Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-10-11
j. 6. NAVAL STORES
Commission Tells
Of FOREIGN SURVEY

PENSACOLA, Fla, Oct. S-The
turpcntine industry abroad as viewed
by the American naval stores com.
mission, visiting Spain and France in
the summer of 1924, furnishes the
basis for advice to American opera
tors, contained in the report of the
commission made public here by the
chairman, j. G. Pace. The commits
sion visiting the turpentine opera
tons abroad was made up of Mr.
Pace, A. c.. Carr, of cambridge, Ga
o. H. l.. Wernicke, Pensacola; S. A.
Afford, Chipley; w. l.. Barnett,
Mount Dora, and w. l.. Fender, Val
dosta, Ga.
The report gives :. detailed account
of the journey beginning at New
York July 8, following the commits
sion to Paris, Bordeaux and other
French cities and villages, on tC
Madrid and Spanish towns.
Summing up the result of its in
vestigation under the head Of rec
concentrations of the commission,
it is said that the commission is not
convinced of the necessity or wisdom
of adoption by southern naval stores
operators of the French system with
respect to the details of cupping anC
actually working the trees. lnVest1
gators, it is pointed out, are working
out practices here as to width OF
face, height and depth of streak, ETC.,
which is best adapted to conditions
and southern operators are urged to
acuuaint themselves with the result
of these Investigations.
Saying that gum is needlessly i'm
pure when brought to the still much
greater care is urged in chippln
and dipping.
Another recommendation Is adop-
ton of the French practice of clean
ing and purifying the gum before 1t
is distilled, such practice lnsurlng
more profitable operation.
1--WE cannot say whether it would
be profitable for the American opera
tor to shift from the direct fire to
the steam type of still says the re-
ort, and I'VE believe that the bleach
ing process is profitable, but this is
a point for further investigation and
experiment"
French Labor System
Obvious benefits are found in the
French labor system, notably the
greater personal interest of the mer
who do the Woodwork and the great.
er efficiency secured in care ana use
Of woods equipment.
certainly the French system
should not be dismissed as not adapt
ed to our labor situation until many
of us have made an earnest effort to
n
report.
Our cups should be raised each
year, our clipper should carry pad
die. Cleaner gum at the still viii
pay" it continues. Emphasis is laid
on the statement: "Over-cupping ana
the Gaping of trees under 25 years
of age must stop if the naval stores
industry of America is to survive"
This brings us to the outstand-
ing feature of the French industry
and to the most important lesson one
can pass on to our fellow operators in
America, the lesson OF Landes," the
recommendations declare.
THE French naval stores region
the mprises about 2,000,-
900 acres. 1t is a triangular area
bounded on the west by the Atlantic
ocean, on the north and east by the
Garanne river, on which is situated
the city Of Bordeaux, and on the
south by the Adour river. at the
mouth of which lies the old city of
Bayonne. The region is equal in
size to about five average counties
of Georgia or Florida. 1t was orig
lnally an enormous swamp in the
rainy season and an arid, sandy des-
ert the rest of the year. 1t was the
poorest, most unhealthful part Of
France.
1T was reclaimed, drained and
planted to maritime pine, started
about 125 years ago and carried on
in the face of many obstacles.
The maritime pine is not so good
producer of gum nor is it nearly
50 valuable for saw timber as our