The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-08-20
THE cAMpHoR SITUATION.

panies in the United States have be-
gun extensive manufacture OF synthetic
camphor from turpentine. This step
has been taken because the supply of
camphor allotted to this country by the
Japanese government is deemed in
adequate, and the price is considered
too high, according to an announce
ment of the American Chemical So
ciety.
Henry L. Hitchcock. United States
Consul at Taihoquo. Taiwan, the
Japanese camphor office, has guaran-
teed an American minimum allotment
of 327.3S6 pounds for three months.
with the proviso, that a maximum
amount of 100000 pounds may be as
signed. The prices per pound are
given at $1.13 for grade B and $1.27
for grade BIB. These rates are re-
Elected on the American market by a
quotation of $500 per pound for re-
fined camphor, as compared with so
cents a pound a few years ago.
Much of the Japanese camphor IS
derived from the camphor tree which
grows largely in Japan. Formosa and
China. The camphor tree grows easily
and with great rapidly in Florida,
particularly in the western section of
the state, being extensively used in
Pensacola as a shade tree. It's glossy
foliage and symmetrical shape add to
the beauty of the grounds of many
residences here.
1t is possible in this state to make
camphor one of our greatest indus
tries, not only that which is made
from turpentine, but that camphor
which is made from the camphor tree,
and which is of the highest grade.
Recently, however, the camphor
trees in tn sicity have been suffering
from blight OF come sort, which is all
the more noticeable, as 1t is the first
time that such a condition has been
noted.
p. H. Rolls, director OF the agricui-
tural department of the Florida Uni
versity, Gainesville, is making a study
of the disease, which is something new
in this state. The red spider is said
to attack the trees in some commune
ties and is subdued by the use of a
lime sulphur solution.
In view Of the growing demand for
American manufactured camphor, it is
probable that a bill will be introduced
into the next legislature, to give state
aid to camphor growers in eradicing
camphor tree pests. Such bill was
before the last legislature and if
passed would probably have done
much to promote this industry.
1t has been known for years that
grade of camphor closely resembling
the apanese variety could be made
from spirits of turpentine. 1t has only
been recently, however, owing to COM
mercial reasons that the manufacture
of synthetic camphor was instituted or
large scale. AS approximately nine
tenths of the turpine in the world is
distilled in the United States, chemists
believe that the manufacture of Amer
lean camphor will develop into a great
industry. Turpentine is now about
four times its price in pre-war days.
1t is declared that, while ii Is improh-
able that turpentine can ever be made
profitable at the old figure. it may de-
crease in price sufficiently to give the
American camphor factories gapd
safe margin on which ofght for the
Japanese trade.
Even IL the manufacturing chemists
of the United States are unable TO
much underseIl the japanese product
now, they should be in position TO
counteract the monopoly of Nippon
and improve the market.
Those DESTROYS of fosterings the
chemical independence of the United
States declare that the founding of an
American camphor industry is in line
with the effort to make this country
independent of the German cartels,
which for years dominated the dye
trade of the world.
Prospects for such industries are par
ticularly bright, in view of the fact
that it is possible for this state to
produce eamphor from the tree itself,
as well as that which may be obtained
from plants. Technically, they are
volatile. oxygenated hydrocarbons,
possessing a peculiar odor. and can
be prepared artificially by chemical
processes. In view of the great de-
mand IN the United States for cam
phor, which, mixed with guncotton, is
an important ingredient of celluloid,
and because of its medicinal uses,
American industry is looking about for
available sources of the fragrant gum,
and If the bill passes the Florida leg
islature. having as its special object
the control Of diseases of the camphor
tree, Florida with its two sources for
the trade, may become one of the
worlds greatest camphor markets