The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-01-21

splits, aud is thus useless for building
purposes.
While The camp remains in the same
spot from three to four crops Of scrape
are gathered every year. On each occa-
sion after gathering, and several times
during the intervals. the workman scores
two more diagonaily sianting gashes In
the park. pointing toward the box" so
that gradually the base of the tree be-
comes denuded of its bark to height of
about two feet above the ground. The
crops are gathered throughout the year.
except during the four winter months.
during which period the turpentiue is not
apt to flow freely. in consequence Of the
lower teLcperat ure. In most camps, how
ever, n supply is harvested during eight
months of the year sufficient to keep the
still constantly in operation throughout
the year.
Hardly inferior in Importance to the
manufacture Of the turpentine is the prep
aration Of the rosin. This is the residue
from the scrape after the spirit has been
distilled, and should be of an amber
color. clear and free from impurities.
After the charge has been drawn of the
still is opened at the side and the rosIn,
which is in a molten condition, flows or is
scraPed out. carrying with It a great
quantity of leaves, chips, pulp. wood fiber
and refuse from the trees. It's destination
is a lons wooden vat, very like a horse
trough, sunk into the ground, over which
g wire screen has been laid to intercept
the rubbish. The rosin Is next filtered
through thick cotton batting into barrels.
where It soon hardens and is ready for
commercial purposes.
During its journey from the still this
molten stream has left behind It two
lots of refuse. The first, consisting Of
chips. leaves. etc, Is Of some use in road
laying, and IS occasionally sold to munich
palities in the neighborhood OF the camp.
AS u rule, however, the sale does not repay
the cost of transportation, and is either
used in improving the roads around the
camp where the soil is of deep sand. or
is burned. Being exceedingly indam-
mable, the juxtaposition of n match may
be productive Of a confagratIon. and il
is, therefore, disposed OF as soon as
possible.
The second lot of refuse which remains
after the rosin has been filtered through
cotton batting consists of a black mix
ture of the consistency of molasses. From
this tar ard hanback, are occasionally
extracted.
Granted ZOQQ QIlpIlQSES anu EVE4
stilIer, the latter being usually a free
negro. whose salary runs high. the only
serious problem which confronts the tuF-
pentine manufacturer Is that of laborers-
The pecunfary harvest is so plentiful aud
the risk of losses SO slight that strenu-
Gus efforts are put forth to overcome this
solitary difficulty, and the easiest solution
is that of convict labor. Unfortunately
or fortunately-the supply Of convict
labor in Florida is extremely limited, and
the abuses of the Peonage Act of Recon
struction days have been effectively sup
pressed since the cutlery that arose dur
ing the past year. Free laborers are apt
to be insubordinate and unruIy. They
come and go at their pleasure. and the
methods of control which are permitted
in the case of convicts do not exist for
them. These laborers are always negroes,
recruited mostly from the nomads OF The
coast towns. who frequent the ports
from Charleston TO New Orleans. They
are, as rule, tough characters. When
one of these men has committed some
breach of the law he viii as a rule strike
for the turpentlneries, or enlist with
their agents at the ports. knowing thar
his labor is sought for and that questions
will not be asked. He remains In tie
camp until he thinks the quest OF the
police has been abandoned. after which
he is apt to return to his old haunts with
out the formality OF kfying notice 10
leave.
To solve this dialcuity OF obtaining an
adequate ana constant supply OF laborers
the custom Of applying fer a lease of
convicts has grown up. 1t is those tur-
pentine camps that are enabled to pursue
their operations with convict aid which
secure the largest fruit from the plum
tree. There are something ike six hun
dred turpentine distIlleries in Florida.
and out of this number about thirty en-
ploy convict labor. This is obtained IN
the following way. To some company
or individual giving a bond ranging from
$4,000 to 100000 the State Of Florida
leases her convicts. white men and cot
ored, indiscriminately, whether under
going Imprisonment for period of one
year or serving life sentences. For each
man she receives an annual due Of s2OT.90.
These convIcts are then sublet among the
various camps. where they are lodged
inside a stoekade. containing comfortable
sleeping aud eating quarters and a yard