The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1907-11-23
TIGHT COOPERAG INDUSTRY
STRUGGLING FOR AN ExlSTANCE
It is Having Great Difficulty in Meeting the De-
mands of the Trade and the Necessary Timber
IS Eagerly Sought After by
Strong Rivals.

cept white oak has proven salts
factory for the aging of alcoholic
beverages dependent upon the ac-
ton of the wood to improve their
loutlity but for all other cooper
lage, including beer and ale, sub
stitution of other woods or ma
terials is possible, though not nec-
essarily economical at present.
Those who have investigated the
reason why white oak contaipers
assist the aging of alcoholic bever-
ages say that the fannie acid In
the oak is ascribed by the liquor
and enters into it's compassionate
effect of this and possibly other
acids of which little is known. is
to impart to the liquor mild
delicate flavor in place of the rank
unpleasant one characteristic of
unaged liquors. and, in addition,
to transform the color from water
white to deep brown amber. At
tempts to age liquors in pack
ages of other woods have been
made and always with one result
total failure. Packages for %this pur-
pose require the highest grade of
tight cooperage and have no lining
or coating but the inner surface is
charred. which it is claimed, draws
the tannic acid to the inner surface
of the package where it comes in
immediate contact with the con-
tents.
Such commodities as oils, pack
ing house products, cider, vinegar.
paints, beer and ale. turpentine,
syrups and many others are in no
way dependent for their improve
!, ment upon any chemical action or
agent in the wood. On the con-
, trary, it is the inactivity of what
ever agent may be in the wood
!. that is sought 1t is for this class
of commodities that the other
woods and materials mentioned
may be used.
, A brief enumeration OF, some of
the difficulties encountered in the
T manufacture and use of several
of the woods mentioned above will
furnish a basis for future investi-
, cations. Red oak is little more
, difficult to manufacture into slaves
D than white oak. and is also heavier
and therefore more expensive to
| handle. It runs very unsound and
, so gives a larger percentage OF
poor material. Being very open
: grained, it is also liable to leak
!, unless sawed straight. Finally, the
r market value of red oak for lum-
Der is so nearly equal to that of
I white oak that there is little if
any economy in the substitution.
Chestnut oak offers about the
same difficulties except in the mat
ter of leakage. its grain being
similar to that of white oak
II Red gum. although used in con-
siderable quantities. Is far from
an ideal wood for tight barrel
slaves and headings. The abund.
ance of this species and the
I relatively low stumpage value
}. compared with oak, explains the
| VSc IL Nus iOuDu as IL tlslt Co
= operage wood. IL has the advantage
! of being light and of cutting easily
r On the other hand, the percentage
! Of poor material runs very high
c and unusual care in seasoning the
n stock is necessary. The sap is sait
g to impart an unpleasant flavor tt
n some commodities, syrups for ex
e ample. and the wood being sof
: is easily bruised and often broker
in transportation
l. Cypress is a satisfactory wood 70
d while no experiments are on re
~ cord to determine whether |
;, would make a satisfactory package
~ for oil and other liquids. the Woo
is so light and soft that there /
" little reason to believe that
81 would. It's value for lumber,
s. for no other reason. procludes it
" substitution for oak.
le The other woods mentioned ar
'r used In very small quantities am
20 for special purposes for which the
20 have been found to be well ad
IS apted. For example. ash Is tn
/ most satisfactory wood found u
l. to the present time for butter tubs
~ chiefly because 1t imparts no odo
to the butter. Spruce for simila
y reason serves well for fish packages
's To overcome those dililcultie
H. various lines of experiments are be
g. ing carried on. The problem OF
IL satisfactory lining to be used II
e connection with the porous WOOD
IL has been much studied, and nov
re several more or less efficient com
.od pounds are extensively employed
L each designed to meet the require
e ments of liquids of various com
IT. positions. One widely used is Sill
q, cate of soda NAG SIG, called wate
glass. This compound Is apphe'
,e hot and in liquid state to the III
ID side of the package. When
II cools :, it hardens and forms al
n ,mnervious glazed surface, III !