Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1857-11-24
CITY RAIIRLEs no 1,


partly by what we consider due to the energy
and enterprise of many of our prominent bu-
sincss establishments, we propose to give, from
time to time, as convenience may suggest, a
brief record Of facts and figures in relation to-
our city's business. We do not desire them to
he accepted as what are usually denominated
'puiES, but as merited and truthful compliments
to deserving business places aud enterpris,ng
business men In accordance with resOlu-
ton to this effect, we yesterday visited the
large new tannery of Messrs. Berger & Hoffman,
situated in Centre Wheeling, near the track of
the Baltimore aud Ohio railroad between the
Ohio river and Main street
After stradding over tue dark looking watts, dug
deep down into the "bowcIs of the GARTH" In
haling the perfumes not "of Araby," scramO-
ling over the hides of defrnct bovines raw
heads and bloody bones, with CHASTITY aud gore
stained horns, suggestive of 'auld Hornie and
his right bower, Ncna Sahib VIC gained n dry
plank, near window i'll a remote corner of the
great building, and taking out our note book,
saw the skeleton of the following facts.
The new tannery of Berger and Hoffman is
one of the most extensive establishments Of the
kind in the west. The building is 122 feet long
and &C feet wide. In the Inning oozing, bait
ing and general department there are IL leechcs,
where tile liquid is made, 81 anyways, where
the hides arc tanned, and 1O4 watts in all. We
all know that the leather upon our feet is made
from the hides of animals, but we presume that
less of the process in detail is known of this i'm
portant branch Of business. than any other we
can name. The great mass have never taken
the pains to examine OF inquire, partly because
oil Il natural disposition to be interested only in
such afTairsas concern "number one, and part
" because tannery is not the most inviting iu-
stitution in the world. We shall therefore at
tempt to tell, as Understandings as our advan-
tages enable us, how leather is made The hides
in green state are first placed in fresh water,
where they are softened, and are then taken out
and the little particles Of flesh which may be
clinging to them are removed. They are then
placed in lime water where they remain for
period of eight days, until the hair becomes in a
fit condition to be removed The lime puits the
hides up and causes them to bulge out from
their natural state. In order to Obviate injury
from this cause, the hides, after the hair is re-
moved, nre placed in what is called ''the bait
"a detection of guano-wherc they are thor
oughly beaten and squeezed by means ola wheel
worked by the engine, and kept revOIving-four
or five days-unti every particle of lime is re-
moved.
They arc then placed in watts containing Ii
quid impregnated with the substance of tan
bark; Chat is the bark after passing through
the mill above, is conveyed to the leechcs or
vats below and is diluted with water until its
useful properties are exhausted. It then Ia
ken out and fresh bark substituted until the Ii
quid is strong enough for usc.) After remain
lug four or live weeks in this liquid-the liquid
being continually stirred by means OF machin-
cry adapted to that purpose to prevent the
strength of the same FROM settling to the bottom
of the vat, thereby rendering its effect upon the
hides equal and even-they are taken out and
placed in the "Iayways," layer of ground
bark upon each hide. In this condition they
rest uRdisturbed for probably half or two-thirds
of year, when they are removed to the finish
ing room above, where they are subjected to the
process Of shaving, securing, greasing fulling
and finishing and the hides arc leather-ready
for sale.
The establishment is admirably arranged and
designed throughout with Il view to facility
and practical convenience. Indeed, we doubt
whether it could possibly be improved to an
swer better, every purpose.
We may here mention for those whom it may
concern, that hides are selling at a much lower
figure than formerly. Green hides are worth 4
cents per h.; dry 10, Green colfskins Scents
dry 10. Best sheep skins are worth 40 cents a
peice.
Messrs. Berger & Hoffman find market for
their stock principally at home, at rates cores
pOnding in the main with the following: HaT-
ness per To- soc; skirting 80; Spanish Hemlock
% to %, according to quality. Calf skins per
dozen 10 to 50 dollars. Upper leather 81 to SO
dollars; White leather per Iii. 80 to SO cents.
Tan.bark brings from { to dollars per cord.
The firm under consideration, is supplied from
the vicinity OF Matamoras, on the Ohio, from
the country adjacent to the line of the Balti-
more & Ohio Railroad and from other parts.
In the course of eight or ten days the new
tannerv will be thoroughly finished and work
ing to its fullest capacity, when either OF the
gentlemen whose names appear IN TINS connec-
ton, will doubtless be prepared to show those
who may visit the establishment, chow the
thing is done"