The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-08-07

and manufacture from s1l. 70 the net dif- ference between the original cost of the seed and the value of the by-produets at present prices and we get the net amount of s6.20 per ton, which should go to the profit of the mill on the business. If a mill should work 5000 tons in enc sea- son and nearly all of them do that, the net profit on this basis for the season's business would amount to. in round num- bers, to $1s,000. This has been about the average profit to the mills the past sea- son, which as stated above. was prob ably the most profitable season oil mills have had in several years. Whether the coming season will be as profitable is Of course entirely speculative.
 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 a fair price which they should demand from the mills. The oil mill people cisim that they will be satisfied with $1 net profit on each ton they work Easing that estimate on present prices for oil, meal and fuls and deducting $5.5O per ton to cover the cost of freight and manufacture. leaving the mills s1 profit per ton, the present price of seed should be S19 per ton, CT about 30 cents per bushel.
 These figures are based upon cold blooded facts which the oil mills can neither deny CT refute. At the opening of the ginning season, for some reason the price of oil Is always forced down. and the price of seed based upon existing low markets for oil For the same req son, doubtless, the price of cotton is de- pressed at the opening of the season, Sc that the speculators and spinners can get the staple chear while the rush is on. Cotton seed oil is several cents a gallon cheaper now than 1t was three months ago. although tho demand in view of the fact that nc oil Is being nanufac- tured, should be higher
 There is no need to be cxtravagant with printers ink in condemrinG the ell mill people for buying their seed as low as they can get them. They arc not iu the business for their health The oil mill man will depress the seed market as quick as the cotton buyer. They both have the same object in view and that is to buy the raw material as cheap as possible and sell the manufactured pro- duct as high as possible. What the pre- ducers should do, is to keep themselves posted and demand the true value of their seed, which at the present time Is 30 cents per bushel. It does no good to sell your seed at SIP or $14 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, independ- ent home mills by selling your seed tc them, instead of strengthening the pow CT of the oil mill trust by selling your seed to the agents of the trust. The in- dependent 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. It is On the line Of protecting a home industry and making the power of the trust weak for the future.
 have given you all the figures need full to work out the value of a ton of seed from the oil mill standpoint every day in the year. These market values are always printed in the market columns of your paper If the price of oil should drop for any cause, hold back your seed until prices advenee. Don't sell on a low market Just to get rid of your seed and then after the seed are hauled from the farm and delivered to the mills see the price of oil advancing The farmers can certainly control the seed market if they will.
 The effort Is certainly worth making. If a farmer wants to exchange his seed for meal and hulls get the full market price for your seed and pay the mill the market price for meal and hufls. A fair exchange at present valuations would be one ton of seed for 1000 pounds of meal and one ten of hulls, or one ton of seed for 155o pounds of meal. Of course such an exchange cannot he perfected if you allow the mills to price your seed at $14 per ton. The fight for pctter prices can be easily won if farmers will stand steadfastly together and simply demand their legitimate rights,
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