COST OF PRODUCING WOOD TURPENTINE. 15 



1 refining still and condenser. 



2 hogs for chipping wood (1 in reserve). 

 Storage tanks for crude and refined turpentine. 

 Pumps and piping for water supply and turpentine. 

 Conveyers. 



The cost of such a plant will vary from $10,000 to $35,000, depend- 

 ing largely on the value placed on patent rights (many forms of 

 retorts and other apparatus are patented, and as a rule the right to 

 use is charged in the cost of the plant) , and on the number of charges 

 the plant will handle in 24 hours. The cost of a plant to take from 

 four to six charges in 24 hours is, of course, greater than that of the 

 same plant built to handle but one charge in the same time, though 

 the cost on the basis of the number of cords of wood handled daily 

 may be much less. 



These lists of apparatus and estimates of cost of plant are simply 

 intended to give a general idea of the equipment formerly furnished 

 by builders and now in common use in the older plants, together 

 with its approximate cost. No attempt is made to give details in 

 regard to the machinery, arrangement, or housing. The boiler, 

 engine, and condenser capacity of these older plants was rarely suffi- 

 cient for maximum efficiency. Other special equipment now em- 

 ployed at several plants and considered preferable is described on 

 page 54. The full equipment and its actual cost can be determined 

 only when the location of the plant and the kind and quantity of 

 work required are known. 



COST OF PRODUCING WOOD TURPENTINE. 



The cost of producing wood turpentine varies greatly in different 

 plants and is dependent on the cost and quality of the wood obtain- 

 able for the distillation, the cost of operating and managing the 

 plant, depreciation of the plant, and interest on the investment. The 

 cost of wood, according to information collected by the bureau, varies 

 from $1.50 to $3 per cord for what is known as "lightwood," delivered 

 at the works. This charge is made up chiefly of the cost of gathering, 

 hauling, and freight, the wood in the forest costing very little from 

 15 cents to 75 cents per cord being a fair valuation. While it is the 

 aim of the distiller to use only wood rich in turpentine and rosin, it 

 is often quite difficult to get this, particularly when the wood is 

 delivered at the works or at the railroad on contract, as the contractor 

 does not as a rule exercise much care in selecting the best and richest 

 wood. Better wood is undoubtedly obtained when it is selected and 

 gathered by the distiller's own force, and, furthermore, the cost of 

 hauling and handling is not so great as a rule as when it is done by 

 contract. The cost of waste wood from a lumber mill averages much 

 less, probably not more than $1.50 per cord. 



