The ranch. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1902-1914, 1908-08-01


produced from any woods it was able
to obtain was commercial impossible
ity. However, this company achieved
degree of success by ignoring turpentine
and creating a market for it's byproducts,
tar, charcoal and pyroligneous acid, and
by perseverance along these lines the
company was until the last financial
furry doing an increasing business and
probably in q short time would have had
fairly profitable industry established.
Other factors, such as over-ingenious
forms of apparatus and ineXperience in
management, have worked injuries in
greater or lesser degree to the industry.
We have seen that there is large
proportion of turpentine in the Douglas
fir and that there is market for char
coal and tar that might be produced.
AS an instance of the possibilities of
tar consumption, there are on the Sound
over 500 fshtraps, the nets for which
require in their annual treatment more
than $500 barerls of tar. This and other
possible markets for tar and charcoal
are practically in hand from the outset.
Markets for other products could prob
ably be easily secured.
Therein lies our hope of successfully
turning our wood waste to commercial
use by distillation provided we can pro-
cure the pitch wood, and it has been
pretty well demonstrated that the pitch
wood will not be brought to the plants
for treatment. This leaves us with the
single choice of going to the pitch wood.
Much the larger percentage OF pitch in
the tree is contained in the butt and
roots, the stump left by the logger, and
it is our conviction that the highest pos
sible returns from the chemical utiliza-
ton of the fir can be obtained from these
stumps. So we have adopted the old
idea of a portable apparatus for field
work, converting the wood into it's Vari-
Gus crude products of distillation on the
spot, thereby saving transportation and
expense on unsuitable wood and unmar-
ketable products.
This suggestion implies that REIN
ing plant be placed at some convenient
center where these crude products from
the initial operation of wood distillation
can further be refined and finally be
prepared for market.
The portable field apparatus is an
adaptation of several different ideas. The
main result aimed for was an outfit
inexpensive in first cost, economical in
maintenance, simple in it's construction
and light in weight in order that it may
be easily moved from location to 1Oca-
ton. The cost of this portable plant,
including all necessary paraphernalia for
conducting field operations, not including
steam and pumping plant, should not eX-
ceed $1,000. The opeating labor cost
treated, about six cords, from which
would be obtained 240 bushels of char
coal valued at $40; 240 gallons of distil-
late, chiefly tar with some second grade
turpentine, valued at $25. This would
give a net return of $37 for our wood at
the retort, or about Sc per cord. There
is no doubt in my mind that by refining
and handling your own products return
much greater could be expected.
In passing 1 wish to mention the pos
sible utilization by chemical means of
a vast quantity of alder Submitted to
dry distillation alder will yield per cord
from eight to ten gallons of wood alco-
hol valued at SO cents per gallon, l75
pounds of acetate of lime valued at $3.50
and 40 bushels of charcoal valued at "a.
In conclusion, while we cannot eSti-
TO Wi thnm9 tipal pXActnGSS
a lImberman the value of a stand of tim
ber still if we approach the subject as
a straight manufacturing proposition it
is a good, legitimate business venture.