Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1869-04-21
white crystalline substance is form

v
ed called artificial camphor.
The regions which supply turpen-
tine furnish the very important pro-
duct tar. It is made from the heart
or ''light wood" of the pine, which
is split into billets of convenient size
for arranging in a conical heap that
is covered by turf.
The proper burning of the kiln to
produce the most tar is oneOf thessfine
arts" only acquired by long practice.
The fire is made to burn very slowly,
roasting out the juices of the pine
which flow out through a trench,
collecting many impurities on their
way. 1t is for this reason that the
tar of Northern Europe always
ranks higher, being prepared with
more care. There, from the south
ern to the northern extremity of the
Gulf of Bothnia, the inhabitants are
occupied in the manufacture of tar,
proofs of which are visible in the
whole extent of the coast. The in
lets of the Gulf are covered with nc
bic forests of pine, whose tall hosesss,
f1ourisbing luxuriantly, cover the soil
down to the waters edge The
method practiced by these people is
the same employed by the Greeks as
described by Theophrastes and Dios-
corides. There is not the least diff
ference between the tar works in the
woods of Westro-Bothnia and those
of ancient Greece.
"The Greeks made stacks of pine,
and having covered them with turl
they burnt in smothered manner,
while the tar melting fell to the bot
tom of the stack and ran out by a
small channel cut for the purpose"
For many centuries the business
has been considered extremely favor.
able to health and long life, especially
to persons afflicted with pulmonary
complaints.
One of the most healthy locations
in the Carolinas is the village OF
Aiken, situated in the pine region, to
which public attention has lately
been drawn from its salubrity of eli
mate and the beneficial effects upon
lung complaints produced by a resi-
dence there.
1t lies on the line of the South Car
ollna Railroad, e few hours ride from
Charleston, built upon a high ridge
of land that separates the head wat
ers of the Edisto river from the
streams that flow into theSavannah;
combining most bensfieialIy the ad-
vantages of pine growing with the
bracing, invigorating air of a
mountainous country. 1t is laid out
In a neat manner with wide streets
shaded by large trees, while the
houses are in detached groups and
villas, instead of being gathered
around one common center.
Westward the country slopes to
the Savannah River in a series OF
broken hills and undulating slopes,
that furnish to the lover of the pie
turesque many scenes of natural
beauty. Eastward and northward
the land declines gradually toward
the sparsely wooded black-j Jack re.
gion of the surrounding districts, and
presents no features of peculiar in
terest.
On Cedar Creek a few miles south
are found very valuable beds of burr
stone which form so rich a portion OF
the mineral wealth of this section.
Sine 1850 much attention has been
given to fruit culture, which has
proved very remunerative hv ship
ping it to Northern cities. Around
the village are hundreds Of acres
planted in grape vines, while nestar-
ines, apricots, pomegrauates, and
straw berries can be had five months
during each year in great profusion
Figs grow there in the open air, and
from some straw berry vines as many
as one hundred and seventy berries
have been gathered from a single
plant in one season, many of them
from four to five inches ia circlm-
ference.
The thermometer rarely falls as
low as 20 deg, and seldom reaches
20 deg. The atmosphere is exempt
from malariOus miasmas and he
rapid descent from the highlands to
the rivers furnishes a complete rat
ural system to drainage, so them
valids are not confined to the houses
on account of mud or wa1er.
The hosts of consumptives who
make their annual hegira to theCon-
tinent will soon turn their enfeebled
steps to this haven of rest, surprised
to fnd within their own land the
mild and genial" climate of sunny
Italy.
A few of the large landowner. of
the Pine Region are men of intelli-
gence and culture, but the majority
of the Inhabitants are entirely uned-
ucated, a poverty-stricken class.
They are destitute of property save
their own bodies, their whole estate
not worth ten dollars, and they only
work when driven to it by necessity
They dwell in little log cabins with
bark roof, and live on hog, hominy
and whisky. Being very slpersti-
tious, believing in witchcraft, they
attribute all their misfortunes to the
agency of evil spirits instead of the
cause-drdent spirits.
However it is to be hoped that
with the impulse now being derived
from the emigration OF Northern
men, the internal resources of these
States will wake from their long
slumbers of the past eight years, and
under the practical guidance of Pres
ident Grant the Carolina will attain
their pristine condition.