Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1906-11-03
Use OF Cotton Seed on.

Use Of Cotton Seed on.
The American consul at Naples
Mr.. Duncan reported as follows in
1880: Cotton seed oil has already
found its way into the remotest val
leys, whose sole product is olive oil
where 1t is mixed with the latter
and the combination is sold as pure
olive oil. The resemblance is so
great that even the most expert can
not detect the mixture"
Another consular report, written
about that time, stated that the
wholesale dealers in olive oil guaran-
teed their product as absolutely
pure, being sold by them as received
from the peasant producers. It was
afterward discovered that the peas
ant producer" imported our cotton
seed oil and two-thirds olive oil
and passed IL as pure on the whole
salers, whose experts failed to de-
tect the imposition.
Then the question assumed ma
tional importance, for If cotton seed
oil had such affinity" for the olive
oil as to pass the most expert con-
noisseurs when properly mixed, the
whole olive oil industry of Italy
seemed menaced. The government
therefore sought by "prohibltory
lfgy - ~ h., - 49,
Oil But the ''prohibitory tax" has
had seemingly no effect whatever,
for the imports OF cotton seed oil
into Italy in 1906 were many times
greater than in 1880. The same is
true of the other olive oil producing
countries.
The largest export OF cotton seed
oil is to the Netherlands ($4,0S9, 900
in 1905) where IL is doubtless used
In the manufacture of artificial but
ter and margarine, of which the
United Kingdom purchased about
IS13, 100000 worth in 1905. All this
is not intended TO find fault with the
old world for it's uses OF our cot
ton seed oil for mixing and manu-
featuring Cit is the very purest and
most wholesome product for such
ipurposes). but to draw the atten-
tion of American consumers thereto
Undoubtedly a large proportion of
the olive oil imported into the
United States Is composed OF that
cotton. seed oil which the American
people refuse TO consume in its
honest form, but consume when inn
ported under the several well known
brands Of the old worlds famous
olive oils.
II the United States had, twenty.
five years ago, followed up the ad-
missions OF European olive oil ex-
perts, that they could not detect one
third cotton seed oil in their best |
olive oil and pushed the matter to
its just conclusion, viz: That cot
ton seed was as pure and wholesome !
although In itself lacking the pc
culiar flavor of olive oil--as the best |
olive oil. the United States would |
not today be able TO meet the foreign I
demand which would have been
created therefor. Even now an OH
cial analysis OF the oil and govern
ment assurance OF its purity and |
wholesomeness for culinary and
table uses would not only enlarge its |
foreign market. but would break
down home prejudice against II and
its product-cottolene very
much enlarge its consumption in the
United States.
Attention Is especially called to
the opportunities which exist in
Mohammedan countries. where the
use OF nork lard is wholly forbidden. \
for enlarged trade IN cotton seed oil !
and cottolene, With government !
guarantee that no pork fat OF any
sort entered into these products. but
that they were wholly vegetable, a
very large trade could be built up.
The fact that Germany Denmark !,
and the United Kingdom import
over si2,OOO,OOO worth of United
States cotton seed OH cake is evi-
dence enough as to it's worth. for
they are the expert cattle feeders OF
the Department OF Com
meree Report