The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-12-19
HE SPRUCE GUM PICKER.
An Industry for Which Vermont Wa
Once Famous New I,aDeuigbes.

An Industry for Which Vermont Was
Once Famous New LaBguishes.
Genuine spruce gum has almost disaP-
peared as a regular article OF merchandise
from the Bennington market. Formerly
the supply was abundant, the price low
and the quality first class. But the sup
ply now depends on mere chance. the gum
picker giving little attention 10 the gath
eriug of the commodity, as thsre IS no
money in the business. The sawmillS,
pulp mills and forest fires have wrought
such devastation among the big tracts OF
spruce trees which formerly clothed the
Green mountains that the occupation Of
the gum picker is almost gone. Some
times lumberman or a moautaineer "a
Woodford, town adjoining Bennington
on the east, discovers tree that will YIELD
several pounds OF marketable gum which
is brought to Bennington. where it huds a
ready market at a good price.
The price depends entirely upon the Iuai-
fly, ranging all the way from fifty cents TO
81 so a pound Gum OF poor quality il read
lily distinguished by its opaqueness, and
by its very intimate admixture Of minuts
bits of bark, which became entangled n
the gum when i: exuded from the tree in a
semiliquid state. Poor gum is either
distinguished as being too heavy or too
light, bitter and permanently sticky 20 the
teeth in some cases. and very hard and
crumbly in other specimens.
Gum Of the finest grade is either trans
lucent or transparent, OF light amber
color, filed more or less with minute bub-
bles of air, breaking with short, shining
fracture, and having a sweet, peculiar aud
balsamic odor and taste. The word gum"
however, is popularity mistppled. a. the
substance il, properly speaking, resinous
matter.
A considerable portion OF the gum Of
fered for sale in Bennington is sent west in
small packages by mail The reason for
this IS that large numbers OF eastern
people who have gone west miss their &C
custOmed Chew" and send back 10 their
old home for small supplies at time. In
this way, too, quarter pound packages of
gum are sent across the continent to Cali
fornia, where the article IL valued almost
beyond price. When the Ohio and Michi-
gan branches OF the Olin family held their
annual reunion in Bennington they "cor-
nered" about all the spruce gum stocks in
town.
Several years ago an enterprising young
man. II. w. Martin, Of Bennington,
worked up a very large trade in this com
modify. Tons Of gum by mail, express
and freight were sent by him TO remote
sections Of the country, and the demand
was often greater than the supply. The
gum, however. which was of extra foe
quality was obtained ia the state Of New
York. Mr.. Martin was subsequently, APP
pointed postmaster at Bennington, and ths
gum business was abandoned.
Perhaps the most famous gum picker In
Vermont is Alonzo X. Bishop. Of Wood.
ford. He il professional in this peculiar
industry Bishop is about forty-A years
old, stout, we'll built, good natGred and
wears long hair DuriRg the hot season.
when gum cannot be gathered IN a Dsr-
charitable condition. owing 20 is sticki-
ness and its liability TO run together,
Bishop poses as farmer and a Yankee
notion peddIer. But when cold weather
sets In. Lon" as he is Familiarity called In
all the region round about, penetrates tee
deep forests Of the mountain IN pursuit II
his favorite calling. which be has f1iiaped
al his life
With a bag slung over his shoulds "a
carrying n long, slender pole. wblcs %
armed At one end with a sharp chissl, tbat
gum may be detached from the tree ~ a
considerable distance from the gropnd,
this man roams the mountains. oftsa days
at time. alone, and miles from any no
man hat.tation.-Cor. New York Tine