| From the New Orleans Daily Crescent |
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| January 13, 1862 |
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| Successful Southern Enterprises |
| ***** |
| Oil is an indispensable article. Without it
the machinery of all the earth would come to a standstill. In the
manufacture of the hugest anchor and the finest cambrie needle, its use
cannot be dispensed with. Heavy machinery and railroad car boxes, ***,
consume the greater portion of manufactured oils. For two or three years
the Southern Oil Company -- made up of the best citizens of the South --
has had a hard struggle to get along. Our railroad men preferred to buy
from Cincinnati, and pay two prices for lard oil, when every fair test
demonstrated that the oil of the Southern Company was not only a
cheaper, but a better article. Such was the tremendous effect of habits
and prejudice -- the habit of purchasing everything from the North
creating a prejudice against everything produced at the South, except
the leading staples. Still, the Southern Oil Company fought its way
bravely through the mists of Southern prejudice in favor of Northern
oils, and would have eventually succeeded if war had not ensued -- its
merits being so solid, and so great. But the war brought it but at once.
The supply of Northern oils being cut off, our Southern railroad men and
others concluded to turn a listening ear to the claims of the Southern
Oil Company. Strange as it may appear, it is nevertheless true, that all
objections to the oil at once disappeared; and the experience of a few
weeks led to the universal expression that it was the best as well as
the cheapest railroad oil that they had ever used! This dispersion of an
utterly unfounded prejudice it destined to be of immense value to the
South. The consumption of this kind of oil amounts to millions annually.
Hereafter, this will be made in the South and saved to the South, as we
cannot believe that our chief machinists and railroad men will ever go
to the North hereafter for their supplies, if they can possibly avoid
it. |
| To give a nidea of the value
of this Company to the South -- its power of production being almost
illimitable, f the demand should arise -- and its great natural
resources, we will submit a few figures from the statement submitted to
the stockholders on the 1st of January, which we have been kindly
permitted to copy. The effect produced by the war was almost like magic.
An embarrassed Company became suddenly relieved of its embarrassments,
to the universal satisfaction of its customers, whose orders are far in
advance of its ability to supply, and which will lead to doubling or
quadrupling the capacity to produce of the works in Mobile and Florida.
The more the oil is used, the greater its popularity, and the larger the
demand for it. Its merit entitled it to this preference long ago, but
the occasion to fully test it did not come until about six months ago. |
| As before stated, the Company
was embarrassed some months ago. On the 1st of July, 1861 its affairs
stood thus: |
| Liabilities, |
in excess over assets, on 1st November, 1861 |
$31,694.53 |
| Liabilities |
in excess over assets, on 1st January, 1862 |
$14,332.68 |
| Assets |
over liabilities |
$6,727.68 |
|
| This change cannot but be
gratifying to the stockholders and the public, but the war brought the
oil into notice and favor, and it is one of the blessed fruits of
Abolition wantonness. |
| Now, for the actual value of
the assets of the Company, exclusive of the surplus on hand the 1st
inst. before mentioned, at a very low estimate: |
| Factory building and property in Mobile |
$50,000 |
| Eight hundred shares Florida Oil Company at $50 per share |
$40,000 |
| Absolute patent right for three States -- Georgia, South
Carolina and Mississippi |
|
| --- worth at least $100,000 each |
$300,000 |
| Total |
$390,000 |
|
| In addition to the foregoing
there are large amounts of material on hand, already paid for, which
will keep the factory running more than sixty days. The material is
worth, in the aggregate, many thousands of dollars. There are orders for
oil on hand which reach far into February, and the orders are
accumulating in excess of the ability of the works to supply. This want,
however, will soon be supplied. |
| The above showing is strictly
accurate. It is not speculative. It simply represents an accomplished
fact. That is all. As such the public should regard it. In six months,
from heavy embarrassments, the Company has paid up and accumulated a
surplus; and we understand that it is in contemplation to declare a
dividend in March. Judging by the business done in the past few months,
and which is bound to increase, it seems to us, instead of diminishing,
the Company will be enabled to declare a right handsome dividend in
March, as well as one in ninety days afterwards, if it is deemed
advisable. |
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