The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-07-23
VANDIVER In NEW YORK
TALKS OF THE NEW PLANT

From the New York Commercial.
William F. Vandiver, one of the most
prominent merchants of Montgomery, and
q director of the newly formed S15, 200, 600
Cotton Stalks Products company, the
main purpose of which is to manufacture
paper from cotton stalks. now a waste
product, is here after visit to the
Marsden demonstration plant in Philadel-
plant. Mr.. Marsden has been making dem
constructions and is satisfied with the results,
both in a practical and financial way.
Even after paying the freight on the
stalks from the south the cost of making
paper out of them was not more than an
ticipated.
It is the intention of the Cotton Stalks
company at once to erect large demon
straung plant at Montgomery at a cost of
100000, and Mr.. Vandiver says this will
be followed by others at an early date.
In his opinion the Marsden process is
success, and he is much encouraged at the
outlook for the company. He thinks 1t will
be great thing for the south, and put
many additional million of dollars yearly
into the pockets of the cotton growers Of
that section.
In speaking of his visit to the demon
stration plant at Philadelphia, Mr.. Van
diver said: II was much pleased with
what I saw there. 1 saw not only the
plant in operation, but the finished prod
uct as well-that is to say, the paper pulp.
Mr.. Marsden did not shop me any alcohol
or other by-products which 1t is proposed
to make in the modern plant soon to be
erected at Montgomery, but he showed me
enough to convince me of the thorough
practicability of the plant in making first
class paper of every description out of
cotton stalks. I also am convinced, from
the information obtained by my visit to
this plant that there is no doubt of the
successful operation of the plants it is
proposed to locate in the south, and can
unqualihedly indorse President Jordan's
ideas with reference to the future of the
company.
Mr.. Marsden, the inventor. showed me
a quantity of very high grade wrapping
paper made directly from the pulp made
from the cotton stalks. also saw
great many bales of cotton stalks ship
ped from the south to Mr.. Marsden that
he had not worked up. He showed me
the machinery for doing this work. and
was never better pleased with a plant
for demonstration purposes. With these
facts 1t readily may be seen what this
means to the south. From information de-
rived from large stockholders in Phil
adelphIa and New York l can say that
| was much impressed with the spirit
of fairness on the part of eastern and
northern men toward the southern men
who desire to do what they can to for
ward the enterprise
with your knowledge of paper mills
in the east, as compared with the pro-
posed southern cotton product mills. do
you think the latter will be able to COM
pete with the former?"
There can be no question about 1t. In
the first place, these mills will be To-
Gated in the center of the cotton belt OF
the south The raw material can be as
sembled much cheaper than the spruce,
pine and cotton wood now being utilized
by the mills of the north and east, and IN
stead of having, every year. TO go Tar
Their and farther for the raw material,
we in the south. grow a new forest ev-
cry twelve months without extending the
distance from the mills. Another import
ant feature Is that we can work $50 days
in the year whereas in the east and
north as I am informed there are only
about 200 working days. Pulp mills in the
north and east are operated by water
power. and as soon as the streams are
frozen the mills are shut down to await
the warm weather of the spring.
again the south is not disturbed by
labor troubles and labor is cheaper. |
do not think there can be any comparison
in the cost of producing paper in the
east and the south.
.WiIl the planters of the south sympath-
ize and cooperate in this new Industry
ssT,here Is no question about it, Selfish
ness. II nothing else. will force them to
act. Planters will not only have an op-
portunity to dispose of their stalks. but