El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-12-16
WEALTH IN THE
WEED Of THE
DESERT
Candelilla Wax Making an
Industry of Great Value
to West Texas.
THE WAX IS IN
HEAVY DEMAND


Rio Grande border of Texas as well as
in a considerable scope of country in
northern Mexico is being made the
source Of a large and profitable in
duStry. EXperim entS that were con-
Quoted with the view of discovering
the possible valuable ingredients of the
candelilla plant resulted in proving
that it contains a wax substance, which
under, the methods that have been
adopted may be extracted with COM
paratiVe ease.
This wax is pronounced by chemists
and manufacturers Of articles into
which it enters as being almost as
high grade as the famous carnaubs
wax which comes from South America.
The test of the plant was made with a
view OF discovering whether 1t con-
tanned rubber properties, and, much to
the surprise Of oscar Pacius, 2 chem
ist he found that it was composed
largely Of wax which possibly had
great commercial value Since that
time there have been established in
Mexico several plants for the manufac-
ture Of wax out OF the weed and II is
stated that the output Of these fac
tories now aggregates about 80 tons
of wax per month, which sells at prices
ranging from $500 to $500 gold per ton.
The cost of producing the product, in
Guiding transportation OF the weed to
the factory, and other expenses is about
$500 per ton. The discovery Of this
new source OF q wax supply has created
a stir in certain manufa curing circles
Of the world, particularly in European
countries. TO which most of the pro-
duct that is manufactured in Mexico
is now shipped. The demand for the
product is far beyond the present sup
ply, it is claimed.
A Valuable Product.
Tests have shown that this wax may
be used successfully in place Of rubber
for electrical insulation. Experiments
by electrical and other concerns have
satisfactorily proved this fact In San
Antonio a cable was insulated with
candelilla wax. another with rubber of
The best quality, then laid in the ground
for six months. after which they were
taken up and the wax insulation was
found 20 be perfect while the rubber
had oxidized and was beginning to rot.
Manufacturers Of this wax in Mex e
leo and Texas are in receipt Of many
letters from persons abroad who desire
to make contracts for large supplies
for use in their respective industries (
That which is now being marketed is Z
used chiefly for electrical insulation I
and in the manufacture Of photograph I
records. wood and leather polishes, floor /
wax. varnishes, pharmaceutical articles. I
candles and rubber compounds One I
concern in Hamburg, Germany, writes /
hat it uses annually carnauba wax to /
the amount Of 100000, that it has
given the candelilla wax a trial and /
t proved so satisfactory that 1t is in 1
The market for a supply TO take the I
place Of the product which it has been /
using.
Three Texas Plants.
The candelilla wax manufacturing /
plants in Texas are situated at Alpine, I
SandersOn and near Sierra Blanca. /
Plans are being made for the erection |
Of other large plants in this section I
The capacity of the Texas factories ag- I
gregates about six tons Of wax per 4
lay. The raw material is practically 4
nexhsustible.
FE Sutton who investig gated the }
extent Of the candelilla growing terri I
tory in order to gain an idea Of the [
of the industry, says:
Accompanied by Mr.. Pacius We be-
gan our first overland trip at Sander
ION. On this trip we found large guam
titles of candelilla plant. after having /
Iriven about 0 miles south from that \
POINT The Candelilla growth begins at
he mouth Of the PecOs river, and eX-
ends to Sierra Blanca, covering all OF
he southern part of the counties OF
7errel, Brewster, Preside and FL Paso-
These counties are larger than some
f our states, and, although it would
ave taken months TO look all Of them
yer carefully, I was told by old set
lers in these districts that the can
ella plant was growing in great
bundance throughout the above men
Toned district, and We chose the town
f Marathon to make thorough in
estigation from there. Taking an au-
omObiIe we Travelled about 100 miles
a southerly direction, and in few
ours we were in the midst of can0el-
Ia For miles and miles we were Z
ever out of sight of this plant; it is
rowing very thicl1ly and in the dis
lnce on the mountains appeared as
lingles on roof. about one to 10 I
ms growing to each acre Of ground.
- vere told that we could ride over
nd and for six continuous days would
ever be out OF sight Of the candelilla
ant"
It requires on an average 80 tons
the plant to produce one ton Of wax
nd the cost of cutting, hauling and
eating one ton of the raw product
about s275. The peculiar feature
this plant is that it grows so thick
some localities that 1T is nuisance
the stockmen, and before its COM
ercial utility was discovered, ranch
ent frequently employed Mexican Ia
)rers to remove and destroy the
-OWth In order to give the grass a
ance to spread. Mr. sutton says:
"a safe calculation would be that
ere are at least 100000 tons OF the
ndelilla plant in Texas, accessible to
Glory tons which would mean
annual revenue of more than $2O.
Q, 600, If all were cut down and manu-
ctured into wax each year.
Much of the land upon which the
ndellIla plant grows could have been
y
II acre. 1t is now alUed at many
res those sums. Thea weed repro
ces itself yearly when cut off at its
OTIS. It contains from to 3 percent
wax The bagasse, or refuse, after
e product has been extracted, is used
r fuel in the factories thereby mimi
zing cost of production
Many manufacturers OF rubber goods
d electrical supplies have placed
re orders for the product in Mexico
d Texas.
Manufacturing Process.
The process of manufacture is as a
lie boiling and steaming. This makes
crude wax which is subsequently re-
led. The process used by Mr.. Pacius
d associates is to add a small guam
Y of sulphUric acid when the weed
boiled and steamed in the water
is process has the advantage that
2 wax is extracted at once as re-
led product and is of a very light
Tor and brings a higher price It is
lst economical and extracts all the
TX in the plant. Another process
itch is used is that Of submitting the
Continued on Kavf pp-a