The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1915-08-17
ROGERS AFTER FIGURES
But They are Hard to Get
Owing to Complications Of
the Explosive Trade; Great
Increase in the Production
of Linters and Hull Fiber in
Recent Years
Especial to The News and Observer).

Washington, D. c., Aug. 1.-THE
European war has created an lnsat1-
able demand for ammunition. New
establishments are being erected for
the manufacture of explosives, and the
possibility of increased profits is in
ducing firms engaged in other indus
tries to enter this field. This state of
affairs, of course, has an important eff
feet on the price of cotton, which is
largely used as a material in the man
ufacture of explosives.
Director Rogers, Of the Bureau Of
the Census, is carrying on an extensive
correspondence in his endeavOr to OBJ
tain statistics of all establishments US
ing cotton as a material. Consumers
Of cotton naturally desire to Know the
total quantity used in all lines Of in
dustry, and they can aid in the COM
pilatiOn of accurate statistics by fur
niShing the Census Bureau at Wash
ingtOn with the names and addresses
Of Establishments which have begun
the use of cotton as a raw material
since the commencement of the Euro
pean war. Mr.. Rogers says that a
great many letters are being received
requesting information as to the
quantity Of cotton and linters used in
the manufacture of explosives. Some
express the fear that the Bureau is
llOt AWARE VI lI1c CAlSII " WHICH,
these materials are now being used
for this purpose. The Director desires
to state thai the Census Bureau is
aware Of the greatly increased demand
for cotton n ~linters, and has been
endeavOring to collect complete
statistics concerning the total quaint
ty used by all Of cotton, ir
compliance with the law which re,
quires monthly reports OF this sub.
ject.
Hard to Get Statistics
Unfortunately it is impossible t
supply statistics as to the amount o.
cotton used in the manufacture Of ex
plosives alone. The act of Congress!
authorizing the collection of cotton
statistics directs the Census Burea,
ito collect and publish statistics con
corning : the quantity Of raw cot
ton consumed in manufacturing es
adjustments Of every character : I"
While some manufacturers Of explo
sives purchase the raw cotton an
Of publication in their own establish
; ments, many Of them buy it from
! other establishments which purify an
; treat h fiber SO as to render it suit
) able for use in the manufacture Of ex
%plosives. Many Of these establish
, ments prepare cotton not only flo
manufacturers of explosives but ais
for manufacturers Of wholly differen
products, M it is not feasible for tn
. Census Bureau to obtain separat
t statistics Of the amount Of purife
cotton turned out by such establish
ments for use in the manufacture {
explosives.
recent years In the production Of lir
= ters and hull fiber. Linters are obtain
ed at the Oil mills by reginning the CO
tonseed the object being to remove tn
short fbers so hat h fine particle
, Of the kernel will not be carried o
! with the hulls. making possible
greater yield Of oil and meal. TT
S total quantity Of linters obtained frol
" the crop of 1893 was 114,544 bales
: 500 pounds each; but fifteen veal
e later the output Of this by-product
the cottonseed-oil industry had il
creased by more than 900 per cen
the number of bales turned out fro1
the crop of 1914 being $3.50
Obtaining Hull Fibre.
e Hull fiber is obtained by a trea
is ment of the hulls which breaks U
IS their structure and makes ayailab
q the shor fbers which have not bee
IS removed in the delinting process. Sc
II eral establishments have been enga.
y ed in the production of hull fibre f
a number Of years, and addition
q ones are taking up this line of ma,
lie ufacture.
Inc p~upncatlon OF statistics Of co
10 ton production and CONSUMPTION h,
called attention to the d~esirabilitv
/ similar data concerning numero
other and totally different commod
e ties. The Census Bureau is receivir
numerous requests for such data co
lie cernlng various articles the productic
OF winch has been stimulated bv II
european war or by economic como
tlons que In a measure TO the war.
III IHefe seems to be a general inopro
islOn that the Census Bureau is q