New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-03-03
NAVAL STORES.
AN OLD-FAsHIONED TRADE WHICH STILL
PROSPERS.


PROSPERS.
Tho form naval stores" has long been applied to
the different products OF the pine tree. While tho
couroerce in naval stores at the port Of New-York
is no. so large as that at some Of the Southern
ports IL still has respectable proportions ana IS
particularly worthy of notice because or ,ne man
ner IN watch IL Is conducted. the small NUMBER or
merchants who are interested in IT, ard what might
no called the clannishness OF the firms who monop-
oze the business.
There Is hardly a vessel, steam or sail leaving
the ports OF Brunswick, Savannah, Georgetown,
Charleston or wilmington which does not BRING as
whole part OF its cargo. rosin, turpentne 'eher
Grade or sprits pitch, gumtnese ana o'her 'es-
serknown products OF the prolific pine tree ms Is
all consigned more OF the few houses
which make a speciality OF the naval-store business
in New-York They can almost be numbered On
the fingers OF ones hands, and are clustered
about the streets which lie between Maiden Lane
and Old slip on the east side OF the town
CornrettIon even between so few number OK
RIVALS Is sometimes keen but dignied, and jeal-
ousles ant heart-burnings are unknown. Each
strives TO ingratiate himself with the southern
producers and shippers by the promptness OF MS
returns for goods sold. by charges as low as pos
slble and a general and supervision OF the
interests Of his consignor.
The business is difficult TO master and few
changes In firms take place. unless by the retire.
names which we're seen on thc ships bills OF adns
twenty thirty and forty years ago are seen To-Day
With naval stores. with all other merchahdse'
II is necessary for profitable trade that the goods
should be handled. carted and reloaded as Few
times as possible, as all these operations reduce
the profit small in these things at the best 80. as
nearly half of the product Is reshpped to foreign
countries II the transfer be made directly from
one vessel to another much is gained. otherwise
tho goods must be sent TO storage warehouse.
Unknown as this business is 70 the community at
large ask any boy in the streets Of the old Twelfth
Ward in Brooklyn where the "rosn-yard' is and
tho information will be forthcoming without the
shadow OF doubt There is only one rosin-yard'
situated conveniently for its peculiar business az
the waters edge on the very extremity OF hed
Hook point. Steamers. sailing vessels oarges ana
lighters are constantly arriving and departing with
,bir buIv freight The proprIetors have rivalry.
n, oppositon The Union Naval Stores Yard has
transacted It's business there these many years
alone
A barrel OF rosln is not mark for sneak thiet
or a burglar and they have overlooked the yard
proper and line the adjoining secure IN their
bulkIness their small intrinsic value, and more par
tlcularly in their weight. against all depre iators
They very rarely run under 800 pounds In weight,
and from that up TO monsters of 700 pounds Wnen
a purchaser buys a barrel OF rosin he buys 80
mounds but two barrels and more may be contained
IN package.
M coopering and piling the barrels in tiers fine
I,s, ia continually lowering In the air over tho
ward which covers the workmen from head TO foot
Rrushing or rubbing will not remove this; II is .
mark Of the trade.
an arriving at the warehouse the rosin, spirits
and tar are first weighed or gagged. then sampled
and graded. The grading process Is one OF extreme
delicacy.
some half-dozen experts have the business here.
onl, no nv long
Quoted In secret and jealousy guarded from OUT
slders The grade of the large lots Of common rosin
IL decided by a few sample barrels, but the hner
rosins are sampled each for ITSELF ana the sdo
marked on the package in one or more letters ot e
alphabet This is official, and decides the value OK
the contents. -,
Extreme summer heat is greatly dreaded by mo
proprietors OF the yard. Strong and tough as ths
barrels are looking II nothing short OF dynahl''s
would burst them. the confined rosn ieeIs 'He 10
ana oozes out from the smallest aperture ana 10
must be a clever cooper who can replace the eo"'
tents before they mngle with the dirt
A curious anomaly is sometimes presented IN
shirts OF turpenlne. In extreme cold weather ths
gauger will lind in the bottom OF Inc ARR sn
ablv found its way in while IN process OF dst ma
don The spirit never freezes a gui Which resp6nd,
to the low temperature In gradlng me Splits oty
the pure white is first quality any shade or color at
te Tb ' price also is governed by the kind OF pack
uvhc
and wine barrels selling each at slightly diterene
deure Tar also In price, not only on account
or IFS quality and consistency 0hn, rope, etc) ous
according as 1t is packed in pine. whisky. pork
fsh or molasses barrels. 49,
The shipments of naval stores are largest IN w
fall and early winter, but there are always tnou.
sands OF barrels in stock here belonging to deren'
owners. .,.- so-,
order must rule in an establishment OF this SORT:
The shipment OF each vessel must be notedi c ~.
property OF each owner and the hundreds OF dne, ,
marks. all classified so that when oraereu - ~
the superintendent may be able TO put ms maui ~,
~. tNa,E.CA rod
mistake. 49,, A, ,,..
Now comes the bugbear OF the shipper As is,.
as each lot Is closed the agent Is server W.T. w.
inspecting lighterng, marking packing, =, IN. make
lengthens out. Ii behooves the cohs.eheSh gss eat
his sales quickly, lest the accumuatihs cna'ss'
up the value Of his goods. ,.xos ul. n
Huge and clumsy lighters scows and barges' W. 7
an occasional sailing vessel. are loaded hee ,"ckY
the barrels OF naval stores. piled nsn Oh The hold
In tiers OF the one, ana packed soi'ui' y" w.
II one should examine the packages he wou saIso
them marked for Rio Ruenos A incs,anS Shang-
hal Genoa. Lisbon. Glasgow Liverpool - !, uers
almost every port the known globe ~ al ~ that
POSSIBLE TO follow still further. he would mn
Tho great hulk of the rosin and spirits or ne
was used In the Manufacture OF In the
factories consumed other vas, nIr nroict and
hrawers were large consumers OF brewers ms ,
and rosn In their cooperage shops, s ,he dli-
chemists makers OF paints anu So the great o-re-
ferent kinds OF lubrIcators ana ,ne rrronewalk
InerIes use as much more Shlpyarus; rVpe" And
paper mills and dozens OF dnereh. ,''au ,oras indls.
one or more OF the so-called naVai s'o'e'
psavannah leads ali other ports in the amount nnS.
business done In naval stores Wohiie Charleston
Georgetown and New orleans in nearly tn Sa from
named Small shipments however, are ga H the Caro-
n few other ports In Florida '"s'"'" "
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