The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1916-01-16
War Causes Big Decrease in
the Demand for Pine Trees
of the South.

SAVANNAH, Ga, Jan. l5.-The
naval stores industry, representing an
annual crop in this country in nor
NAL times Of valuation of more than
S40,000,000 is now rounding out the
most disastrous year in its history.
The decrease in the usual demand for
the product Of the utilitarian pine
trees is attributed in large measure to
the war. A large percentage Of the
American crop OF naval stores is ship
ped abroad. While the demand for
American stores in old world coun-
tries is as great as ever, there are few
ship bottoms available for their trans
portation.
The industry Is now recovering in
a large measure from the demorali2a-
ton incidental to the war, due in the
main to the fact that operations in
the woods were curtailed at least a
third in the spring Of last year in Or
der to meet and offset the crisis then
prevailing. Prices are now at a level
that will admit of profit, and the stuff
is moving with more and more celebrity
as European over seas commerce is
adjusting itself to the changed condi-
tons. The factors are anticipating a
reasonably good year ahead. i +
4. Bottom Dropped Out.
With the beginning of the war in
Europe the bottom temporarily drop
ped out of the naval stores industry.
For weeks and weeks the market re-
manned absolutely dead. Prices ranged
so low that stocks could not be offered
except at a sacrifice. Factorage in
terests induced the operators to stop
production pending an adjustment OF
The situation, which resulted in cur
tailment OF production sufficient to
Offset the decrease>in normal demand.
When business was finally resumed,
after nearly year Of inertia, the mar
kets were not oyerstocked, and prices
began an upward trend that is still in
evidence. a.-
The fact that there were no failures
as a result in the break in prices is
an indication of the stability of the
men who steered the industry through
the crisis and the fundamental
strength Of the market itself. The
dealers merely sat tight and avoid
ed rocking the boat" While no money
has been made in naval stores this
year, probably very little has been
lost. The industry simply stood still
while the financial world shook. The
Allies are now taking turpentine and
rosin in large quantities.
In Savannah, the largest naval
stores market in the world, COM
pany was organized and a line Of
steamers placed in commission for
the purpose of taking American goods
to European centers. This company
has confined its activities principally
to naval stores and cotton, and has
been and is doing very remunerative
business, in spite of the fact that sew
eral of its vessels have been sunk by
belligerent powers. 1t is now build
ing and purchasing others to take
their place. ~ reg
The fact that the great American
Naval Stores Company-the turpen-
tine trust, so-called-was no longer
in the market was keenly felt by the
trade during the earlier months Of
the stringency. A separate company
has since been organized, with the
cognizance and permission Of the gov
eminent, to take the place of this con-
Germ in stabilizing the market. n
Menace Of Wasteful Methods.
The capital invested in rosin and
turpentine operations has doubled In
the last five years. This marked in
crease is attributable in part to the
development of extensive virgin tim
Der lands, especially in the gulf states.
Texas has appeared within the last
few years as turpentine producer,
the quantity returned annually from
that state amounting to approximately
$4,000 gallons. Florida produces near
ly half Of all the turpentine taken
from trees in this country. In an at
tempt to GUST Savannah from its posi-
ton Florida has enacted naval stores
laws which, in the opinion Of traders
will ruin the industry in that state.
These laws are now being fought in
the courts. e'
The once unbroken belt Of long leaf
pine extending from Virginia to Texas
has been SO depleted through destruc-
tive methods of numbering and boxing
that conservative estimates give the
supply Of timber now available for
turpentine operations as insufficient
to supply normal demand for more
than fifteen years. 1t is estimated that
seventy-five per cent Of the pine for
ests of the South are now held by the
lumber interests. It is evident that
the present yield cannot be increased
much unless new sources Of supply
are opened UP. and that unless some
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