Name/Title
StereographEntry/Object ID
2023.055.3.0361Description
A black and white stereograph. Image is of the interior of a building, a man is operating a large cotton gin. Above the image "27" is printed, below the image "V23235 - The Machine that Separates Lint Cotton from the Seed." is printed, to the left of the image "Keystone View Company Copyrighted, Underwood & Underwood Manufacturers MADE IN U.S.A. Publishers" is printed, to the right of the image "Meadville, Pa., New York, N. Y., Portland, Oregon, London, Eng., Sydeny, Aus." is printed. On the reverse the following is printed:
V23235
MACHINE THAT SEPARATES LINT COTTON FROM SEED
More than a hundred years ago, the cotton gin was invented by Eli Whitney. In those days cotton was no an especially important crop in America because it was so difficult to separate the seed from the lint. Work as hard as he could, one man could separate or clean only a pound a day. The story is told that a woman suggested to Whitney the possibility of such a machine with sawteeth that should cathc the lint and tear it free from the seed. Now-a-days the gin has rollers which do not infure the fibre as is fotend done by the saw gin.
The most extraordinery results followed the invention of the cotton gin. Up to that time many southern people looked upon slavery as an evil whch must be removed. There were several societies in the South working for the abolition of slavery. With the invention of the cotton gin all this was changed. One man at the gin could remove seeds from hundreds of pounds a day and immediately cotton became one of the most important crops. Of course then planters needed laborers and slaves rose in value. Instead of talking about freeing the slaves, the planters tried to get more. It is perfectly true to say that the invention of the cotton gin fastened slavery upon the Southern States so that it could be ended only by a civil war.
It seems strange that Eli Whitney never made any money on this invention. When he tried to limit its use, the people threatened violence. later he did make a comfortable fortune with other inventions.
For many years the seeds were thrown away. Now they are pressed for oil some of which is used for making butter substitutes, some for lubricating, while some of the curshed seeds are fed to cattle.
Copyright by The Keystone View CompanyCollection
Photograph Collection