The Hardwood Distillation Industry in New York 68 



cellulose and other explosives. Gun cotton for example is 

 freed from cellulose nitrates by extraction with wood 

 alcohol. 



Other common uses are as follows: As fuel, as an illu- 

 minant, as a denaturant and in various chemical and medi- 

 cinal preparations. 



Charcoal. 



The annual production of charcoal for 1916 in New York 

 State is estimated to be 8,198,41)1 bushels. At a valuatian 

 of six cents per bushel this should be worth $491,991.46. 

 This is estimated on the basis of the average production of 

 42.7 bushels of charcoal per cord from 192,330' cords of wood 

 annually consumed in the industry in Xew York. 



Up to about 1905 the great market for charcoal was in the 

 reduction of iron ores. Important methods of steel produc- 

 tion within recent years, however, have gradually eliminated 

 the strong demand for charcoal for this particular purpose. 

 Charcoal iron, or Swedish iron as it is often called in the 

 trade, is still in demand for certain specialized uses, especi- 

 ally for high grade steel used for tools, instruments, car 

 wheels, etc. Pig iron reduced with charcoal commonly 

 brings $5 a ton more than coke iron. A single blast furnace 

 uses between 10 and 12 thousand bushels of charcoal a day. 

 Where there are from 5 to 10 blasting furnaces at a single 

 ore reduction plant, it is easily seen that the consumjjtion of 

 charcoal may be very large. A great many of the hardwood 

 distillation plants in Michigan and Wisconsin have ore re- 

 ducing plants in connection with them. These are the con- 

 ditions under which the greatest economy in charcoal utiliza- 

 tion is practiced. Much of the charcoal for these plants, 

 however, is made by the open pit or bee-hive kiln as well as 

 by the oven plants. An investigation carried on by the 

 United States Forest Service showed the consumption of 

 charcoal in this country to be as follows: seventy-six per 



