The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1888-09-22

Charcoal burning. once one Of the
great industries ~ the country, Is now
played out. says Newark On. J.) let
ter to the ST. Louis Globe Democrat. IL
is good for the country. and particular
ly for New Jersey. where IL thrived
ahead Of any other state. that il il be-
coming thing of the past. IL was
ruinonsly wasteful industry from the
very start Thousands Of millions Of
dollars worth of salable products have
been destroyed In the United States by
the charcoal-burners In order 10 OBJ
tain product inferior TO many of
those that were ruined. The charcoal
burners have been the dcadliest enc
mics OF the timber supply of the ma
ton. Twice they have denuded the
mountains OF northern New Jersey and
greatly thinned out the pineries in the
southern part Of the state.
Charcoal burning began in the state
IN 1880, when Cornelius Board started
an iron forge at Little Falls, and IL was
greatly extended when Hazenelever
came TO this country in 1864 and start
ed several FORCES and furnaces on the
baronial possessions in Passaic county.
Increased rapidly until coal came into
use for iron smelling. aud since then
has gradually increased. so that the
trees have had a chance 10 grow again
on the denuded hills. In recent years
nearly all Of the charcoal made has
been consumed in the cities, and the
consumption in dwellings has decreas-
ed constantly. while the factory con-
sumption has not greatly increased.
Charcoal is great heat-producer and
is extensively used In iewelry-shops
and few other factories. but 10 is not
an economical fuel &C any price. and il
is dear in the beginning, the way il is
made ON the mountains.
One Of the most prominent lumber
men in the country. speaking about
the waste caused by charcoal burning,
said the other day:
''DO you know how "A rustic charcoal
burner burns coal? Wen. ! will tell
you. He levels space aud sticks up
the wood ON end till il makes point
ed stack about eight feet high and ten
or twelve feet i'm diameter This he
covers with earth aud sod until every
bit Of wood is concealed. When the
wood in this crude kiln Is fired il must
he carefully watched night and day
until the conversion into charcoal is
accomplished Should II break into
flame there would be nothing left but
ashes; so a man remains on hand all
times 60 keep the combustion from be-
ing too rapid and amend the mound as
breaks appear in il. When il is All done
the charcoal burner gets a few bushels
Of charcoal for his labor
LET us see what he wastes. 1t is
shown that the manufacture Of creo-
sOte. acetic acid. wood-alcOhol. NOR
dant, and other products of wood can
make profit on each Of the products
they get and have the charcoal free Of
cost. The wood is packed in tight
iron retort and fire Is built under the
retort. The temperature is raised 10
500 degrees OF 600 degrees and the
liquid portions Of the wood are con-
verted into gas and vapor. which pass
through an iron or copper worm in
cased in jacket Of cold water, which
condenses the vapors into various pro-
ducts. which are afterwards separated.
Georgia pine. for instance. will
weld by distillation and condensation
wood gas, a small amount OF wood
naphtha. large amount Of pyrolg-
ncous acid Ga wood vinegar), large
amount OF wood cresote oil. small
amount Of tar. and great quantity OF
charcoal. Nine cords Of wood will
give l6S barrels Of charcoal. fourteen
barrels of creosotc oil. ten barrels Of
acid and few barrels Of naphtha and
bitumen. The pyroligneous acid alone
will pay all the expenses Of the labor
and the wood creosotc will more than
pay for the wood and fuel. Nobody
but n country charcoal-burner will
claim that the coal is not rs good as
that produced in the wasteful way he
has been brought up 10 do it"