New-York daily tribune., 1853-12-15
N-cm?lork Oailp Gribnne,
THE EXHIBITION
AT THE
CRYSTAL PALACE.
BUCKsKIN GLOVE AND MITTEN MANUFAC-
TIRE

TURE.
Those who have visited the accumulated achieve
ments of modern industry gathered within the walls Oh
tie Crystal Palace, mag have noticed among the less
pretending offerings Of American labor some specimens
Of buckskin mitens and gloves. To supply this manu-
facture some hundreds OF thousands deer are annually
slain and yet, Notwithstanding its importance, 1t rs
trade comparatvey bat little known. We, therefore
purpose giving the readers OF The IroaRe orei ahi
cureory view Of lis details
TIE dressing of the deer.skin is carried on 10 some
extent in England and France, although by no means
with that degree OF success which has attended the hu
glove manufacture in the latter country since oi the
whole amount Of pets annually taken fourniths are
consumed in America European operators, however,
have made continued effort to establish the trade ami
have even employed spies to visit American WORKSHOPS
for the purpose Of examining the mode OF Dnshlg,
but with oil the knowledge thus unfairly obtained the
vigilance OF home competition has kept their wares
from entering our market.
Tie application Of the deerskin to the protection OF
both hands and feet was long known to the lniian
tribes and we may infer that the rudey dressed moe
casn gave the first idea OF the art to the white man
The Indian however, was necessarily content with the
slow and imperfect process 10 which his Ignorance
limited him having discovered that the brain OF ant
mails contained strong alkali, be cooked the pet IN
fluid whose curative properties were O0telned lr0ui
the maceration of this organ, and when 1t was dry
emoothed the rough surfacc with the friction OF the
hand This mode of preparation, componly known as
Indian dressing" still obtains among the trappersand
scattered tribes the frontier, and large quantity oil
the peltry received from them Is thus dressed.
Like many other leading manufactures, tne DucksAh
trade comenceda an humble beginning, although mas
now become so extensive as TO claim prominent posi-
tion in the great array OF national industry ABOUT
fifty wears ago OF the pioneers oi the northern
wilderness whbe forest life had acquainted hun with
tie customs of the natives settled in JOhnstOwn ~ L,
and combined the labors of small farm with the
dressing of the deerpelt. Improving upon the BRAIN
liauor process of the red man, he removed the har
from the skin in the usual manner, and then pounded
in oil with hand malet after which the leather tnus
iuperfectly prepared was dryed IN tue sun
From this stock rudey shaped mltten was iorllei
by tie female portion of his family and when SUN.
Gent quantity had been finished they were mounted
upon tie old mans back and peddled in lonely tramps
along the ir, nter bartered oil IN Albany ior sup
plies of clothing. powder, and otner necessarieS' a
mitten of this antique date and pattern would IN the
present state of the trade, be considered no sa GU
riosity
The business continued in this dormant and unprom-
sing condition for years. as the large expense a
tending so slow process was sufficient barrier 20 us
success but at length the invention OF the instrument
commonlV and significantly called the BUcktail, with
some other improvements led 80 its pursuit as DIS,
tinet and prominent business and gradually Danlsnel
the old-iashioned wooden mitten from use
The Bucktail" to the glover was very much what
tho Co,ton(iip was TO the planter; il is simply re-
volyine cylinder, about six feet in length by one
in diameter plated with coat OF pumlee stone
and propelled By water power; when IN RAPID
motion its friction affords efectual hnish 20 he
leather in few moments than the tedious hanruoong
of hours
Tbs machine was patented about thirty years ago BY
lanes Burr one Of the Oldest living manufacturers,
but its prior invention claimed BY Others anu tne
usual amount of litigation was the consequence now
ever. il was the means of giving perma1enee TO the
busness which has gradually centralized IN the 'icihi,
ty of its origin until the present time tae word
suppy Of mtens and gloves Is with trhIng exceIoas
Manufactured in JOhnstoWn and Glo7erssiHe- lnese
two fourshng villages but three miles apart lne
latter has grown rapidly from the first eienents OF its
existeuce-a simple water-wheel aud a few lIme-Tats
excayated in sandy plain. IL Is now ,uiase OF
marked enterprise aud public spirit ani SHOWS ",
thrift in fine specimens Of rural architecture as wen
as in its newi bank and tasteful churcle'-ia lAe''
blazing like star amid the lethargy which seem 20 ~
vest so much OF the surrounding country Us Popua
tiop. about 1000 in number, subsist chiefly oy tns
manufacture and its adjunctso which every spare gal
Ion Of wster-pOwer in the vicinity Is deFoie9 Jonn-
stown an old and wealthy but less enterpnsng pace
is also Iareey engaged in the manufacture, am Is Ia
5lv improving is facilities for It's increase One mil
bs;r0 besn lust COMPLETED by the hrm OF Gilbert "
Wells ofsueh CAPACITY that TO supply it Win stock lol-
coo deer must be sacrificed annually. Johnsiowa Is
rlace Of some interest from is historical assocaos
and is noted for the rare beauty Ofits scenery as wen
as for ts pure end nvigOratinc atmosphere y gHs
h. the siuuOus waters OF the Cayautia anu contains
,b,ut two thousand inhabitants, who depend chie1y
uron this manufacture. Ihe proe5ss oi ecrI-shn ~,
st,sirg is very simple differing, however, IRON tne
nsul mode of aiming nasmuch no bark Is asei ir
La also the advantage point OF time' as instead oi
lie many months required n the ordinary tanl ars
rrcl bucksL.n nay be turned out IN four weeks me
5-9-o.s ker.rr- hvvbich some kinds Of leather can