The Marlin Democrat
Fifteenth Year Number 17
Marlin, Texas, Thursday, June 23, 1904
NEW INDUSTRY IN TEXAS.
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Cotton Stalks and Hulls to be
Converted Into Paper.
A new industry in Texas, that of
converting cotton stalks and cotton seed hulls into paper, will probably be
established in Houston by northern capitalists.
If the enterprise is successful it will open a market
for a product of the farm that has been going to waste and at the same time
convert a few million boll weevils into paper along with the stalk. It is
possible that the oil in the weevil will give the paper that glossy appearance
necessary in some of the finer grades.
The proposition is in the hands of R. Thomas, who
represents foreign capital. Referring to the matter the Houston Chronicle says:
"According to Mr. Thomas a cotton stalk paper mill will
make every portion of a cotton stalk of commercial value. Just at a rough
estimate Mr. Thomas figures that $5 a ton can be paid for cotton stalks for
paper making purposes. He states that there is less waste in the raw product in
cotton stalks than in other commodities. For instance, in making paper from
lumber shavings, as is done at Orange, there is a loss of two-thirds of the raw
material.
"The profit to the farmer will, of course, depend
largely on the size to which the cotton grows. River bottoms will yield many
tons to the acre, while the returns from the upland will be, of course much
lighter.
"It is a sure cure for the boll weevil, " said Mr.
Thomas. "By cutting and selling the stalks to the paper mill the farmer will
literally destroy the hiding places for the eggs. We can use cotton stalks in
all stages, green or dry, and even the roots and old bolls, after picking, are
valuable for paper.
"Cotton seed hulls are also valuable for paper, and
this feature will especially appeal to the mill men. We can make all grades of
paper from the finest to the coarsest grades, and newspaper will easily be a
specialty."
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Copyright Permission granted to Theresa Carhart and her volunteers for
printing by The Democrat, Marlin, Falls Co., Texas.