The evening Argus., 1867-11-11
TANNERIEs OF ROCK ISLAND.

TANNERIEs OF ROCK ISLAND.
The first business done in the line of tan
ming, in this city, of which we can gather
anv information, was by E. Pennell, a Ger.
man, who for many years carried on small
establishment on the outskirts of the city,
on the Camden road. For the want of capi-
tai, he was unable to build up any kind of
pretentious business, and on the establish
ment of the Rock Island Tannery, discon-
tinued operations, and entered that concern
as a journeyman.
In the year 1861 Messrs. ]. & NJ. Rosen-
field, who had for some years been carrying
on a wholesale hide and leather store on Ili
nois street, near Buffalo, where they may
still be found, concluded to try the expert
ment of establishing a tannery. They ac-
cordingly leased two story brick building
on Water street, near Buffalo, and COM
menced operations. They have never yet
aimed to do general manufacturing busi-
ness, but confne their attention exclusively
to the tanning of sheep skins in every style,
with or without wool, and have succeeded
admirably. In connection with their extern
sive wholesale store, they have built up a
trade of no insignificant dimensions, and are
doing as good work as can be gotten up in
their line anywhere il the state. Their
building is 80 by so feet in size. They give
steady employment to seven or eight hands,
at all seasons of the year. They use no
steam on the premesis but purchase their
hemlock bark already ground, from Indiana,
or in its stead, use liquid extract of bark,
which is received in barrels from Boston.
In connection with the tannery, they deal
extensively in leather and findings, hides,
furs, wool, pelts, tallow, plastering hair, &c.
They will be found to be honorable, fair
dealing men, and by their energy and enter
prise have developed wholesale trade in
their line, worthy of any second rate city in
the state
The Rock Island Tannery established
u year ago last summer, by c. W. Andrews,
and 7. A. Babcock. Mr.. Babcock is one of
the Oldest settlers and merchants of the To-
calty. For this purpose, Webber's old
foundry building, situated on Illinois street
near the Island Bridge, was purchased, over
hauled and remodeled somewhat. It's pres
ent dimensions are, main building, so by
$50 feet, and back addition, 30 by 10 feet
being two stories or more In height, and
built of brick in very substantial manner.
A twenty-five horse power engine, built by
- ha- nd
other purposes. Some twenty vats are in
constant use. Five workmen are generally
employed, who tan fifty hides per week, on
an average The hemlock bark used, is ex-
clusiyely from Michigan, and is claimed to
be superior to much that is thrown on the
market.
At the outset, considerable opposition was
experienced from that prejudice which seems
to universally assail infant manufacturing
enterprises in every branch. 1t had become
so customary for people to send their orders
abroad, that stock manufactured right here
at home, seemed to meet with no attention
whatever. Indeed we have met with a SINH
lar complaint from every manufacturer we
have visited This is the most invidious
and dan .erous obstacle to be first encoun-
tered, and when this is overcome, the way is
comparatively clear. Perseverance and
good work are the only effective antidotes.
After pushing ahead for awhile, Messrs
Babcock & Andrews took survey of the
field, and found that they were steadily gain
ing ground. They are now pushed to the
utmost to fll orders, and are manufactur-
ing as good stock as can be produced any
where in the country. Their assortment
consists of upper, kip, cali, and harness
leather, belt and lace leather, sheep skins,
&c. &c.-in fact everything but sole leath-
In the manufacture of their leather, they
ormerly used we'll water. Believing this to
be too hard for the purpose, they substituted
rain water with success. As this is not al
ways obtainable, they are now hauling river
water, and expect, in the spring, to lay pipes
SO that it may be pumped direct, which will
be q much more convenient and economical
plan.
By means of a recent improvement, they
are now steaming out one thousand pounds
of tallow per week, which will prove quite an
annual item.
The trade in leather is principally of To-
cal character, and embraced in filling orders
from Hampton, Moline, Davenport, this city,
and sections adjoining.
In connection with the tannery, and in the
same building is a boot and shoe manufac.
tory, placed under way, four or FIVE weeks
ago, by Messrs Boyle & Co. About five boot
makers are constantly employed, and using
no other stock than that produced at the tan
merry, with the exception of sole leather, are
getting up splendid work, and have already
started a very profitable trade, in fact about
as large as they can possibly meet without
an increase of force.
AS will be noticed, this line of business in
Rock Island, is in its infancy. The estab-
hshments we have noticed were regarded
more in the light of experiments at the start
than otherwise. They have perhaps ad
vanced to prosperity more rapidly than mapv
other enterprises of similar character in
our city, but this merely illustrates the de,
mand which exists for goods of this charac-
ter, when manufactured at homo in n suh.