TURPENTINE INDUSTRIES OF THE SOUTH. 139 



that its exportation from America was interrupted. The trade with Europe, previous 

 to 1861, was done mostly by way of New York. Now almost all of foreign consumption 

 is supplied by direct shipment, experience having proved that to be the most economi- 

 cal course. The distillation of turpentine has ceased in Europe, outside of France, as 

 also in the States north of North Carolina, and, excepting the small portion distilled 

 at some of the ports in North Carolina, all supplies come now from the country as spir- 

 its and rosin. At present the prices of naval stores are low, having felt the effect of 

 the late general depression, but it is to be hoped there is a better future for business, 

 in which event this branch will share the benefit. 



The product of spirits of turpentine and rosin for the crop of 1876 in the United 

 States may be computed in round numbers at about 300,000 casks of spirits of turpentine, 

 and 1,500,000 barrels, of 280 pounds, of rosin. This would not be in excess of consump- 

 tion in years of general prosperity. 



The Franco-Prussian war interfered with the production of naval stores in France, 

 causing the supply for 1871 to fall short. This caused a speculation, and put prices 

 much above the usual rates, causing an excess of production and lower rates. There 

 Las been no recovery from this up to the present time. 



Several letters from mauufactnrers give the followiug additional in- 

 formation concerniDg the turpentine interests of the. South : 



We are paying our laborers from $15 to §20 per month. We select our hands in pay- 

 ing these prices, and work them by task where practicable. « * » "We cbip our 

 boxes from 25 to 30 times during the season, and get from 8 to 10 dippings. A hand 

 chips from 10,000 to 12,500 boxes per week for a task. We dip from three to five full 

 round barrels, 280 pounds each, per 1,000 boxes, and pay from 20 to 30 cents per barrel 

 for dipping, the baud boarding himself. 



We generally get from 10,000 to 12,500 boxes on 202^ acres of land, which is a lot in 

 our county. Lands in this country are generally divided into what are called " lots," 

 and a lot hereabouts is 202i acres. Much depends on the superintendent of the cut- 

 ting, as some have them cut much thicker in the pine, or more boxes per i)ine, and 

 eome have a good many small pines cut. I suppose there would be 4,000 or 5,000 pines 

 in a 10,000 or 12,500 task of boxes. Very much would depend on the locality in which 

 they were cut, as the timber is much larger in some places than in others. The pines 

 here are generally large. Ten thousand boxes is the usual task of a chipper, though a 

 good hand can chip 12,500. 



Lands can be bought for from 50 cents to say $5 per acre, as per location, &c. ; or 

 they can be rented for $5 per 1,000, or $50 per iot of 202| acres. We estimate a yield 

 of 6^ gallons of spirits from a barrel (280 pounds) of crude turpentine, and 18G pounds 

 of rosiu. Spirit barrels cost $2 to $2.50 apiece, delivered ; kero^^ene $1.25. There is a 

 new way, however, here for transporting spirits of turpentine when shipped to certain 

 points, which does away with spirit barrels altogether. Kerosene tanks on cars are 

 used. The spirits are put into these iron tanks right at the still, and thus transported 

 in bulk, as it were. They are of cour*^e tight, and hold about 3,500 gallons. There is 

 also a saving in freight, not only because the weight of the barrel is dispensed with, 

 but a low through Green-Line rate is allowed. — {J. E. Orerry, Cochran, Ga.) 



INSPECTION LAWS RELATING TO RESINOUS PRODUCTS. 



In several of the Southern States, laws have been passed regulating 

 the inspection of turpeutine, &c., and defining its grades. The princi- 

 pal of these are as follows : 



Virginia. — Barrels to be full of good, clean, sound, and merchantable 

 tar, pitch, or turpentine, and to hold 31^ gallons. 



Korth Carolina. — Soft turpentine barrels to weigh 280 pounds gross, 

 and hard turpentine, 240 pounds ; pitch, 32 gallons to the barrel. Tur- 

 pentine, tar, or pitch to be free from fraudulent mixtures. Casks to be 

 of good seasoned staves, f of an inch thick, and not over 5 inches wide; 

 not less than 30 nor over 32 inches long. Heads not less than 1 nor 

 more than 1^ inches thick. To have 12 hoops to a cask, except hard 

 turpentine, which may have 10 hoops. Water is declared not a fraudu- 

 lent mixture of tar. Tar and turpeutine barrels not limited as to 

 weight, but the weight to be marked and certified. Turpentine to be 

 branded "S," or ''H,^' for soft or hard, and to show the initials of the 

 maker's name. The inspector of naval stores at Wilmington is to gauge 

 all spirits of turpentine. 



South Carolina. — A barrel of crude turpeutine to weigh 280 pounds, 

 gross. 



