The morning news., 1889-04-21
PROFITS FROM THE PINES
A GOOD SEASON AHEAD OF Ma
VAL STORES PRODUCERS.

Prices for Turpentine Rule High, and
an Expected Improvement in the
Rosin Estimates of the New
Cut of Boxes-Savsnnah's Receipts
Up to Last Week in Excess of Last
Year, but q Settling Down Looked
For from Now On.
The outlook for a satisfactory and profit
able season for the naval stores producers
seems to be good. The indications, based
upon estimates by factors, are that the in
crease in the cut Of boxes this season is from
5 to 10 per cent, and some factors estimate
the increase as high as Is per cent. over
last year. A gentleman who has been
among the producers recently takes a DIFF
ferent view Of the matter and estimates
that only about IS per cent. Of virgin boxes
were cut during last winter as compared
with the previous winter The estimated
decrease in the cut of 18S7-'S5 from that of
1sS6-'97 is put at about 20 per cent 1t is said
said that there were 500 crops Of new
boxes cut In the winter OF lSs5-'57. From
the effects Of that unprecedented OUTPUT
the rosin market has never fully recovered.
The cut of new boxes last winter, accosdsl
ing to one estimate, will amount to 2,200or
and the average output of each crop is
about forty barrels Of spirits and 159 bar
rels OF rosin. .sa -.h sU
PRICES THE LAST TWELVE MONTHS
The prices for spirits turpentias, have
ruled firm for the last twelve moaths, in
fact hlgh0r than since 1882. Prices for
rosin, however, on all grades have .been,
very low, and the market does
not seem to improve It was hoped
by dealers and producers that tho
curtailment Of tho crop Of fine rosin would
improve the values, but such has not provo
to be the case thus far. 1t is probable that
there will be a gradual hardening of values
as the stocks Of fine grades are worked Off,
and the effects are further felt of the CON
tinued decrease in the output of virgin rosin
at tho stills. Fully two-thirds Of the finer
grades of rosin are produced here in Georgia.
THE COMMON GRADES.
The prices of the common grades Of rosin
have been so low for the past two years that
actual loss has beel experienced by pro
ducers IN various sections of thu country in
barreling and marketing the same. There
has been considerable discussion among tho
operators as to the advsaSilitY Of throwing
away or turning Off the common rosin
aud not berreliug or preserving it at all
o ing to the lack Of unity or concert OF
action among producers, no general move
in this direction has as yet taken place.
There is little doubt. though, t1ac if such a
policy was ad D pted and carried out bv all
The distiilsrs good results would speedily
follow, and the rosin market would show a
healthy Improvement.
A good many years ago, whom the naval
stores business was carried on principally in
the CarolBas the producers paid no atten-
tion to the rosn, and turned it OFF into DO .ds
or swamps, or oftentimes ins1 large pits
dug for the purpose. At that stage of the
business only the spirits was regarded as of
value.
TIE sEAsoE's PROSPECT.
Indications are favorable for good prices
for spirits durI2g the coming season. Stocks
everywhere are light. and the demand has
opened encouragingly. Spirits here was
quoted Yesterday at 42 cen per
& hon. Price same date last year
was 34j6 cents. 1t is true that the
receip at Savannah. since this new season
opened until last week, have beon in excess
of tue same time last year; but this can be-
largely attributed to the early spring sea
son, ard the absence of the usual cold and
unfavoraOle weather From now on il is
probable that the receipts will settle down
to about the same basis as last year, if they
do not fall below IT,
Savannah is OF course the acknowledged
leading naval stores port of the world. The
receits OF turpentine at this port last season
aggregated as much the combined re-
ceipts of Charleston, Wilmington, B uns-
wick and Mobile Clmpetsn snt judges saw
that there are sufficient piaes in the turpeu-
tine belt 10 keep up tde supply of naval
stores to tho world Tor at least twenty years