East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1915-09-25
War Makes Unsuitable Demand for Munitions
Cotton European

The European war has created an
Unsuitable demand for ammunition.
New establishments are being erected
for the manufacture Of explosives.
and the possibility Of increased prof
It's Is inducing firms engaged In other
industries to enter this field. This
state Of affairs, Of course, has an
important effect on the price Of cot
ton, which is largely used as a mate
rial In the manufacture Of explosives.
Director Rogers, OF the bureau Of
the census at Washington. Is carrying
on an extensive correspondence in his
OndeaVor to obtain statistics of all
establishment using cotton as ma
terlal. Consumers Of cotton natural
ly desire to keep the total quantity
used in all lines OF industry and they
can aid in the compilation Of accur-
ate statistics by furnishing the CEN
Bus bureau at Washington with the
names and addresses OF establish
Ments which have begun the use OF
cotton as a raw material since the
commencement OF the European war
Mr. Rogers says that great many
letters are being received requesting
Information as to the quantity of cot
ton and llnters used in the manufac-
ture Of explosives Some express the
fear that the bureau is not aware OF
the extent to which these materials
are now being used for this purpose,
The director desires to state that the
census bureau Is aware OF the greatly
increased demand for cotton and lin
ters, and has been endeavorlng to col
lect complete statistics concerning
the total quantity used by all con-
sumera Of cotton, in compliance with
the law which requires monthly re-
ports on this subject.
Statistics Not Available.
Unfortunately It Is impossible to
supply statistics as to the amount OF
cotton used in the manufacture Of eX-
plosives alone The act OF congress
authorizing the collection OF cotton
statistics directs the census bureau
ito collect and publish statistics con-
cerning the quantity OF raw cotton
consumed In manufacturing estab-
lishaents Of every character"
While some manufacturers Of explo-
sives purchase the raw cotton and
subject IL 10 the necessary processes
OF publication In their own estah-
lishments, many OF them buy 1t from
other establishments which purify and
treat the fiber so as to render it
suitable for use in the manufacture
Of explosives. Many Of these estab-
lshments prepare cotton not only
for manufacturers OF explosives but
also for manufacturers Of wholly dn-
ferent products, and 1t Is not feasible
for the census bureau to obtain separ-
ate statistics Of the amount of puri-
fled cotton trned out by such estab-
llshments for use in the manufac-
ture Of explosives.
There has been great increase IN
recent years in the production OF
linters and hull fiber. Linters are
obtained at the oil mills by reginning
the cottonseed, the object being to
remove the short fibers so that the
fine particles Of the kernel Will not
be carried off with the hulls, making
possible a greater yield Of oil and
meal. The total quantity of linters
obtained from the crop Of 1899 was
1l454l bales of 500 pounds each;
but fifteen years later the output OF
this by-product OF the cottonseed-oil
industry had increased by more than