Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1903-07-18
cAMPHoR COLLECTORS KILLED.
PeriIs That Environ tho industry In
the WiIds of Formosa.

the Wilds Of Formosa.
A dispatch from Tckio says that g
camphor refinery at Clan, in the is.
land Of Formosa, was attacked recently
by $50 Of the wild natives, who killed
the Japanese worknren and the police.
men who were guarding them. It was
small establishment and the victims
numbered only eleven persons, but the
tragedy illustrates the perils Of the
camphor industry in this island.
Few industries of the world are car
ried on under conditions so difficult
and dangerous as camphor collecting
and refining in Formosa. There is q
great deal more tragedy than romance
about it and camphor is obtained only
by Drawing these dangers, for nearly
all the worlds supply comes from For
mosa.
Japan and China together produce
only about 100000 pounds year, but
the annual yield of Formosa is from
1000. 900 to 100000 pounds. Formosa
controls the camphor markets Of the
world and will probably always be the
great source of this valuable gum
The world has to pay more for cam
phor than 1t did a few years ago and
one reason is the danger and difficulty
Of collecting 1t.
The tree -clad mountains Of the east
part of the island contain the largest
camphor forests in the world. They
are also the home of savage tribes
that have never been subdued.
Nearly half Of Formosa is still occu-
pied by these murderous men Of the
forests, whose weapons are turned
against all strangers. Thus the forests
present very different conditions from
the peaceful plains to the west, inhab-
tied largely by Chinese rice growers.
The men who collect the camphor
have to work among these treacherous
natives. The camphor camps are scat
tered for 40 miles north and south
The workmen themselves are we'll arm
ed, but the natives do not hesitate to
attack them unless they are In consid-
erable numbers or are strongly guard
ed by Japanese police. -
There is glory for the natives inktl-
ing these intruders In, their forests and
Furthermore, the camp equipment and
the food supplies are the legitimate
spoil Of war. At last accounts the JAP
anese government had a force Of 1,50t
policemen and soldiers guarding the
camphor camps and escorting the par.
ties that carry the gum out Of the for
ests. But Iii spite Of all precautions
conflicts are Of frequent occurrence
Campaigning among these mount
aims covered with tropical jungle Is
almost impossible and this is the rea-
son why the Japanese government has
not attempted to end the conflict by
sending a large force against the ma
tives. If the government should at
tempt to do so the natives could not
be found. Only they can move with
celebrity among their mountains and
they could easily elude and battle all
pursuers.
OF course the government adds the
cost Of the protection 1t affords to the
price Of the commodity and this is one
reason why camphor Is held at high
price. Another reason is that the Jap
anese have made camphor a govern
ment monopoly and 1t turns large
profit into the national treasury.
It Is not difficult to obtain a permit
to collect camphor, but not a pound car
be sold except to the government
which fixes the price to be paid for 1t
The government also endeavors to keeE
the market price at good round fig
ure by limiting the amount to be sent
to the markets and it will not buy g
pound in excess Of this limit.
But while the world has to pay fol
the camphor monopoly, the japanese
government Is entitled to credit for Its
efforts to maintain the industry and
preserve the sources Of supply. While
the Chinese were still masters Of For
mosa the camphor forests were gradu-
ally growing smaller, because the tree
Is killed to collect the gum and moth
ing was done to make good the timber
destroyed.
The Japanese, on the other hand, re-
quire that tree shall be planted fol
every one that is destroyed and the
government Is also establishing planta-
tions of camphor trees, so that For
mosa is expected, in the near future
to yield large quantities of cultivated
camphor as we'll as the wild product
New York Sun.
J LYNcHING Is MURDER.-"Every man