The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1909-02-12
THE
NAVAL STORES
INDUSTRY
Conservation Congress VIII
Produce Great Results if
Advice is Followed-Great
Industry a Thing of the
Past in Carolinas.

alone, the action on the part Of Pres
ident Roosevelt in appointing the COM
mission on the Conservation OF Ma
tIonal Resources" was one Of the
most cOmmendable acts OF an admin
istration characterized by new depart
ures in studies and general schemes
for conserving national RESOURCES and
industries, says the Jacksonville Ne
tIopolis.
When the Forest Service, United
States department of agriculture, has
completed the gathering and publish
ing of statistics and the general and
comprehensive study of the naval
stores industry, those of Us living in
tne yellow pine belt of the south will
have a better appreciation of the inn
pOrtance and value of this great in
dUstTy as we'll as valuable informa-
tion referring to the slaughter OF the
yellow pine by the old method of tur-
pentining.
The Past History.
In dealing with this great subject,
THE Conservation of National Re-
sources in the Southern States" with
special attention to the naval stores
industry, there is perhaps no better
method of calling attention to the inn
portance of the industry and the sac
rifices which have been made than to
refer briefly to the incidents connect
ed with the manufacture and sale OF
naval stores for the past half century.
Referring back to tne geography
We used to study in our schools days,
with more than a casual reference TO
North Carolina, We find that I'M
de1 the head Of resources for that
state the term, "NoFtn Carolina is not
&c for the production of turpentine,
To- ct
ment with the outline found in the
Biographies of today and you will
find that the naval stores industry in
that state is a thing of the past.
The General Plan.
In the general plan for the ConserV-
alton of national resources the nation
al government has calleG a national
congress TO explain the reasons for
the abandonment of some of the
greatest industries in the several
states and so far as is possible to sug-
these resources which go 10 make up
the wealth of a country. To give the
conservation congress ample data
upon which 10 operate and formulate
their opinions, the government has
nad since July first of last year a COM
mission actively engaged IN a COM
plete and comprehensive study Of con-
diuons, past, present and future.
In the south the investigation has
been comprehensive and complete. 1t
IS stated on good authority that the
Forest Service has rendered reports
On the naval stores industry alone.
which have surprised the commission
and caused a deeper and more COM
prehensive interest in behalf of the
naval stores industry. It is the first
time in the history of the industry as
well as that of the country when any
special attention has been taken of
naval stores
Speaking from a general knowledge
OF naval stores the conservation COM
mission will, no doubt, in its general
report make the broad statement that
those who have been engaged in the
production of turpentine and Tosin,
have killed or are killing the goose
that laid the golden egg
Even the brief study made by DIR.
Charles H. Herty has practically dem
onstTated tle old methods of box cut
ting has served TO lessen the life of
the pine TO such an extent as to kill
a great industry years before its time
would have expired had care and a
more modern and scientific plan OF
tUrpentining been employed. II is a
fact generally known that the great
naval stores industry is a thing of the
past in North and South Carolina and
that it is fast nearing the end of its
existence in Georgia. The same will
be true of Florida in few years I'M
less something is done on the lines
suggested by the national government
two years ago to perpetuate the in
dustTy.
Results in jacksonville.
Those of US who live in Jacksonville
-
value of naval stores as a producer
of wealth and general prosperity. We
have seen what il has accomplished
foT Jacksonville. 1t may be taken as
Il matter of general accord amongst
the majority Of the business men OF
this city that JacksOnvifle's growth
after the FIRE Of 1901 was due in a
great measure to the coming here OF
those who were interested in the ma
val stores industry, and the creation
OF a naval stOrs factOTage ceuter in
Jacksonville
While prices have been ranging low
for the past year, this same industry
has and does now form an active and
material factor IN the business OF
this city.
Il has been claimed By one compe-
tent to give an opinion, that one-half
OF the entire area OF Florida was
originally occupied by pine forests
This being the case, We can appre-
ciate the extent and the great value
OF the pine as producer OF turpen-
tine and rosin. This production Gre
ateS q wealth the extent OF which can
hardly be appreciated Moreover, the
production OF naval stores requires a
vast amount Of labor with a conse-
ouent placing in circulation of vast
sums of money annually If this great