The daily national Whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1849, 1847-09-09
THE TURPENTlNE BUSINESS.


Statistical information in regard to the
products and commerce OF this Stale is ex-
ceedinglv difficult to obtain; consequently
all attempt at an estimate must be detective /;
but vet, attempted estimates Of an article
which forms so important an Item 10 the
labor and wealth Of eastern Carolina as tur-
pentine, cannot fail to- be interesting, even
should they fall below the truth or IN some
degree rise above it; and they may possibly
lead to good results. 1t is certainly very
desirable that we should have some acquain-
lance with the resources Of the State and
the extent OF her products, which our pres
, ent means of information very partially lur-
nishes.
Few persons perhaps, unconnected with
the commercial now carried on IN this state
in the single article of Turpeniine, can form
an idea OF the quantity made annually in our
limits, the amount of labor employed in its
manufacture, the laIge capital invested, the
large numbers supported by il and the various
uses to which it is appropriated. Nor are
,pe prepared to enlighted them fully upon the
subject, because OF the necessarily limited
information which even dealers in the article
possess, in reference to it. In our CONVEX
sations with intelligent gentlemen engaged
in the business, we have been able to gather
up some particulars however which may be
interesting.
We find the impression to be, that about
100000 barrels Of Turpenline are now an
ually made in this Stale. Not more than
100000 barrels if that, were shipped to New
he
crude state, the largest portion Of the whole
being distilled in the State. The estimated
value to the makers, is about 81 200 900
annually, and may be $2,oo0,000. About
q or 5000 laborers are engaged in making
it, and perhaps, three times as many more
of human beings are supported mainly from
the proceeds Of its first sale.-The distilla-
lion of Turpentine in this State is now car
ried on very extensively, which will render
the oh;pmcot Of it in IFS crude state, very
small in future 1t is supposed that there
are now in operation about $50 stills, which
at an average cost of $500 with fixtures,
shows that there is an expenditure OF So
$4,000 to begin with in the distillng Of
Spirits of Turpentine. This number of stills
to have steady work would require 900,o 900
barrels, annually-more than IS now made;
which TO US is an indication that the distll-
ing BUSINESSES overdone. Should the makers
of the article continue to multiply stills and
and thus monopolize the distilling as well
as the making,it will be necessary for those
now engaged in il to invest their capital
in other pursuits. The cost OF distilling IS
very great, and when we reckon the cost OF
transportation, the profits of distllers, Of
ship owners, commission merchants, and
the vendors Of the article abroad, it will be
seen that the capital aud labor employed is
not only immense, but the numbers who are
supported by the manufacture and sale OF
the article is astonishing. Perhaps there is
no one article produced in this country by
the same number Of laborers, which con-
tributes so much to the commerce and pros
perity of the country as the article Of Tur-
Observation-Disclosures ". c.