New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-09-03
MAKING CAMPHOR.
A DIFFICULT INDUSTRY.

IN. ~ the chief industries OF Formosa Is the
manufacture of camphor gum from the campnor
laurel tree 1t fairly profitable work. but as de-
scrlbed in a British Foreign officer report, the oin-
cuties connected with II are by no means iights
In the first place. the camphor laurel grows IN saw.
age territory only, and the hillmen or Hakkas' VINO
border on that territory, have to make monetary
or other arrangements with the savage chiefs 70
protect or refrain from destroying. the stoves or
stills which the farmers set up In their country
These arrangements are, as a rule. very unsatie
factory for as soon as trouble arises, no matter
what may have been the cause, they proceed WIN
ont delay to vent their resentment on the suiih
which are promptly destroyed. Several Foreign
firms are engaged in the trade, and their methoo
of conducting the business Is worthy OF notice.
Advances are made to the hillmen on condiuon
that they set up a certain number OF stoves sup
n,v monthly a fixed amount of camphor at a price
agreed upon. and repay the advances by instruments
at certain stated periods. Bonds are entered ih'o'
and securities given By the hllnen lot the ouS
performance of their contracts; but tnere II a"
agreement between the Chinese ana the iore's"
consular authorities that consular assistance cannos
no invoked for the recovery of advances made In
the camphor business.
AS soon the hmen have settled all prei'mina'
ries with the savage chiefs and suitable spot nas
been fixed among the camphor trees for the cree
ton of STILL the former proceed to run up sheo
or rough building, the size Of which depends upon
the number OF stoves II is intended to contain. IL
ten are to be erected, the building would De ~ teet
long by u feet Is feet broad. In the centre OK
the floor an oblong structure, some feet higns
10 feet long and feet broad, Is built or sun-dreo
mud bricks, having five freplaces or holes at eacn
side raised foot above the floor or the room
Tho two ends of the structure solid, and with
,ut freplaces The latter so built that an
earthenware pot can easily be inserted ABOVE tho
fire in each hole. An earthenware cylinder connects
the mouth Of each pot with the surface OF the
structure or still, 1t may more conveniently Dc
called. Between the pot and the lower end OF the
cylinder there is round, thin piece OF WOOD MT
ting both the mouth OF the pot and the lower END
n the CYLINDER and perforated so as to allow the
steam from the water In the pot TO pass INTO
the cylinder during distillation The top OF eacn
cylinder is usually about a foot In diameter anu
is level with the surface of the STILL such sun
would present to the eye mud structure, WIN ten
round holes on the top and five freplaces at each
NJ the two longest sides. To complete It, however,
ten large earthenware Jars are required These
during the process OF distilaton are placed, IN
verted on the top of the still Immediately over 'he
INNER ends of the cylinders, so as to form the con-
densers. To prevent the escape Of steam from the
condensers bands OF lutte are fitted firmly between
| their mouths and the top Of the still.
sunnose then there is a heap Of camphorwood
cbins at hand from which 1t Is required to extract
| the camphor The pots are filled with water ana
the cylinders with chips the jars are IN pos'ion On
the ton of the STILL and the frewood Is hghteo UNI
der the pots When the water boils the steam
passes I'D through the perforated wood into the
| cylinders heats and moistens the chips ana as
cands 10 the condensers carrying with IL tne AL,
| nhor fumes which the chips have given fortn. inSS
Steam then condenses the inside OF the jars als1
when the latter removed layer OF WHIT ,.Is a.
phor CRYSTALS is found adherng 10 tnem. "' Ths
| brushed off by hand and placed In pashsss' ,rash
chips are then withdrawn from the ~. rots
chips take their place, water Is addeo 70 e addi
the condensers again placed IN pos,',os and
tional rewood Is thrown into the rsp 90 nnhor
the work OF distillation rebegins. r,h en- For
laurel attans an enormous height ana XII s Of
mosa There il TO be seen horizohtaa, sster and
n stem which was at least feet IN u' ~ ,he house
which at one time formed the entrance 70 ue ~ the
Of savage chief The doorway T. c1 70 9u mission
section Ii is n trophy beongihs n the veranda
Of his house Much difficulty Is eApsi s ~
hilImen in Telling these forest giants anu ,he,r
Is freouently had to firing so as 10 eApe. .h IN
work Quantities OF valuable timber arr nus a,,n,
s,v,,cd and "a no trouble Is taken 10 pal' yvu ~
| sraas tho day will come when such Waste VIII ~
rnrrn,,ad The tree once feed, the Drahcnrs IL
| rnenn,oved and the trunk sawn up INTO p'anns.
| Brnnches and blanks then SET upon py NUM-
@ ~, ,,an each armed with small SCOPE hapso
"a arnrv stroke OF which removes cnip apeut as
anoI' LONG In time giant Is reducen 20 - ..eap
~ nhns which are treated for their campnu.,
"a 9oibped THE extract remains a gray isnw"'..c
| ues Sdar which unlike the camphor produceu IN
PMan docs not solidifv under pressure. isauy
nprnst 10 found fQt Formosan campnor, when v
mar i mr. ingredient in smokejess powcer'