New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-04-27
HERE'S WELCOME NEUS FOR MOTHS.
cAMPHOR is EXCEEDINGLY DEAR-CAUsEs OF
TIE RISE Is ITS PRICE.

The price Of camphor has not been high for
years as IL IS az present. Housewives DESTROYS Of
keeping the destructive moths and other insects from
the winter clothes, laid aside for the summer,
and merchants even. who purchase II IN quantities
learn this the various apothecary shops The retail
price AT present is in instances as high rs 20
cents pound and the wholesale price is seldom below
50 or 60 cents for The quantity There has been
a steady advance In the price during the last three
years. In 1887 camphor could be bought readily
for % cents pound in 1850. for 23 cents: in the
spring OF lS9 FOR % cents and in the fall Of $50
for 81 cents Since then II has advanced rapidly
until the price has reached the high figures quoted
This rise in the price OF the popular and useful
drug is attributed 70 various causes. one Of the
use in manufactures last year. In
addition to the large quantities now used in the max
ing 81 cclulod. the recent invention Of smokecss
powder has drawn largely upon the stock in hand
The Governments Of Germany. France and Belgium
where the smokclcss powder IS in almost ex-
elusive use. have purchased large amounts Of the
article and stored 1t in their magazines in preparation
Of war; should there be a firm In Hamburg Is
said to have lost 10000 marks by selling It's stock
the Government in the early part Of the winter In
stead Of holding to it until now.
However. II is said that Germany Is seeking dill
gently for proper substitute to as the principal
ingredient Of the smokclcss powder as its extreme
certain. Nothing however. has been found yet which
can take It's place
There have also been rtmorS that speculation in
Japan London and China has had considerable in
nucnce upon the price. This. however. Is denied By
well known druggists ~ this city VINO believe the price
due - the short crops last year and the small i'm
portations 10 this country In the year ending with
June, i--7 there 2.S73fe4 pounds imported
In l--- 2.77g.7lO pounds. and in the year ending
with June. 1-Se. only l.9745OO pounds. The sta
tstics for this year are not yet complete. but it Is
estimated that the importation Will be much less
than IN I--9.
The high price Of camphor. and druggists do not
expect to il much lower in the near future has
called nap--laln. and is coal tar product. white
I'm color which can hc purchased in the form nj biz
humps and flakes. II Is said 10 lie effective In the
preservation If clothes.
The greater part Of the camphor in commerce Is
the product Of the camph0r tree. a native Of China.
Japan FOrmosa and Cochin China. II has also been
introduced into Java and the West Indies although
with but partial success. The tree Is of considerable
height with evergreen leaves and yellowi-h-Nhitc
flowers. II IS imported Ia this country In a crude
state In large ieaden lined tubs tightly -'aled and i
refined 10y sublimatiOu There are only tire" re
nncric, IN the United states. All OF which ac In the
Eat. All Of the camphOr used At present in America
l., prepared In these three rctncilc,. in American
firm. however, has recently sent machine I" Japan
for the purpose of refining the cmphor whore IL i
grown prior 10 expectation. II i said that II cN
poets 10 make money by this means. despite the duty
as the los, refined ,amphor hN evaporation i les
the machines in use In America for refining camphor
accomplish better results than those used m any other
country The price, Of the drug IN Europe to-day
somewhat higher than IN this country.