Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 35, Number 80, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 June 1903 — SPRUCE GUM. [ARTICLE]

SPRUCE GUM.

The Best Comes from the Region of Moosehead Lake. Not until the gu<n ■gatherers of the country had formed a union did the many patrons of the spruce, peach, plum, and other appetizing confections realize the existence of gum lng as a special calling. It would appear from the organization that thousands of men, women and children make a good livelihood from extracting gum from the trees. It is not a business easily learned, either, the best workers being those who have a knowledge of the proper condition of the trees, tapping those which are ripe with gum, while not Injuring Immature or barren ones. The- gum gathdfprs say that the'r trade Is growing harder each year on account of the pulp mills and other Industries which “eat” up the trees for their uses and thus destroy members of the spruce and other families that make the gum harvest. They are obliged to travel great distances to glean their gum products and the black spruce trees, chief of gum producers, are growing scarcer and scarcer .each season. They want higher wages and the price of gum raised. “Some of our best ghm costs us around sixty cents a pound,” said a manufacturer, “but we can afford to pay it. We make it up into small bars or squares with other mixtures and get five cents apiece for them. The medicinal gums are, of course, more expensive, but customers expect them to be and we have no trouble In disposing of them. “The old Indian guides and hunters gather the best gum. They seem to know by Instinct where to find it, and have a way of preparing and packing it which makes It exceedingly palatable. I fancy the best spruce gum comes from the region of Moosehead lake, Twin dam, Square lake and Katahdln In Maine.” —New York Evening Poftt—-