Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-11-24
NAVAL STORES MEN.
ARE ORGANIZING.
Curling of Production and
Stimulation of New Marts
Is Goal of Body.
BY j. c. ROYL.E.

special DIspatcn 10 Inc star.
NEW YORK. November 24.-The
naval stores industry this week con-
cluded an unsatisfactory season, al
though it was a season marked by
an increase in production of at least
80 per cent. That very fact is given
as the reason why one of America
earliest industries brought those en-
gagged in it some millions less than in
1926. 1t is apparent, according to
those engaged in it, that the industry
has not modernized itself to meet new
conditions of marketing.
In 1926 production of naval stores
totalled $4,000 barrels of turpentlne
which at an average of $40, barrei
brought $20,400 900 and 100000 bar
rels rosin which at an average of $40
returned $32 900, 000-a total of So2,-
400 900. Production of turpentlne
this year will be about 900 barrels.
valued at $40 barrel or total of
S13 600. 900 and 100000 barrels of
rosin with an average value of 1919
or total value of S13,500,000 The
entire crop will yield approximately
S26, 500, 900 Turpentine now is about
43 cents a gallon in barrels and 36A
at the stills. Last February 1t was
90 cents. Rosin was $l3 a barrel
before this season opened.
Drop Has Been Steady.
The drop since February has been
steady owing to favorable weather
which ended the season into Novem-
Der. Thirty-two million new cups were
bought and hung this year. These
1c1a
the gum from the tapped trees. The
annual average has been about 10000
900. This increase was brought about
by the high prices in 1926. There are
)nly / 400 gum producers and five wood
producers In the turpentine industry,
yet so far 1t has been found impossible
to unite these on policy which would
obviate the losses which have occurred
this year.
Sixty-five per cent of the worlds
output Of naval stores comes from this
country, mostly in the Southern
States. Foreign demand up to this
Fall has been fine, but even this was
not sufficient to take care of over
production. Moreover. the turpentine
men have allowed producers of sub
stitutes to run away with part of
their markets.
Naval stores men say paints made
with turpentine and soaps are mostly
superior to those in which substitutes
for naval stores are used, yet they
have not made efforts to foster a de-
mand for the use of their products in
the minds of the public, according 20
Carl Speh, secretary of the Pine In
stitute of America, with headquarters
at Jacksonville.
1.-THE problem of the naval stores
industry" he added. lis one of under
consumption rather than over-produc-
ton. 1t is no problem to sell a mil.
lion barrels of turpentine and four
million barrels of rosin. but the prob
lem lies in getting adequate prices
for them
Organized to Meet Problem.
The Pine Institute has just been
organized to meet this problem. The
institute proposes first to improve
methods of production and reduce
cost of manufacture. Then it plans a
Aational educational campaign through
newspaper advertising to sell the Ma
ton the idea of quality so that the
public will demand goods in which
turpentine and rosin are used. The
institute already has started iaten-
sive chemical research at Mellon In.
stitute at Pittsburgh to develop new
uses for naval stores
There are strong indications that
the 1928 crop will be cut down con-
siderably. Some producers will be UNI
able to secure necessary financing.
Others will hang fewer cups. An
other idea which will be combatted is
that the turpentine industry will
eventually deforest the South.
M
never be deprived of turpentine trees
"Reforestation and forest conserva-
ton principles are taking hold" he
said. 1.-THE future, according to in
dications. will see much larger num-
Der of trees per acre. The turpen.
tine producer can tap his trees in
IL to 20 years after planting and this
is not long wait. But unless the
timber grower Is assured of adequate
returns for his naval stores he will
not reforest cut-over areas"