The Corvallis times. (Corvallis, Or.) 1888-1909, 1904-05-25
cHlTrIM TALK.
A Few Suggestions as to Present and
Future Prices.

A Few Suggestions as 10 fIeSent anu
Future Prices.
ssThe season for peeling chittim
bark has arrived and the output
this year promises to be larger
than usual, as scores of men. wom-
en- and children are hard at work |
in the region where chittim trees
abound. A special and peculiar |
knife has been invented for peeling !
this bark and is for sale by some
dealers in this city. 1t has stout
straight blade, with broad, sharp
end, which greatly facilitates the
starting of the sheet of bark from
the limbs, after it has been slir
down one side by a small blade
projecting at right angles from the
back of the main blade. The price
to be paid for chittim bark this
season is 3 1-2 to 4 cents per pound.
which is not SO much as ought 20
be paid, but is a slight advance on
the old price of 3 cents, for which
tons have been sold. A settler
who lives in the vicinity of a grove
of chittim trees and has large
family can make quite an addition
to his income by gathering the
bark as his family can render as
sistance in peeling and drying it.
There is no diminution in the de-
mand for the bark, VIII ch is an ex-
cellent physic, and still retains its
good qualities which induced the
FRANCISCAN Brothers of early days
to give it the name of "eascara sa
grada," sacred bark. Probably
some day when chittim trees have
become scarcer, the bark will bring
a higher price. .''-Oregonian.
In parts of Benton and Lincoln
counties any news concerning the
chittim business is read with much
interest at this time, being the
opening of the peeling season. Still,
the enterprising reporter, in his
zeal to give the readers of his
newspapers the mental food which
they Wish to sample, ought to of
fer that which is true to name. The
statement in the above clipping as
to the price to be paid for bark this
season, is doubtless an assumption
merely. 1t may be said that the
market has, as yet, scarcely opened
up, and while there is no disposi-
ton to discourage the wisdom of
any reporter, it is indeed a wise
person who can state wiah assur-
ance of the Oregonian reporter,
h that "the pr.ce to be paid for chit
i tim bark this season is ; I-2 to 4
cents The fact is. that this
early in the season Corvallis deal
ers are paying S cents per pound
for chittim bark. .s..-
1t seems likely that an unusual
amount of bark will be placed on
the market this season owing to
the relatively high price of las,
year. This, together with the
possibility of buyers entering into
a compact to hold the price down,
constitutes the sole basis for the
assumption that the price will be
| low this season. Bark peelers un
derstapd that they cannot know
beyond doubt what the price, will
approximate, but among the In
Huences which would naturally give
the commodity an upward tenden
cy, is, first, that there is no ade
quate substitute for medical pur.
; poses; that it is becoming scarce
/ while the demand. by physician:
and others is increasing; that th'
bark may be preserved indefinitely
and that there might be dispos
ition to purchase greater supply
than there is needed for immediate
=. . use, and thus in a measure prepare
!. for the time when it shall be diff
cult to obtain fresh supplies at any
price; and lastly these conditions
: being understood, the speculate
, not heretofore purchaser, may bt
expected to see that the commodit,
is not sold to any combination G
dealers at a price much below tina
of last season. 1t is commonly be
:, lieved that within a short term o
,, years chittim bark will reach
! figure compared with which las
! years prices shall appear insight
fcant.