Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1865-01-14
The Tanning Business of Wheeling.
- & S+N-' .s.+A tisz9
A Day Among tho Vata.

LAY among the VRts.
- HAMIEE.-1ost thou think, Alexander looked 70
this fashion i the earthI
HoRATIO!-E'en 30, .....-..,...-.
HAHIEE.-And smelt sol pehl
HORiTIO-R'en 50, my IOrd - '''' VIC 't''ss'
a wise person starting out in search of
sweet scented places might be disposed,
instead of lingering about in. the vicinity,
of tan yard, to give those institutions a
very wide berth. .........
For our own part We should infinitely
prefer to liUger where the. sweet south
Oreathes upon bank of violets stealing
and giving odor; but We are sensible at the
same time that athing, or place, need not,
necessarily, be sweet smelling in order to
be promotive of the Industry and prosperi-
ty of community. Nothing can be more
pleasant to the sense than the delicate
aroma of rose, but it don't give us boots
and shoes in winter, or cavalry equipments
and artillery harness when there are great
wars in the land, and noble people are
struggling for the maintenance of constitu=
tional liberty. iT..a
There is an unpleasant odor about q tan
yard which is not exceedingly agreeable
on the first entrance, but custom brazsG
the sense of smell, and after while it be-
comes "proof aud 'bulwark'' against the.
stenoh which 1s.AE liFst 50 Itfs6siVe, and WeP
admit that we have lately spent very
pleasant and instructive t.dRy among the
tan vats."
The tanning business of this city is one
of its most important branches. of industry,
aud few departments of manufacture have.
been more promotive of the interests of
the continuity. 1t is estimated that there
are not less than $3.50, 900 employed in the
business, though some putt at q higher and
others at lower figure. Within the past
four years the business has increased about
one hundred per cent, but the demand has
increased in even greater proportion in
consequence of the great demaud for cav
airy equipments, and artillery and trans.
portation harness, etc. Theprices ofgreen
hides and all the materials used. i'm tam
ing have also Increased at the came rate.
About one third of the leather manufac.,
tured is sold here and in Ohio and West
Virginia, while the balance hnds a ready
market in; the east, Wheeling leather,
particularly its sole leather, being every
where preferred to that manufactured else
where. Some of the Sproprdetors inform
US that they purchase nearly one half
their hides in the surrounding country;
while others say that their stock is bought
almost exclusively ia the west.
The tsnneEy of Berger & Hoffman, situ-
ated near the river bank in Centre Wheel
ing has the largest capacity, and from the
iindica tions of thrift and energy which
pervades the whole house, we think it is
worked pretty wen up to it's full power.
They claim to be capable of turning! out
10, 900 hides annually, and 5000 calf and
kip skins. The main building is sc by 122
feet and is three stories high. Besides
there is another large and commodious
building adjoiulng, well stocked with the
materials of the business. One of the pro-
prietors in speaking of the demand for
| leather remarked that he was we'll assured
that.if he had ten thousand sides OF sole
leather on hand he could sell it all, at the
highest market price within 4 week. BsFz
ger & Hoffman have been engaged in this
business for long series of years, aud
have steadily increased and improved their
facilities and. have met with that success
which always. attends industry and strict
adherence 70 correct business principles.
There appears to be little, if anything,
i wanting to make the establishment one of
the most complete, as it is one of the frat,
in5capacity and reputation, whichthe coun-
/ try affords. o. .sat "a : ~ al In
The comparatively new establishment of
Wheat 4 Co., located in Ritchietown, is
1873 by 6s, including boiler house, and is
three stories high. 1t is very cEeditabls
to the enterprise of the Msssrs'7-Wheat,
and is we'll worthy of examination by all
Who take an, interest in the tanning busi-
ness. 1t lis claimed that this house is ca
pable of turning out 10000, hides annually
Eth6ugh we believe it has never been work
ed to it's fullest capacity. A gentleman
connected with the Shoe and. Leather Re
porter, who recently passed through the
} house, remarked that he had lately exam-
iUsd six hundred tannsries, and he regard,
ID d !. :