The Hardwood Distillation Industry in New Yorh 13 



lime, for which a high price was obtained both in the home 

 and Scotland markets. 



The methods followed in operating the plant demanded a 

 large amount of hand labor, and sturdy men of experience 

 were needed to carry the work forward. These men with 

 their families, came from time to time from Scotland. In 

 a short time Millburn became known as the Scotch Settle- 

 ment and it was famous for the number of trained men who, 

 after getting their experience here were called upon to take 

 charge of distillation plants not only in New York but in 

 Pennsylvania, Michigan, Canada and other centers as well. 



About 1865 (or soon after) a Mr. Pollock, a chemist, of 

 Morrisania, I^ew York, began refining wood spirit in a small 

 way. The market developed rapidly. Shortly the Burcey 

 Column was introduced to the crude plants, thereby adding 

 to the power of the stills to recover wood spirit of 82 per cent, 

 test. The production of wood spirit being greatly increased, 

 it became desirable to install a central refining station, and 

 the Burcey Chemical Co., with a refinery at Binghamton, 

 New York, resulted. A refinery was also started in Brockton, 

 Mass. in 1877. 



For a long time the sale of charcoal was limited, the greater 

 part being consumed as fuel in the plants. Slowly the market 

 developed, until to-day practically the entire output is 

 shipped, hard and soft coal taking its place under the boilers 

 and retorts, and live steam being used in the stills (now fitted 

 with coils), and in the pans, which have steam jackets at the 

 bottom. 



At the present time, plant o})cration is along efficient lines. 

 Old time methods have been dJ continued, and the manual 

 labor is now greatly reduced. In the woods there is also a 

 noticeable improvement. Cord wood is now to some extent 

 cut from the limbs and refuse tree trunks, after the lumber- 

 man has taken out all the best timber in the shape of logs. 



