The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-02-15
.JnPENTINE INDUSTRY.
Crude and WastefuI Methods Pursued
in the south.
New York Tribnne.

The crude and wasteful methods en-
plOyed in the South in gathering turpentine
We're criticised yesterday by George l.
williams, of the Naval Stores Company, of
Savannah. In speaking of the subject he
said: THE marked impetus given to the
naval stores industry in Florida in the last
two years has brought about conditions
which the people of the South have too long
ignored. and the time is fast approaching
when the methods employed by the native
turpentine operator must be replaced by Il
more scientific and less CXtraVagant mode
of operation.
Last years output of turpentine was the
largest drawn from the great pine belt that
stretches from the hills of South Carolina
to the lOwands of Louisiana, and from
present indications this years operations
are likely to be on a similar scale. 1t Is
not many years ago that the turpentine or
chardS of the old world were depleted in the
same reckless and short-sighted manner
that characteriZes our own people to-day,
and il was not until almost irrepara bic
damage had been done that a change for
the better was brought about in this direc-
ton So widespread and unmistakable has
been the injury inflicted upon our pine for
eStS in the South by those who are working
the turpentine orchards that IL is already
predicted that the present rate of prOduc-
ton cannot long continue, and that in d
output of naval stores show an annual de-
crease.
THE great loss arises from the way in
which the trees are tapped, and also by
operating on the trees when of too tender
an age. a turpentine tree will not live
longer than five years at the most after be-
ing tapped, and its productiveness begins 10
Wane after the first few operations, a also
does the quality of the turpentine
The tapping operation is performed by
making a slit about two inches long and
inch deep with X. 1t may also be
done by boring with an augur or again
with a sharp pointed instrument. like a
marlinspike, which is driven into the tree
with mallet. As soon as the hole is made
a dipper is inserted and the turpentine
flows down this into a bucket placed at the
bottom of the tree. 1t Is here that one OF
the greatest sources of waste is displayed,
for a bucket is frequently carried away
without another being put in its place, and
the valuable juice of the tree is allowed to
flow TO the ground and waste. | have seen
hundreds of turpentine trees tapped at one
time, and not fifty out of a hundred would
have buckets to catch the flow. Most of
the tapping is done by negroes.
Another great source of destruction to
the turpentine business is that the great
unoccupied territory In the South is being
fast opened up by the railroads, and many
of the most valuable turpentine forests
have been ruthlessy cut down, where il
would have been easy for the railroad COM
panies to have taken different routes in or
der TO avoid the destruction Of the trees.
OF course the railroads have been of the
greatest benefit TO the owners of turpentine
forests in the way of furnishing transporta-
ton and i'm many parts il would be impos-
sible to work the forests without them; but
the losses which they nave inflicted in the
destruction of valuable turpentine forests
is irreparable.
Other nations and other peoples long
since went the way we are so blindly pur-
suing and have perceived the error of that
way and have forced private greed to give
way to the public good by wise and eff
fcient system of forestry And why may
not the people of the South profit by their
dearly bought experience and take steps to
protect and maintain the wealth still
stored up in their forests? Such protection
cannot come too sOOn."