The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1907-11-23

The tight cooperage industry is
now going through an interesting
struggle for existence. 1t is having
more and more difficulty in meet
ing the demands of trade and the
supply OF timber necessary for its
permanence is not only being rap
idly depleted. but is eagerly
sought after by strong rivals.
Industries and trades, like species
of plants and animals. thrive when
conditions are favorable, struggle
for existence when conditions are
adverse, and finally die or sur
vive according to their ability to
adapt themselves to new condi-
tions. The enormous resources Of
the United States have offered al
most unsurpassed opportunities for
industries 20 thrive, but during the
last fifty years important economic
changes have gone on, and now
some of the industries which
have prospered in the past have
reached or are rapidly approaching
a point where they must struggle
for very life this is especially true
of certain industries which depend
upon the hardwood supply of the
country.
The term "tight cooperage" Ia
applied very generally to all wood
en-. hoop bound packages made to
contain liquids as -contrasted with
.'slack cooperageo which is in
tended for solids. The term Is de-
scriptive of the character of the
package, which must be construct
ed with close fitting tight joints to
prevent the escape Of liquid con-
tents. To secure such results the
selection of high grade material
and exactness in the manufacture
of the component parts of the
| package are necessary.
The use OF tign: cooperage dates
back to the earliest records. appar-
emily having been always an in
dispensable accessory to commerce
and transportation. In the United
States one of the earliest uses of
the forest resources was the en-
ployment of white oak for stages
Even at that period there was a
dearth of cooperage oak in Europe
and the discovery OF new course
of supply was welcomed.
Tight packages are employ ed
| hi of tot ~ oil II n
spirits and liquors: cottonseed, pc
troleum. and other oils: turpen-
tine: pork lard. and other packing
house products: cider and vinegar
syrups and molasses: paints and
lead, and fish. or these the oil
trade consumes by far the largest
number, in spite OF the fact
that an enormous quantity of oil
Is stored and transported In tanks
The number of new barrels re-
nuired annually for oil is about 2
million. Alcoholic liuids rank next
with approximately million, ol
the remainder. the pork package
the most important.
Tight packages have two distinct
uses: Transportation and storage
The former is the most important
from the standpoint of widest util
ity. while the latter Is indispens
able for some commodities. Fol
The TRANSPORTATION of LIQUIDS and
delivery in the original package
In but a few cases does any form
of container excel barrel or ke'
of wood. The exception is whel
undue loss occurs, as with gasolin
and allied products from evapora
ton and absorption.
The barrel has special advanta
ges over the other forms OF con
tainer for transportation In tha
in that it is light. yet strong
i Is easily and quickly handled, an
unlike metal, it does not offer
surace that will be attacked b
acids shipped in 1t. The low cos
of the package allows it to be dis
carded at its destination, thereb
saving return transportation on tn
empty package Packages used TO
storage must also be immune {
the attack of acids and be fire.
/ from odors and other properitie
d that may affect the substances con
tained. Briefly speaking, the physl
cal properties necessary for tigh
cooperage are as follows:
Strength. toughness, flexibility
small absorptive power, closenes
of grain, nonwarping and non
checking tendencies; absolute free
dom from such defects as vii
cause leakage: reasonable re
> sistance to decay absence Q
active agents which may impair
undesirable color, taste, or odor t
: 1.-THE contents. The last reduiremen
of course, applies chiefly to pack
; lagos for use as container o
| provisions. such as syrrps, lart
pork. etc.
White oak combines all of thes
, properties in an admirable way an
, furnishes nearly 90 per cent of a
tight, cooperage stock. the remain