The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1916-07-09
From Government by Noun
taineerS Who Will Make
Oil Out of 1t.

WASHINGTON, July San appli-
cation to buy all of the bark Of black
birch on large watershed In one OF
the national forests in the southern
Appalachians has been received by Of
fcials in charge, who say that the bark
will be used by the mountaineers TO
make sweet-birch oil, substitute for
oil Of wintergreon. Because OF the
higher price Of birch oil and oil OF
wintergreen, n synthetic oil is widely
used in their stead. The rise In price
of salicyllc acid, which is the base OF
the synthetic oil, is reported to have
increased the demand for the birch
oil manufactured in this country. The
oil is largely used for medicinal pllr-
poses and for hayoring. and a good de-
mand is said to exist. so-called rheu-
matism cures In particular contain
comparatively large amounts.
Sweet-Blrch OIL.
svset-birch oil has been made in
this country for many years and is OBJ
tanned from the wood and bark OF the
black birch. The oil is product OF
steam dIstlliatlon plants. where, in
addition to the twigs, bark and young
sprouts Of the birch, the entire tree Is
sometimes used.
More picturesque. but not very effec-
tive It is said, are the methods en-
ployed by the southern mountaineer'
A rough Damn and crude dIstillery are
erected near supply Of birch. Ac-
cordlng to persons who have seen both
kinds, the still" Is not unlike the type
sometimes employed in the same To-
callty for making blockade" whiskey'
The camp Is anything which will pro-
feet the workm6n from the weather.
How OIL is Made.
The bark is peeled from the tree and
the rough outer portion is scraped on.
II is thean broken into small bits and
mt into the still with water enough
10 cook it. A fire is started and the
resulting steam is led through a pipe
and finally condensed. The heavy oil
gathers in a receptacle while the
water runs OF. Three or four men
compose the usual crew. One Of these
snends all OF his time at the still, while
the others gather and prepare the
bark,
About twenty-five bushels OF bark
are used for every run and It is said
that this amount yields approximately
four pounds Of oil. Three or four runs
a week can be made.
Stills Are Isolated.
The method has been in use for
many years, say the officials, and most
Of the accessible birch in the valleys
has been cut. Each year the oil max
ers have to go farther back in the
mountains. Very often the stills are
located in isolated places which can be
reached onl yon foot and all Of the
materials for the plant and camp are
carried IN on the backs Of the noun
taineers.
II Is asserted that manufacturers
and dealers are apt to be suspicious
of the purity Of the oil made in the
mountains, because Of the ease with
which Il can be aduIterated. Only a
chemical analysis will reveal this adul-
teration, and kerosene, methyl saIicy-
late, and other liquids are often used
BY INSCRIPTIONS people, Last fall
several persons IN western North
Carolina were convicted OF this offense.
Tree Not Desirable.
The forests IN the East purchased
BY the government are reported to con-
tain large quantities Of birch and are
expected 70 become IN important