The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1884-05-24
CONTINUED FROM FIRST PAGE.

out one hundred Thousand feet of lumber
per day, and that within radius of
twenty miles around it there is enough
standing timber to supply it for the next
fifty years, argues well for the prosperity
of the Southern lumber trade for some
time to come.
Near this mill was found turpentine
still in full operation, rapidly converting
into ma, al stores the sap Of thousands Of
trees, which were afterward to be sawed
into lumber. While the mill was sur
rounded by village Of small dwelling.
houses, shops, FORCES, and large store
for its hundreds of employees, forming
thus thriving settlement in the heart
of what two years ago was an unbrOken
wilderness, the still had also it's own
cluster of cabins and store houses, and
its own commissary department.
When capitalist decides to invest his
money in ''turpentlning" he selects All
''orchard," leases the forest from the
owner of the land at about ten cents a
tree, for five, ten, or fifteen years,
locates his plant" and is ready to be-
gin operations. While the still is being
erected, the trees are tapped, or boxed, !"
by skillful axemen who are experts in
this peculiar branch Of woodcraft, and
by the time the still is ready for bust
ness quantity of turpentine with which
to supply it has been collected. The
"box'' is a receptacle cut from the trunk
of the tree about eighteen inches from
its base, and will contain 4 quart of the
gum which exudes into it, Most
trees can be "boxed" in two places, many
in three, and some very large ones in
four; but between each two boxes strip
of bark must be left to sustain the life
of the tree. The instrument with which
the boxes are cut is long, narrow and
very keen-edged axe especially adapted
to the purpose. Just above the box are
made two cuts in the bark in the shape
Of the letter V, and from these the sap
at first flows freely. The boxer receives
one and half or two cents per day, and
if he is expert can cut from two hundred
and fifty to three hundred per day. Ten
thousand five hundred boxes form a
''crop' and sixteen crops are required to
supply a still of ordinary capacity. A
Crop covers from three hundred to five
hundred acres, according to the density
of the growth.
Following the boxers come dip.
pers and ''chippers," the former of whom
collect the gum from the boxes, with
round iron ladies, into buckets. When
bucket is full it is emptied into oar
rel, of which numbers are placed at reg.
ular intervals through the woods. One
dipper has charge of two crops, and emp
ties every box in them once every fCul
weeks.
''Chippers'' are those who make fresh
missions in the bark ON the trees when
gum has ceased to flow from the old cuts
In chipping the V shape of the bark is
preserved, and a section of about an inch
in width is removed each time. The
chipping instrument is termed a ''hack,
and is similar to that used in marking
casks or dry-goods boxes. but is provided
with tive-pound weight at the end o.
the handle, which, as all the strokes Of
the "hack" are downward, adds mater
tally to the force of the blow. One mar
will chip crop in week, and so fami
liar do both the clippers and dippers be
come with the appearance of the thous
ands of trees under their charge, thai
they are never known to make mistakes
OF visit one out of it's regular rotation
This appears marvellous to the stranger
to whom all the trees look alike. and who
can distinguish no indicating signs annie
the dead monotony of the woods. Tht
wonderful perception by which, without
a moments reflection. any one tree cal
be selected from amid ten thousand APP
parently exactly alike it, and its condi
ton accurately described, is akin to thu
most delicate instinct of wild animals.
Each of these three classes of woods
men has certain class allott ed him Il
be finished within the week, and until i
is completed he must remain in the woods
with it he may come into the settlement
surrounding the still, and :emain there
until Monday morning. While in thu
woods he sleeps and stores his provisions
in a hut Of poles OF slabs covered will
earth, which often resembles the burrov
of a wild animal more than Il human
habitation. These little huts, in al
stages of dilapidation, may be seen herr
and there among the trees along mos
lines of Southern railways; and often fo
many miles they are the only objects tina
relieve the weary monotony of the fla
pine forests, and attract the eye Of tn,
passenger from the car window. TIL,
occupant of one of these primitive shell
ters receives fifty cents per day for hi
labor, and ration Of peck of corn
meal, five pounds of bacon, and quar-
of syrup per week. Should he desire t.
vary or add to this meagre bill of fare hi
must do SO at his own expense.
The still consists of huge iron caldror
beneath which is brick furnace. From
the copper cap of the caldron large
neck enters tank of water, where it be
comes worm, extending spirally to thu
bottom. A charge of turpentine is placed
in the caldr0n, and, as it melts, the chips
sticks, leaves, etc, are removed with {
coarse wire skinner, and thrown into
the furnace, where they produce an in
tense heat. AS soon as the turpentine
begins to boil, the cap is fastened down
all crevices are chinked with clay, ard Z
small stream of water from the tank is
directed into it, The steam rising from
this boiling mixture passes through the
cap and into the worm, where 1t conden
ses, and from which it flows colorless
liquid. 1t is received in a cask placed al
the bottom of tho tank, where ii imme.