The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-12-18
TURPENTINE
Effort to be Made to Pre-
vent AduIterdtiOn Of
This Product
AN INSPECTOR

AS has been stated in this paper be-
fore, there is a report current that the
greater part of spirits turpentine sent
out fom this market is adulterated.
The receivers admit that some Of the
spirits ~turpentine which leaves this
market is adulterated, but steps will be
taken at once to stop the practice.
The chamber of met YES
terday afternoon for the purpose Of
taking some action III regard to the
matter.
those who were present at the meet
ing We're: Messrs. ]. A. Taylor, presI-
dent; s. P. McNair, vice president; G.
H Robinson, D. McEachern. w. r
Barksdale. H. c. Mcqueen, G. J. Bonay,
W. L. Smith. c. w. Worth. 7. d. Love.
]. t. Rankin. H. X. Nash, George Z.
French. B.. F. Hall, NJ. J. Heyer. ].
w. Wilder n w. P. Oldham.
After calling the meeting to order
President Taylor asked Mr.. H. K. Nash
to state the object of the meeing, which
he did.
MIR. Nash offered a resolution which
had as its object the breaking up of the
adulteration of spirits turpentine, but
after some consideration this resolu-
ton was tabled, and a substitute offer
ed by Mr.. C. w. Worth was accepted.
The resolution offered by Mr.. Worth
and accepted read as follows
1T is the sense of this that
there shall be an inspector OF spirits
turpent1ne appointed 10 prevent the SAL
Of adulterated spirits and that the
chairman shall appoint a committee OF
three to formulate plans to carry this
resolution Into effect. President Walk
er appointed the following committee:
Messrs. c. w. Worth, chairman, B.. +
Hall and H. X. Nash.
Nearly every who attended the
meeting had something to say in regard
to the matter under discussion.
Mr.. Robinson stated that he under
stood that the supposed law to present
the adulteration Of turpentine had not
been passed.
Mr.. J. w. Wilder said he drew up the
law and had eighteen prominent distI-
lers to sign the petition asking Cor its
passage. and that the law was passed
by the Legislature of 1897 and was still
in effect.
| Mr.. c.. w. Worth said it seemed from
the tone of the discussion that there
was no difficulty In detecting adulter-
ated turpentine. He stated that he had
found it a most difficult ask to detect
the adulteration and that he had used
every means known. Mr.. ]. w. w lder,
| said it was rather good evidence that
d distiller was adulteraing his product
when he bought as much as fifty bar
rels Of kerosene oil per year. Mr.. ROB
inson stated that he did not think there
would be any difficulty in detecting the
adulteration. He said in 1898 when 1t
was first learned that some d~.stillers
were a~dulterating ~turpentine, that the
| chamber of commerce passed a resolu-
ton in which the receivers agreed that
when a shipment Of turpentine was re
ceived and afterwards found to be adui-
terated, that the shipment should be
paid for at the rate of kerosene oil.
This resolution was afterwards rescind
ed by reason of the fact that t was
| considered illegal. Mr.. Robinson SAID
| ne Thought dDoHI . 10 ~ NSAS ~
the turpentine sent out from this mar
ket was adulterated
Mr.. W. R. B3rksdale, who IS the
special agent Of the Standard OIL Com
pany at his place, said he noticed that
in speaking of the adulteratiOn Of tur-
pentine that nearly every one MENTION
ed only kerosene oil being used, where
as there were other aduiterants u-ed.
He stated that the Standard OIL Com
pany was a buyer Of t~urpentine and it
was not to their advantage to sell ker-
buy 1t back as turpentine at Sc cents.
Several present thought that the en-
forcement of the law already on the
statute books Of this state would put
a stop to the practice Of ad~ulterating
turpentine. Others thought hat the
law could no be enforced in such a
manner as to break up the practice.
It was pointed out that the present law
would be a very hard one TO enforce,
and tina some action taken by the
chamber Of would do far
more good in stopping the practice
thar attempting to do 50 by enforcing
the present law.
The committee APPOINTED to formulate
the plans for the appointment Of an In
spector are to report back to the cham.
Der of commerce when the plans are
formulated
It would be the duty Of an inspector
to xanine all ~turpentine sent 10 this
rnhrket and all found to be adulterated
.k,Id ha refused nv the receivers