The Syracuse Journal, Volume 3, Number 12, Syracuse, Kosciusko County, 28 July 1910 — Page 7

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WO of the greatest industries In the l world are railway building and the preparation of hides and skins intc leather. For the former the sleep erg on which the rails are laid are essential and costly factors; for the lat:er nothing can take the place \ of some vegetable extract which is I the tanning substance of the trade / Sleepers can be made of glass anc metal, but these do not give the satisfaction of those made of wood , The oak and the hemlock have foi ages supplied tannin by which

leather is cured; in fact, the very word tann implies by its derivation its relation to the oak, by which name: the tree was called in old • Breton language Railway sleepers have been made from the oak, bul the expense grows higher year by year. No wonder therefore, that the earth is scoured for trees to furnish either the one or the other or both of the substances, and no wonder also that manufacturers and builders hailed with delight the announcement a few years ago of the availability fcfr both purposes of the South American tree called “Quebracho.” Quebracho is a contraction of the colloquial Spanish and Portuguese term quiebra-hacha, originally applied to many trees in Latin America. It means “ax breaker,” and the character is implied in this meaning. The wood is hard, fine grained, and tough and had been used by the natives for ages in their primitive construction work. Os recent years, however, quebracho is restricted in the arts and industries to a particular tree found only in Sorth America, and even here only within broad limts of the drainage basin of the River Parana. In Cuba there is a “quebracho,” so-called locally, which is a member of the Copaiba family. In Chile a quebracho is rather of the Cassia family, and probably in other parts of Latin America the name is indiscriminately given to any hard wood that has tested the metal of the dative’s ax. No such indefinite use of the word, however, can be permitted today, because the tree of

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the South American Chaco haa become so commercially important that it must be understood to signify only that one tree and nothing else. The genuine quebracho tree is found in Brazil, Paraguay, and the Argentine Republic. There are two important varieties and a third has been distinguished, although it has no great significance botanically or value commercially. Locally and in the trade the names given are Quebracho Colorado (red), and Quebracho bianco (white). Quebracho Colorado has the scientific designation of Loxopterygium lorentzil, and belongs to the order of Anacardiaciae. This is the particular tree from which both the sleepers and the better quality of tamiing extract are derived. The other, Quebracho bianco, is neither so straight nor so serviceable as the red variety, but Is nevertheless of definite commercial value, as it furnishes some tanning extract and the logs can be used for fence posts and axles. From it is taken also a drug extensively used for bronchial diseases; in fact, as a plant it was studied for this purpose long before its other advantages were exploited. The scientific name is Aspidosperma quebracho. Railways must have sleepers on which to lay their rails. In some Instances wooden ones are imported at great expense, or substitutes therefor are used if climatic conditions are favorable. As a rule, however, it is preferred to take supplies from native timber whenever procurable. This was the case in the Argentine Republic when railway building away from the coast had begun, and no more fitting wood could be discovered than that recommended by the natives, both by the” name and by the experience of those who had used it. The quebracho wood proved by far the most serviceable for sleepers on South American railways, and its reputatien grew so steadily that today many miles of European rails are supported by sleepers brought from the River Plate. In one respect quebracho resembles rather mahogany than oak or pine. The trees do not grow in clumps or groves, but are dispersed through the forests and the less dense woods, singly or In groups seldom more than four or five to the acre. The tree Itself is tall, about two or three feet in diameter, and is crowned by a rather thin, oval, or V-shaped, mass of branches and leaves. The white quebracho Is somewhat smaller than the. red, and begins to branch lower to the ground, so that it is not hard to distinguish them from each other. The leaves are oval, or lance shaped, smooth, somewhat shining and leathery; they do not tall completely In the winter, but cling to the branches in company with the fruit The tree seems to thrive best on a sandy soil, where the atmospheric moisture is not very great, but where abundant water is provided for the roots, either by dews or sufflcient rain. It is neither a mountain nor a river growth, but lives best in the subtropical stretches between water courses. Although the age of the tree has been given as measured by hundreds of years, it is well enough established that at ten years from planting the first small shrubs are big enough to use for posts. The future promises, therefore, an opportunity for the actual cultivation of quebracho, because, although savage inroads have been made into the supposedly inexhaustible forests of the Chaco, it fa not too late to restrict the cutting of the tree, or even to adopt modern forestry methods of planting and conservation for the supply of comteg generations. In fact, the Argentine Republic bus already passed suitable laws in this direction. It is more than probable that under the wise of that government there will be I 4

.s Zjfc jTy* ;. I • -1 ih IW 'll > iiiaMMl »• r^=================“' J ■■ ■— ? rftTMF /HT£f?JQR OF A. e QUEBRACHO EXTRACT FACTORY o • ♦ s j Sa r> Yjifc'lMW h a • I zRJ ®CX IT '■ WfißwSbWiwOwll X QEfEBRACRO TREE M i "THE C/MCO” WIX 2 !* ill |k n I ®fer smli tawl ; v 1 —-JI ’ " O;J' ife s

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developed an arboricultural industry to proceed hand in hand with the preparation of quebracho fences and construction work, sleepers for ralTfrays, and of tanning extract, the three Industries for which this unique tree is at present utilized. “Rollizos” Is the Spanish word commonly employed in the trade for the rough and untrimmed logs [(which the word means), from which only the bark has been remold. They are still supplied by smaller camps from dwarfed undergrowth not great enough for other purposes than posts, beams, cabin pillars, or cart axles. When the forest was first invaded these logs were the only product brought out of it, and the stories told of the primitive methods adopted by the natives for transport carry one back before the days of steam and machinery. A popular way of loading the logs was to lay them on the ground on ropes; the animals were unharnessed and the cart was tilted bodily upside down over the logs; these were then made fast to the body of the cart, after which maneuver .it was brought back to its normal position. Os course only two-wheeled carts were used. As soon as modern methods were Introduced, and better carts or wagons became known, these primitive and cumbersome habits disappeared, although in the far interior even today rollizos are still brought to market in this manner. “Durmientes,” according to the Spanish, or sleepers, in the English idiom, are probably the most important product of the quebracho of the Argentine Republic. The Industry of making sleepers has assumed huge proportions. The difficulties of former days have been largely overcome by the introduetlon of modern machinery, especially saws, and some of the mills many miles distant from any main railway are equipped and organized In a manner which would reflect credit on any similar plant In the United States. Special saws are needed to penetrate the wood, but they are furnished from the factories of England, France, and America. This mill business is carried on by many companies, although the tendency-is to concentrate the management into fewer but larger organizations. One company owns a tract of land of about 4,000,000 acres, and is prepared to cut timber, fashion it Into logs and sleepers, prepare tanning extract, and utilize every other resource which the land provides. Another company can turn out 20,000 to 30,000 sleepers a week. This number, however, can by no means meet the steady demand for railway building which Is characteristic of this portion of South America. Sleepers are laid at about an interval of two feet from center to center. Assuming, therefore, only 2,000 sleepers for every mile, it will be seen that 30,000 are enough for only 15 nilles. A year's supply at fullest capacity will consequently build only 750 miles of railway. But the Argentine Republic, Uruguay, Chile and Bolivia, all contiguous to the Chaco, are constructing more than this mileage, so that It is easy to see that every sleeper turned out from modern mills can at once find a local market These sleepers are now finished at the mill, and the mill is situated at the spot In the forest Itself most convenient for carrying on the process. Quebracho extract prepared for tannlsm skins

and hides Into leather Is, however, the most serviceable product of the tree. All the timber companies are adjusting their plants so as to utilize the wood, either in its entire output, or in that

portion not reserved for posts and sleepers, for this extract. In Paraguay and areas in the Chaco remote from good roads, so that the cost of supplying timber is excessive, every particle of the wood is turned into extract, because the demand is usually in advance of the supply, and it is therefore more profitable to manufacture the more concentrated article, which can be easier and more economically carried to market. One feature of quebracho, in which it is superior to other sources of supply, is that the bark, the sapwood, and the whole of the central part of the tree produce the extract in considerable quantities. The bark contains 6to 8 per cent of tannin, the sap 3 to 5 per cent., and the heart 20 to 25 per cent As the heart represents two-thirds and often three-fourths of the total quantity of wood, the amount of tannin in the Quebracho Colorado is seen to be considerable. It is merely a chemical question whether tills tanning material is equal or inferior to that from the oak, but later methods of preparation point to a full justification of the claim that the leather from quebracho extract grades up to that resulting from any other tanning substance. So serviceable is it, however, that since its discovery, the tanning industry of the Argentine Republic has made noticeable advance, because, with both hides and extract gs great natural products of the country, the government is making every effort to foster the leather Industry within its own border. “Quebracho extract,” as it is called in the trade is easily manufactured when the machinery is once installed. All the wood is passed through a machine that cuts -it into shavings or the smallest possible chips. It is then collected into immense kettles, In which it is treated by chemical processes until all the tannin is removed; after this the fluid preparation is reduced by evaporation to a thick, jelly-like mass, which is poured into sacks, where it is finally dried into the substance sold in commerce. The difficulty of gathering the raw material far outweighs the preparation of the finished article, especially as the extract is no longer to be considered a by-product, but is coming to have more Importance and value than posts and sleepers. In Paraguay particularly, where all the wood is utilized for extract, the hardest part of the business lies in gathering wood for the factory. .The tree* are cut in the heart of the virgin forest and hauled by ox teams to the nearest clearing. Only native Indians have proven themselves suitable for the work, as they are thoroughly acclimated, understand the wilderness, and can withstand the plague of insects which make life at night mleeraole for the foreigner; and exposure for night* *8 well as days is unavoidable, because the cutting stations are usually remote from any settlement In 1895 the first real exportation of quebracho extract from the River Plate was recorded. Th* Increase has been rapid—from 400 tons in the first year to 9,000 tons in 1902, 120,594 tons In the nett five years and 28,195 tons in 1907. Os this quantity the suited State* received 17,783 tons, or al* post 65 ner cent i

PREACHER LOSES $2 OF FEE Young Man Charged for Marriage License Has Unique Plan of Getting Even With Clerk. The clerk filled out the marriage license and handed it over. “Thank you,” said the young man. “Hold on! That’s |2.” “Two dollars!” “Yes; did you suppose we gave those things away?” “I certainly did. Chargin’ a man |2 for a sheet of paper that didn’t cost the county more than a nickel at the outside is robbery. Have I got to pay it?” “You’ll pay it or you’ll hand back the document.” “All right,” said the young man, taking a bill out of his pocket, tendering it to the clerk and waiting for his change, “but I can tell you right now you ain’t robbin’ me. You’re robI bin’ the preacher. He’ll get just $2 less than I was goin’ to give him!” Pocketing the change and tilting his hat back on his head, he striked out of the office with the air of a man who had been imposed upon, but who knew how to get even. Another Catch. Gunner —What’s the latest news today? Guyer—George Washington’s auto sold for |SOO in New York. Gunner—What are you trying to hand me? There were no autos in George Washington’s day. Guyer—Who said anything about automobiles? This refers to his autograph. The Mystery Explained. “See here, my man,” said the philanthropist Who was doing an investigating stunt on his own account, “you are an interesting puzzle to me.” “Is that so?” queried the other. » “Yes, it’s so,” answered the party of the philanthropy part “You are too lazy to work. How do you manage to live?”“Oh,” was the reply, “I get trusted.” The Real Difference. Jack —What’s the difference be- | tween a plumber and a poet? Tom —That’s old. A plumber lays pipes and a poet pipes lays. Jack —That’s not the answer. Tom—What is it then? Jack—A plumber has money to burn, but a poet doesn’t even get a chance to smell the smoke. As Represented. “See here,” growled the irate man as he entered the jewelry store. “I , Bought this watch of vn) i l»»t week and paid you $2 in cash for it. You said it would work like a charm —and it doesn’t keep time at all.” “That’s all right, my friend,” replied the jeweler calmly. “Neither does a charm.” As It May Be. “People are not alike,” remarked the moralizer. “What suits one may not please another.” “Right you are,” rejoined the demoralizer. “What is one man’s automobile may be another man’s juggernaut” Works Both Ways. “The clarinet,” remarked the amateur as he paused to get his second wind, “is the hardest instrument to play.” “Anyway,” rejoined his one-man au- ' dience, “it can’t be any harder to play than it is to listen to.” His Task. “Did you do much sight-seeing when ; you went abroad?” “No,” answered Mr. Cumrox. “Moth- ! er and the girls did the sight-seeing. I had to put in my time finding the places where they cash letters of credit.” —Wasp. The Modern Way. “Has he asked your parents for ; your hand yet?” “My, no. That’s an old fashioned custom that’s no longer observed. My father may consider himself lucky if we decide to send him an Invitation to ; our wedding.” Thought Quickly. “What is a totem pole?” his wife asked. “A totem pole,” he said, thinking fast, “is the rail—or pole—on which an objectionable citizen is ridden —or toted —out of the community.” The Better Way. Maude — Formerly when Miss Screecher was asked to sing she would say “Oh, I can’t” Clara —But she doesn’t do that now. Maude—No; she lets the audience find it out for themselves. Gentle Protest. Barter (on train)—Yes, this is a great road, sir. Let me describe it to you as I work. Man in Chair—Er—yes, but don’t put the curves in my cheeks with that razor. Getting Back at the Prof. Prof. —Is » watermelon a vegetable or a fruit? Btude—l don’t know. But please tell me whether clam digging is fishing or agriculture. A Cautious Game. “Does Bllggins ever bluff when he plays cards?" “Never until he gets home and ex. plains where he has been.”

ORDERED TO SWEAR—SHE DID New York Woman in Court Gives Unique Interpretation of Customary Oath. < Mrs. Johanna Spitzer of 910 Colum- i bus avenue, New York, and her Aus- j band, Karl, were going north in an ' Eighth avenue car the other night when William Delliny, of 380 East Fifty-fourth street, got on. The man stepped on Mrs. Spitzer’s i toes several times. Her husband told | him to behave himself. Delliny retorted by Swearing and paying his respects to the social status of the Spitzers. He was arrested at Columbus circle on complaint of Mrs. Spitzer. In the night court Mrs. Spitzer was about to give her testimony as complainant “Do I have to swear, Judge?” she asked Magistrate Krotel. “Yes, madam.” “But Judge, I do not like to.” “You must. Every witness makes oath before testifying. The law requires iy’ “Well, If I must, I must I guess. But I don’t like to.” “Yes, you must” “Well, damn.” Delliny was sent to the workhouse for five days. A Friend In Need. Algie—l say. Fred, You’re—aw— a 1 fwiend of mine, aren’t you? Fred —Sure. Algie—Then be a good fellow and — aw—help me out I’d like to have that pwetty cousin of youahs learn all about my—aw —good points, doncher know. Fred—l am helping you, old chap. I argued with her for two hours yesterday trying to convince her that you weren’t as big a fool as you look. What Wd' May Expect. The suffragette meeting had grown red-hot. “And what will become of the great brewery buildings when we control the votes?” shouted the leader. And the little man who had ; crept in unobserved shrugged his shoulders. , ’ - | T guess they’ll be turned into chewing gum factories and complexionpowder mills” he muttered simply. I He Doubted Her Sincerity. “I cannot give you a favorable answer until you have talked with my father.” The young man seized his hat. “What’s your hurry?” the fair girl ' asked. “I take no chances,” replied the! youth. “I am going to see your fa I V—*VlX> jrcrtv x-<xaa gtafc . And he hustled from the room. — Couldn’t Fool Her. The husband was in a repentant I mood. “My dear,” he said, “if I .have ever ; given you any unkind words I take I them all back.” But the wife was wise to his ways. T ; “That’s just like you, John Henry | Hix,” she rejoined. “You want them back so you can use them all over , again.” New to the Business. Xfrs. Newed —I’d like a couple of yards of steak, please. Butcher—Pardon me, madam, but since the first of the month we have ; been selling it only by the pound. , What kind of steak would you like? Mrs. Newed —Rare steak, please. My 1 husband doesn’t like it well done. Butchery. Isidore was turning over the pages | of his new reader. The picture of a cow greatly excited him. “Teacher, | teacher,” he called, “I vonce seen a cow!” “Did you? Where?” “In the street. A man had her and j he vas going to kill her for her milk." —Everybody’s. One of Many. “Yes,” boasted the self-made man, ‘ “I’m one of those chaps who never forget a favor.” “That’s what you are,” rejointed the party who says what he thinks. “You never forget a favor you do any one— ; and you never let him forget it, either.” Dawn of a Scheme. “They say the tail of that comet is : composed of gas.” “Yes.” “And 4,000,000 miles long.” “Well?” “I wonder if we couldn’t rig up some i kind of s suction engine and tap it?” : Real Charitable. Tattered Theodore — ’Scuse me, mem. but I ain’t got scarcely a rag t* me back. Kin yous help me out? Kind Lady—Certainly. Youll fine the rag bag behind the door in the woodhouse. Help yourself. Anything But Quiet. Mrs. A.—There goes Mrs. Green. They say she is such a quiet dresser. Mrs Z. —Quiet? You should hear her carrying on when her husband la buttoning up her waist In the back. Quite So. “Why is the public always bullish In the market?" “ThaPa natural enough. It is hard ar the public to grasp the idea that anything Is ever going down in price.” Who Cares? “There are germs in kisses.* ' “WelL let’s commit germicide*

HE LIVED IN THE CITY. ■S4 s =‘ vJnflf Papa—Why can’t we see the moon in the daytime? Jimmie —’Cause they don’t light it up until after dark. Casey at the Bat. This famous poem is contained in the Coca-Cola Baseball Record Book for 1910, together, with records, schedules for both leagues and other valuable baseball Information compiled by authorities. This interesting book sent by the Coca-Cola Co., of Atlanta, Ga, on receipt of 2c stamp for Also copy of their booklet “The Truth About Coca-Cola” which tells all about this delicious beverage and why it ie so pure, wholesome and refreshing; Are you ever hot —tired —thirsty? Drink Coca-Cola—it is cooling, relleves fatigue and quenches ths thirst At soda fountains and car* bonated in bottles—§c everywhere. She Lives In Bingvllle. A south Missouri paper is carrying this ad.: “Attractive woman, not a day over thirty, would be pleased to correspond with eligible man. Not abso- ' lutely necessary that he should be young. Would prefer one with property, but one with a good paying position would be satisfactory. The young lady is of medium height, has brown hair and gray eyes, not fat, although, most decidedly, she Is not skinny. Her friends say she Is a fine looking woman. Object matrimony. Reason for this advertisement, the young woman lives in a little dinky town, where the best catches are the boys behind the counters in the dry goods | and clothing stores, and every one of I them Is spoken for by the time he is out of his short pants. Address Hazel Eyes, Box 23, Bingvllle, Mo.”— Kansas City Star. The Stomach Hold. Col. H. N. Renouf, at the “Old Guard” banquet at Delmonlco's, emphasized the Importance to an army i of a good commissariat ! “of the company of privates that * patriotic lady entertained one Memorial day to dinner. “It was a 1 good dinner, and at its end a pretty maid servant entered with a superb dessert “ ‘Dessert sergeant?’ she said to the stalwart young soldier at the head of the table. ■ /‘Desert?’ the sergeant answered. •When I can get eats like this for nothin’? Nixie! Not me!”’, Incorruptible, j The lady of the house hesitated. “Are my answers all right?” she asked. “Yes, madam,” replied the census : man. “Didn’t bother you a bit, did I?” “No, madam.” “Feel under some obligations to me; don’t you?” “Yes, madam.” “Then, perhaps you won’t mind teltI Ing me how old the woman next door ! claims*.to be?” “Good day, madam,” said the census ' man. Many of us have cause to be thankful for what we don’t get HARD TO PLEASE Regarding the Morning Cup. “Oh how hard it was to part with i coffee, but the continued trouble with constipation and belching was such that I finally brought myself to leave i it off. “Then the question was, what should we use for the morning drink? Tea was worse for us than coffee; chocolate and cocoa were soon tired of; milk was not liked very well, and hot j water we could not endure. “About two years ago we struck ; upon Postum and have never beea i without it since. “We have seven children. Our baby now eighteen months old would not : fake milk, so we tried Postum and : found she liked it and it agreed with her perfectly. She is tbday, and has been, one of the healthiest babies in the State. “I use about two-thirds Postum and one-£hlrd milk and a teaspoon of sugar, and put it Into her bottle. If you could have seen her eyes sparkle and hear her say “good” today when I gave it to her, you would believe me that she likes it “If I was matron of an infants home, every child would be raised on Postum. Many of my friends say. Ton are looking so wefll’ I reply, T am well: I drink Postum. I have ns more trouble with constipation, and know that I owe my good health to God and Dostum/ “I am writing this letter because I want to tell you how much good Postum has done ns, but if you knew how I shrink from publidty, you would not publish this letter, at least not over my name.** , Read the little book, “The Road to WeUvflle,"lnpkgs. “There’s a Reason.* gwi Fenttiwe, trae> aad *sH et Hail