle
In the South for market, outside, per-
haps, Of the Texas ranges, was un-
known before the extensive use Of cot
ton seed hulls and meal. At present,
almost every neighborhood Is raising
a few head of cattle for the butcher
numbers Of cattle are being fattened
In this way. AS this business increases
it will be followed by the erection OF
packing houses In the South with all
the advantages Of such industries
Any landowner can make fattening
cattle profitable. It has been chemi.
cally demonstrated, sustained by prac'
ticals.ests that the droppings from cat
tie fed on cotton seed meal Is eQual II
feeding value to the meal itself applied
directly to the land. No other feef
has any such comparative value
When this is considered, the immense
advantages derived by the farmer!
from the establishment Of cotton seet
oil mills Is realized even Il no othel
benefits accrue, but when the aound
ance and cheapness Of hulls Is consid
cred, and their value to the farme!
and feeder recognized, some 1dea
given Of the splendid work and advan
taees the other mills have accom-.
plished towards the development Of
Southern agriculture.
In almost any season, regardless o.
the price of seed and products, the
mills of the Southern Cotton OIL NIL
Company of the Carolinas and Georgia
will give back to the farmers all OF the
meal and hulls produced from the seec
in exchange for the seed, reservine
only the oil, and small amount Of shor'
lint to cover transportation charges
cost of working, interest on investment
and profits. No more liberal division
Of the profits between manufacturers
and consumer has ever been accom-
plished. It makes the business co:
operative, returning to the farmer al
that is Of any value to him, in great.
ly improved condition, and consequent:
ly greatly Increased in value, an6
leaving with the mill only that part
of the seed universally regarded as de-
trimental in its natural condition
either as a feed or fertilizer, from
which the mill must realize all OF IT:
expenses, including cost Of working:
The oil is converted at the refneries
in Savannah into pure and whole
some substitutes for lard, known az
"Palmatina" and "Snowdrift," and Is
given back to the consumers table al
a delicacy at q low price, or as pure
cooking oil, as Wesson Cooking OH
The refuse or waste from the refined
oil is made into a soap, and sold bacf
at a cost that places 1t in the reach o
the poorest The, lint Is made int
quilts, pillows and mattresses and solo
at a price that makes it possible fol
the bedrooms Of the humblest cottage
to be comfortably furnished.
In buying or raising cattle to be tat
tened on hulls and meal, every Gfror'
should be made to secure good beef.
producing breeds. A prominent ant
successful packer Is authority for tht
statement that the improved breeds
will sell on foot for three times a:
much as the common stock.
The consumption Of beef in the Soufl
far exceeds any previous period. Il
can be met by home production Il
Southern farmers will use all the hulls
and meal made by the oil mills, with
out drawing on the West. At present
only about one-fourth of the cottor
seed meal is consumed where 1t Is pro.
duced for feeding and fertilizing crops
the balance finding market either II
Europe or in the Eastern or Western
States.
The cotton oil industry has been de-
yeloped when it was most needed by
the people Of the South, especially BY
the Southern Cotton Oil Company
which has mills throughout the South
and general headquarters at Columbia
s. c., Goldsboro, N. c., Charlotte, n
c., Atlanta, Ca. and Savannah and
Augusta, Ga It's only danger is in
being over-done. 1t should get to
such proportions as to have the crush
Ing capacity run ahead Of the produc.
tion Of seed, or the production Of oil
increase faster than the consumption
the results would be disastrous both tc
| the mill owners, and to the farmers
It is a business requiring high order
of commercial intelligence for its sue
cessful continuance, and it is manifest
| ~ tho rnan1f9 ot11ray