The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-05-03
CHARCOAL BURNERS
HOW THEY LIVE AND WHAT
 THEY DO FOR A LIVING.
Cost of Making Coal and of Doing Business-Some Social
 Characteristics.
Mobile Register.

Mobile Register.
 "C-o-o-a-I! c-o-o-a-l!! CHARC-o-A-L- LAY"
 This is a familiar cry to the people of Mobile. who listen to it in all man ner of voices and at all times of the day, as it is sung out by the drivers of the wagons that supply charcoal to the con- sumers. How they get the charcoal. where they get it, how 1t Is made. and the other numerous etceteras connected with the business only the initiated know and the trade of charcoal burner and peddler runs in families, so that it's almost a case of marriage to get a interest can he ascertained, but not enough to make a successful "coaley." :" The charcoal men are "a race to them selves" They live hard, swear hard and some of them drink hard. A "bilad shirt" is the sign manual of disgrace, and a thoroughly clean man Is an object of aversion. True, there are some ex- captions to the rule, but theyres the black sheep" the 'gooody- gooody boys. "
 The log kiln" usually produces abo1t thirtyfive barrels of charcoal. It costs 50 cents for the wood, 50 cents to cut and haul 1t: 50 cents for rolling, or putting them in shape in the pile, and 50 cents to bank it with earth-a total of 2io cents. If this is sold to the cart man, which is the case when the burner does not own teams of his own. he gets l5 cents a barrel. or a total of $5.25. which leaves him profit of $sl5. He may have ten or more kilns burning at one time. the expenses of each being the same, and thus he makes quite a sum. It takes from seven to ten days to burn it.
 The logs (pinc wood Is used exclusively are cut ten feet long, and in log kiln the bolt m layer Is ten logs wide and from eight to ten fet in height. The ends are banked with dirt about ten inches thick. but the sides are banked only about three inches, When the .rV IrGs at the bottom. where 2 draught is genera ted that starts the fire that keeps the logs smouldering sufficient to make char coal The fire is kindled by means of quantities of fat pine knots that are laid on the ground before the kiln is made. the logs being laid above. It usually takes only few hours 10 get the logs to burning brisky. when the large holes are closed and only 5mall ones made at intervals to allow the escape of the smoke without the making of a draught The length of time req HFea m making char coal depends upon locality. That burned or high land makes the best fuel, but It takes longer to manufacture than that made on low ground. If the Kiln m settling creates crack in the outer covering and a draught is thus made and a blaze Cngcndered. instant action Is necC CSsarY n say. it, as everything will go up in smoke if it continues to burn and blaze.
 There isn't any great amount of science necessary In burning charcoal, and cer- tainly no considerable capital is neces- sary, as one may begin on small scale with not more than three dollars and sx bits in actual cash There are no magnates nor, in the vicinity of Mobile at least are thors any millionalres. The charcoal business is based upon the good old survival of the "fittenest." in coaley parlance. Every man is for himself and the hindmost has hard row to hoe There is no license or tax, and the choaTcoa! burner is exempt from many of the amenities of society. He isn't expected to be clean eithcr in per-