The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-08-18
The Naval Stores Imbroglio:

CHARLESTON, August Is, 1858.
To the Editor ofthe Charleston Daily Rs'c':
have delayed reply to the several commu-
nications that have appeared in your issue OF
the 18th inst. and since, signed "Tar Heel"
for the reason that wish to give to the public
full and correct statement Of charges made
on naval stores in Wilmington. If ''Tar Heel"
had displayed ss much zeal in getting informa-
ton with regard 10 charges in Wilmington as
he did in giving my charges TO the public,
there would not have been any necessity for
reply to his many communications. He would
have found the difference between my charges
and the charges in. Wilmington were 30 slight
that it would not have been worth the notice
! Of those interested, and, consequently, ne
would not have seen the necessity Of getting
up the Tempest in Teapot" that bas not con-
vulsed the community.
"Tar Heel" gives my charge to the public as
sixteen cents for inspection and cir ssifcation
againstthe charge Of fve cents in Wilmington
for the same service. He does me great injus-
tice; do not say from design. am char
liable enough to conclude that it is from igno-
rance of the subject which he has undertaken
to handle. My charges cover not only classii-
cation of spirits turpentine, but cooperage,
which means putting the article in good ship
ping order, and necessitates an outlay Of both
material and labor, all Of which have to fur
nish. In Wilmington the guager ls the In
spector. When he has guagcd and classified
the aturpentine, the packages are turned over
to the cooper, who makes his charge Of "ten"
cents-the lowest charge made there for put
ting it in shipping order. The latter item,
which is two-thirds Of the entire charge, was
omitted by 'sTar Heel" I do not say inten-
tionally. My charges in comparison with Will
mington charges are one cent more per barrel
than the lowest charge there for the same SER
vice. will here mention that with the guag-
ing Of spirits of turpentine I have nothing
whatever to do; il is separate and distinct
charge. The guager here is able to paddle his
own canoe-can and will, doubtn not, vindicate
his own cause. 'Tar Heel" says the charges
in Wilmington for inspection Of crude turpen-
tine is three cents per barreE In this he is in
correct; it is six cents; the buyer, however,
paying this charge. But another very impor-
tant item overlooked by ''Tar Heel" is charge
Of from ten to fifteen cents for cooperage, which
the seller pays. For the information Of '"Iar
Heel" and others interested, I would state that
most, il not all. the crude turpentine shipped
to Wilmington. is consigned to the naval store
inspectors and sold by them. "Tar Heel In
forms the public that the inspector in Charles
ton does not charge for inspecting crude tur.
pentine, because he buys all that comes to the
market. J. deny the latter. charge with regard
to the former. II choose to serve the public
gratuitously in my official capacity, il. is no
business OF. Star Heel" In this connection it
is proper 10 state that all but one Of the dstil-
lers of turpentine who signed the petition to
the Mayor and Council Of the City OF Charleston
for the appointment Of an additional naval
store inspector, buy crude turpeatiue. Some
Of them buy very largely. Who inspects and
weighs the turpentine bought.by these parties?'
No one. but themselves. Star Heel" forgot to
mention this fact-perhaps ~ he was not
aware Of it. I am pleased to note the extreme
generosity OF "Tar Heel" in correcting his
statement in regard to my charges on rosin,
and think he might well have pursued his
course q little further in the same direction.
desire to state that in regard to the charges
on rosin, that the twelve and half cents mem
toned by "Tar Heel" for inspection and clas-
sification, is not merely for the two items
mentioned, but also for weighing and cooper
age, that is, putting it in complete shipping
order-a condition in which it seldom reaches
thisI market. Was the magnanimous "Tar
Heel" aware of this The charges on rosin in
Wilmington are higher than the writer has
given to the public, being eleven cents. Mine
are twelve and half cents, which is small
when you take into consideration that
the receipt of naval stores at Will
mington are. nine times more than is
received in Charleston. I am in receipt of
letter from Wilmington bearing directly on
these points; and If the enterprising ''Tar
Heel" or any one interested in naval stores,
desire information in regard to charges in VIII
mington, I shall be most happy to submit these
letters to their examination. Interference to the
shipment Of fnaval stores producers on the line
of the Northeastern Railroad, would re mark
that small shipments may have been made to
that point. The motives prompting these
shipments + will not mention. In some cases
it was not to obtain "better prices" "Tar
.Heeln would undertake to make the public be-
ieve that naval stores cannot be shipped to
Wilmington from the line Of the South Carolina
Railroad. IF am not mistaken, there is an
outlet to Wilmington by that road. If there is
not, it has very recently been closed up; and,
Judging from the fact that the South Carolina
Railroad made very liberal deduction in their
rates for down freight early in the season,
have not the slightest doubt but that very lib
eral arrangements could be made to ship the
other way. There are only five or six distillers
on thatroad between Kingsville and Charleston,
and none doing very large business except the
one at Georges Station. The proprietors Of
these have not, as I am aware Of, ever
found fault with Charleston charges or prices.
"Tar Heel,D in one Of his communications,
asks, after quoting the law on the subject of
appointing and the dlties Of naval stores in
spectors if the present incumbents have COM
Piled with the requirements Of the law. can
answer, conscientiously, that have, as far as
understand it, to the letter.
MIR. Editor, have already, fear, made this