1924

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tagsyear, timeline, aceh, colonial, 20th-century
aliases1924 AD, the year 1924, 1924 (year), Year 1924

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Figures, places, and events in Acehnese history associated with the year 1924.

People

Figures, places, and events in Acehnese history associated with the year 1924.

People

Founding of the Baleq turpentine enterprise (1924)

The year 1924 was the founding year of the Baleq enterprise — the colonial government’s turpentine and resin factory in the Gajo-Landen-Atjeh border region. By the Besluit (government decision) of 27 June 1924, the Regeering (colonial government) of the Netherlands Indies placed funds at the disposal of ‘s Lands Caoutchouchedrijf (the Government Rubber Enterprise) for an exploitatie-proef (exploitation trial) of Atjeh-turpentine, to be carried out on behalf of the Dienst van het Boschwezen (the Forestry Service).

The implementation began on 14 September 1924 in the Semnenboschcomplexen (Sumatran-pine forest complexes) of Paja Djorok and Blangtekoer — both near the road from Takengon to Bireuen in Atjeh. The two complexes were separated by the river Baleq, from which the enterprise took its name. The trial exploited the Pinus Merkusii (Sumatran pine) forests of the two Semnenboschcomplexen, and the first trial samples were produced in the laboratory of the Afdeeling Nijverheid (Industry Department) at Buitenzorg from the balsam collected by the foresters of the Dienst van het Boschwezen.

The same year, the Afdeeling Handelsmuseum (Commercial Museum Department) of the Koninklijke Vereeniging Koloniaal Instituut (Royal Colonial Institute Society) exchanged thoughts with the Board of the Vereeniging van Vernis- en Verffabrikanten en -Handelaren in Nederland (V.V.V.F. — the Association of Varnish and Paint Manufacturers and Traders in the Netherlands) on the quality of the Sumatran turpentine oil derived from Pinus Merkusii. The V.V.V.F. considered the odour of the trial product te zeer afwijkende geacht van dien van zuivere terpentijnolie uit Frankrijk of Noord-Amerika (“too different from that of pure turpentine oil from France or North America”). The consultation would be revisited in 1930.

People (additional)

Places (additional)

  • Baleq — The site of the new exploitation trial.
  • Paja Djorok — One of the two Semnenboschcomplexen of the trial.
  • Blangtekoer — One of the two Semnenboschcomplexen of the trial.
  • Takengon — Town near the Baleq enterprise.
  • Bireuen — Town near the Baleq enterprise.
  • Buitenzorg — Site of the laboratory of the Afdeeling Nijverheid where the 1924 trial samples were processed.

Concepts (additional)

  • Pinus Merkusii — The Sumatran pine, the principal raw material of the new enterprise.
  • Atjeh-terpentijn — The turpentine oil of the new enterprise.
  • Quarre — The French tapping method applied at the new enterprise.

Account in du Croo’s Generaal Swart (1943)

In 1924/1925 the condition Swart had omitted to state — “provided that the leading civil officials and military men do not spoil my work” — was not met, “and then it did indeed go somewhat wrong here and there (on the West Coast)”.

See Also

Source

Atjeh-terpentijn: tegenwoordige kwaliteit en nieuwe beoordeelingen, by Ir. W. Spoon, Berichten van de Afdeeling Handelsmuseum van de Koninklijke Vereeniging Koloniaal Instituut No. 57, Amsterdam: J. H. de Bussy, 1930, pp. 5, 9–11, 29 (Winning van de terpentijn; Beoordeelingen uit de praktijk; Bijlage II — Circulaire).

Generaal Swart, Pacificator van Atjeh (“General Swart, Pacifier of Atjeh”), by M. H. du Croo, Colonel K.N.I.L. (retired), with the collaboration of H. J. Schmidt, Titular Colonel K.N.I.L. (retired), with a foreword by His Excellency Lieutenant-General K.N.I.L. (retired) G. K. Dijkstra (Maastricht: N.V. Leiter-Nypels, 1943), passim.

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