Eli Whiteney left from New England for the South in 1792. After seven months his patent for machine made a good contribution that changed the American history.
After doing graduation, he left Massachusetts. He became a private tutor on a plantation in Georgia.
The southern planters wanted to make the cotton plantation profitable. Long staple cotton was easy to separate from seeds. It could be cultivated along the coast. One particular variety was grown inland. It had sticky green seeds. It became difficult to pull out the seeds from the white cotton balls.
Whitney was told to find a solution to this problem. Whitney wanted to invent a machine. He knew if patent is granted, he could have rights to invention for 14 years [now it is 20 years].
He started work in a secret workshop. This was provided by his employer Catherine. Within some months, he developed a cotton gin. A small gin could be hand-cracked. Large one could be driven by Hydel Power.
Finally, he got the patent. He, along with his friend, manufactured many gins, and installed them throughout Georgia. They charged the farmers two-fifth of the profit. It was regarded as exorbitant tax. Many planters made their own versions of whiteys gin. They claimed their inventions were new. Whitney could not win any lawsuit against them till 1800.
Finally, the partners licensed gins at reasonable price. In 1802, South Carolina decided to purchase Whiteys Patent for $50,000. But, the payment was put to delay. The rights were also sold to North Carolina and Tennessee. Georgia Courts found mistakes made by Whitney. The patent remained till 1808. He petitioned the Congress to renew it in 1812.
Whitney was a real genius. In the world of agriculture he will be remembered for his valuable contributions.
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