The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1882-07-20
HARD LIVES.
How tho hinged Charcoal. burners
M EMulNMl Live.

IMayne Reid, IN New York Trihuue.l
| OF the three callings which form tho
| subject Of this letter, that of tie char
| coal burner IL the most exclusive IN re-
CARDS the men who follow it. They IRE
few in numbers, but have rarely any
other business, since charcoal burning
gives employment ut MI seasons III the
year and, though apparently simple
knowledge and skill The material they
have to deal with IL tho "lop and top :
Of tho trees, for cordwood, and their
modus opcrandi IL rs follows 4 floor
or pit" is prepared by clearing tho
rubbish of the ground, aud then hol.
lowing ont circular space some Fix or
eight inches in depth, bnt Of 10 fixed
diameter this being dependent on the
quantity Of wood to be- "charkca' III
that particular pit lying conveniently
near for carriage to II. In the center Of tho
floor four or five short, stoutisl, billets
are placed with ends touching, 40 IN
themselves to inclose a circular space Of
foot or eighteen inches diameter. and
on three the ends OF the chnrking sticks
are rested slantingly and radiatlng like
the spokes Of n wheel. On tho
outer rim Of this first layer second is
placed in similar manner; and HI on, till
the pile is completes. when il shows tho
form Of an obtuse cone or hemisphere.
Around the central axis, however, is n
hollow space or chimney, which Inns
been left open for the fire; and this, first
kindled At its bottom, by dropping down
some burning faggots. IN due time per-
meates the whole mass. But before any
flames show ON the surface the pile is
carefully covered over with stratum Of
sods, and 40 kept, not an mir hole being
left open. Were the wood allowed to
blaze up, there would be no charcoal,
only ashes. And just to prevent this is
the "charker's business--a thing OF
the night rs we'll as the day. 1t needs
two men at least to undertake the task,
who in turn sit up all night to watch the
fires Of the different pits--for there will
be several on the burn ut tho same time
going the rounds from one to another,
and patching with fresh sod or shovel
full Of earth any spot where flames may
threaten nm outburst. In fine, when the
| fires burn themselves ont the charcoal
is made thing, and only needs separat.
ing from the ashes and earthly matter
| which have got mixed with it from the
supcrimposed sods.
The "charkers" are paid for their
work by measure of the quantity of
charcoal produced, the standard of meas.
urement being large ohlong basket
holding about three bushels. The exact
amount Of their earnings is not easily
fixed, but certainly they do not make
fortunes by "chalking." any more than
they could by bark. stripping or the fab
ricntion Of hurdles. These men stay
nearly all their time in the woods. never
returning home, even ut night. for weeks
or months together. They dwell III huts
| erected by themselves-qnaint affairs of
conical form made Of poles set sloping
against one another. gathered in at tho
| top, and matched with coating of turf,
just as are their charking fires. Many
| OF these huts are made long enough to
hold halt n dozen men; though rarely
occupied by more than two or three,
when there will he hike number OF rude
beds in them, with full pararhernalia
of cooking utensils. Some Of the bach
elor "charkers," who have no ambition
| to pay house rent, stick to these sylvan
abodes throughout the year, whether
| they be at work or not.
WOULD do what pleased, and doing
what pleased should have my will.
and doing my will should be contents
ed, and when one is contented there is