The hydraulic press. (North San Juan, Nev. Co., Cal.) 1858-18??, 1858-09-25
MOUNTAIN TANNERY.

-f'oH'iiO' AniuAiHS SoIAc particulars d
this branch Of industry would be of general
interest, we paid visit to the former or
Monday last, and will now tell what we saw
and learned. The particular establishment
alluded to is not important on account of its
own size and extent of business, which are
limited though likely to be much increased,
but for the reason that it indicates the capa
city of the mining regions to develop other
pursuits than that Of gold digging.
The Tannery of Messrs. Dorian, Long s.
Guthrie is situated on the road from Nor tn
San Juan to Enory's Crossing, three miles
from the former place and about one mile
from Cherokee, in pleasant, shady hollow
which is well watered by cool, soft springs
1t was started early in the year 1854 by Mr.
Dorian, and the cost of construction of houses,
mills, watts, &C., WAS $1,000. Blrk Of the
best quality is abundant everywhere around
the yard. That of the White Oak is the kind
usually employed, being most plentiful and
easily obtained; though the bark of the Live
Oak is much richer In Tannin, but very thin
and scarce. Mr.. McCloskey, the foreman,
who is an old and experienced Tanner, says
the bark used by him makes leather of a
much finer quality and fairer color than any
he ever saw elsewhere, and that one cord of
it is worth two of any bark he ever used in
the old States. The bark of the Spruce is
also very rich in Tannin, and is found in
hlo n titiao hut hoo = oh
"ross" or rough, scaly surface, that its use
is less economical The inner bark Of the
White Oak, particularly that part taken from
the butt of the tree, is frequently an inch or
more thick, all good, and grinds easily. The
cost of obtaining the bark at the yard is
about 81 a cord. The yard is capable of
turning out and finishing yearly twelve hun
bred heavy hides. and more than that num-
Der of small skins; but as only two men are
now employed, the number of heavy hides
tanned and finished ready for the manufac
turer is only $50, consisting of harness, Skin
ting and sole leather. In addition to the
above, 700 sheep skins are annually tanned
and finished, the cost of finishing in both in
stances being the heaviest item of expense
connected with the establishment. Very few
calf skins are tanned, as there is not much
demand for that kind of leather, and as but
little vea1 is killed in the mountains, calf
skins cannot be readily procured. The beef
hides and sheep skins are procured from the
butchers in the several djoining towns, (who
now get good price for what they formerly
threw away and cost, for the heavy hides,
50 so; fer the skins, % cents each. The
leather produced at this yard is mostly sold
to Sacramento manufacturers, the largest
portion being bought by r. Stone of that
place, who writes in regard to it that it is
more slleable than any other leather brought
into that market The harness, skirting and
sole leather bring at wholesale 80 cents a
pound, ON an average. The sheep skins are
mostly sold in the mountains, where they
are in great demand for leggings, and bring
by the dozen eight or nine dollars.
The leather is rendered much less valuable
by the careless manner in which the hides
are removed from the animals, being badly
sliced and cut in the process, and by the uni
versal custom of branding, which latter be-
ing done on the hip of the animll destroys
the best part of the hide. Tanners estimate
the loss from these causes at fully thirty per
cent, and declare that but for this they could
compete with the leather producers of the
Atlantic side II would be we'll for butchers
and stock owners to take note of the fact.
By removing the hide without cutting it the
butcher could command for it much
better price, whilst cattle can be better
brandsd on the horn than on the bullock.
Brands on the latter place are frequently re-
newed and large space of the hide thus
rendered useless, making whole side of
leather mlny times utterly unsaieable, at
great less to the tanner.
The demand for California leather has not
heretofore been very great, bat it is steadily
increasing as manufacturers become az
quainted with its superiority and compare
tive cheapness. We are informed that
prominent dealer in Sacramento, already re-
icFTeu ", WIN iupO' tOu ioiSOiJ
from the Eastern States, has ceased i'm PORTING
altogether, preferring to purchase from our
own tanneries, and it is his opinion that in
a short time the leather dealers generally
will follow his example. Tne mountainous
regions of THIS State possess peculiar facili-
ties for the tanning business, on account of
the great plenitude and easy accessibility of
bark. and the ease with which water power
can be obtained. For the amount of popula-
ton, there is probably more beef eaten her e
than in any other State, which renders hides
readily obtainable, and they are said to be
larger and heavier than those Of the Atlantic
States. If made into leather in the very
locality where they are gathered, the heavy
item of inland transportation is saved, and
the leather can be sent to the lower markets