NEGLECTED INDUSTRIES. CHARCOAL-BURNING.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXV, Issue 3699, 27 May 1869, Page 3

NEGLECTED INDUSTRIES. CH ARCO AL-BURN ING.

It is subjecb for great surprise that no energetic individuals, of the m*ny who now swell the ranks of thoss who seek for profitable and independent employment, hare *s yet bethought themselves that, in this province, there is a remunerative occupation hitherto entirely neglected — one, too, which requires a very small amount of capital, and which, if systematically conducted, could not fail in handsomely rewarding any men of thews and sinews who might embark in it. We mean charcoal-burning. Not onlj wou'd there at once be found a good market for very large quantities, but the rate of the consumption would increase in almost geometrical progression if there could be r-.ny certainty that the supply would not fail. Noae is to be obtained at present for any purpose ; and cvf n blacksmiths, tinplateworkers, whittsmitbd, and others, in whose callings it is almost a necessary, are obliged to content themselves with the very inferior substitutes of coal or coke. Ono of the gentlemen who the other day perfected some great improvements in the reduction of gold ore, informs us thab so necessary is the pure carbon. to the effective manipulation that he has been compelled to go to the trouble of making charcoal himself. There is, moreover, no doubt that considerable inconvenience must be experienced at the various smelting and assaying establishments from the same cause. Even in thuge and similar operarionn, although they are of compar*tively limited extent, we are informed by a gentleman who has hud^ considerable experience in the Bendigo district, in Victoria, that some thousands of bushels are consumed there every month. But the application of it to cooking purposes is that which, if properly tried, would result; in an immense consumption. The great ease of its management ; the cleanliness attending all culinary operations conducted by lt< aid ; the immense heat developed, and its economy ; — these are reasons which recommend it most strongly to the attention of all housekeepers. Of course stoves of a peouliar construction must be used ; but if the combustible material were forthcoming, and the future supply of it tolerably certain, the want of ranges of the requisite description would soon be supplied. In the neighbouring metropolis of Sydney, some years a^o, a number of expatriated Italian carbonari made their appearance, and at once set about burning charcoal in the neighbourhood. At that time there were no charcoal stoves in use, and the labourers depended on the demands made by blacksmiths and other artizas. Very soon, however, an enterprising ironmonger took the matter in Hand and produced an efficient article ; and ifc ia perfectly astonishing in how short a time many hundreds were in use. The result has been, that many of those men, as also some Chinese who embarked in{a similar enterprise, have, since political aspects altered, gone back to their country in the possession of what fco them are competencies. We merely mention this fact to encourage any who may think it worth their while to engage in the business here ; and we are confident, from the great quantity of suitable wood in th ; s country, the spread of mining operations, in many of which charcoal is a requisite, and the increase of population, that a good return may be ensured for any Dmount of labour and capital which maybe embarked in the business. It may not be amiss to mention that if the operation of converting wood into charcoal were conducted by men possessed of some small capital, and who could^ afford to bring proper appliances to bear, the pyroligneous or acetic acid evolyed during the combubtion would more than pay the whole expense of the operation. Any practical chemist could readily suggest cheap and effective methods of collecting and condensing the acid fumes, and a good and leady market can always be obtained for any chemical productions of the kiud.