The DeLamar nugget. [volume] (DeLamar, Idaho) 1891-1900, 1897-06-18
A bARneL-HOOP MAGNATE.
Some Revelations by nm Old Farmer
About His Queer business.

About His Queer business.
On the night boat from Kingston to
New York few nights ago, little Knot
of young people were discussing the
various methods of earning living and
the invasion Of mons professions by fe-
male workers, when well-dressed and
prosperous-looking old man, who had
been an interested listener, chuckled
audibly and said:
81 calculate there'll never be any
women get inside of my line of bust
ess." Then he continued: Now, I'll
oct that none of you young folks cal
ruess how get my living or why an
DING to New York so early in the
ring"
Every guess was as good miss as
nile would have been, and after laugh
ng heartily. he seated himself in tbs
Jarty and said:
"Well, it's Just barrel hoops. I'm al
operator and specuiator in 8 aved ba
ell hoops, hoops for tubs, and woo.
traps for packing boxes; and I've bee
the business since 1 was your.
man.
Its a queer business to city peopl'
let, to cut hoop poles, shave hoops
,rd to speculate in hoops shaved
other people is about all | do, and
ave a neat income from the profits
my business of fully $4,000 year. !
ave done this kind of work for moi,
hal 80 years, and have acquired cor
,a.oa I on INV ODpr1tiu.
two or three states, and own sever;
.udrsd acres of land in Pennsylvani.
hich pays for itself every four or fiji
.ears in the hickory and oak hoop pole
lat are taken off it,"
The old man then gave descriptio.
as to how hoops were prepared for IL
market. Winter-cut hoop poles are Il
,asiest worked, as they were filed wi
rost and split easy. Everything in |
~ nv of hard wood saplings, principa!
Lite, rock, red and white oak, pigIt
ickory, ash and other fibrous voc.
GIN seven feet to 80 feet tall, are su
Vie for hoops.
Soft woods, such as chestnut and h.
ernut, are also suitable for hoops, esF
ally for powder kegs and butter ii
l.ins, but not for barrels. The pole
after being cut, are taken to the shop;
where they are split into lengths.
Every pole furnishes two hoops, ar
GENERALLY the longer poles two lcI
straps. which are used in the packIn
box trade, and two short barrel hoo
The outfit of the men consists of III
10 split the POLES, n common draw FL
and horse having treadlc worte'
he foot. and having a head wh'c'
rs clamp on the platform of thu
The hoop, when ready for sha
aid fat on the horse, and held Il
he pressure of the foot on the head,
haved fat as it is pushed under
nead until the entire length is shaw
They are then bound in punches of
each. and they are ready for the mark'
The long straps are used solely for t
binding of packing boxes, and are so
entirely to the paci,ing-box trade.
The old man said that most Of {
loops used in New York and in ii
Hudson river towns came from aicr
the Delaware G. Hudson canal, in
ter county. The trade had been int
fercd with somewhat by the using
steambent hoops of sawed ash and l.
band iron.
In the hay-pressing business wiz
binders had driven the use Of shave
hoops out altogether, yet the business
in spite of these losses, is good, and !!
busy years, when trade in general Te'
chandise and building materials is brisi e
there is a demand for all the hoops tLa'
l..-ll