The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1868-04-02
SECOND FLOOR.

chaps doing? Well Mr.. c. is an honest
man and he says they are skiving, i. e.
removing the flesh that may adhere to
the inside of the hide. This is difficult
branch of the trade and requires years of
practice to do it well; frequently life
time does not give proficiency to the
workman. It is done with long and
very sharp knife while the hide is wet
And here is machine we have often
longed to see-itis called Union Leather
splitting machine. Of course you know
COW hide boots are not made of the full
thickness of the hide when it is first tan
ned they would be SO stiff they could
not be used at all The hide, then, is
put into the machine and the lower side
pressed down hard on to a knife; power
is applied and it is drawn through. tits
then of exact thickness. The lower
part which fails under the machine is not
thrown away, it goes through some pro-
cess and is then used for trunk covers and
some other purposes. When hides are
very thick and not suitable for sole leath-
er they are split twice. There is also on
this floor machine for rolling or pressing
sole leather, the last process to which
that article is subjected before going into
the hands OF the shoemaker. 1t makes
it compact, smooth and hard. A large
wheel which we next come to, is used for
oiling leather. 1t is first warmed by
steam, the material is then put in, oil or
grease is put in with it, in just the guam
tity required, and the whole set to re-
volving. This is an excellent arrange
ment for doing the work.
FURNISHING ROOM NO. ONE.
We number them as we come to them
The first is 24x5O, three stories high. The
first floor, Or cellar, is used for storing OIL
the second for finishing, and the third for
greasing, drying etc. In the finishing
room there are three mahogany and FIVE
maple tables upon which to lay the leath-
er as ii receives the final touches ere it
goes out into the wicked world to be kick
ed about under the feet of men.
NO. TWO
Is similar In many respects to the one
already described, but it is much larger,
being So by So feet, three stories and the
attic. The building is lined with brick
so as to make it warm. 1t has twelve
tables for general currying purposes, but
harness stock is principally finished here,
As elsewhere we find in this branch of
the tannery hosts of workmen, each at
his individual share of the business,
working like beavers We like to see
men work, and have often thought what
pity we were not brought up to honest
toll. Let us look into that
STORE HOUSE
as we go along As by 80, just, and
hides enough to carpet Mantowoc county.
And how handy it is That great fiat
boat brings Its cargo along side and in Il
few minutes the hides are transferred in
side the hospitabie dwelling, there to
rest until needed at the vats. We have
spoken of the first building visited as the
main building it is for small hides, but
it can ha rdy compare with the
SOLE LEATHER .TANNERY.
This building is only 400 feet long and
about IS wide 1t was erected in 1861
and is built in the most substantial and
thorough manner. 1t is two stories high
and contains $50 double, or the same as
800 single, watts. 1t has a large wash
wheel and hide mill for cleaning the hides.
As in the other building there are teaches
-l3 Of cord, and of l6 cord capacity
where the liquor, or, more properly
speaking, fannie acid, is steamed out of
the bark. The bark at this tannery is
ground and distributed the same as in
the other, which we have already describ-
ed. But there is process here for
loosening the hair which is not practiced
at the other 1t is called the sweating
process, and takes the place Of lime, 1t
is carried on in a little house adjoining
the large building, which is some 4Ox50
and contains eight small rooms or pits,
each l2x16. These are made air tight,
and when the hides are in, heat and gas
are generated and this has some chemi-
cal effect on the roots of the hair, without
injuring the leather OF course this in
stitution has its engine and rooms the
same as those described in the first Of
this article. The only difference is, the
engine has quicker stroke, thus gaining
in power. The capacity Of this institu-
ton is simply $4,000 sides per annum.
UP STAIRS,
There is means of dampening leather
and also for drying it, rolling machine
for finishing, etc. 1t will be remembered
that nothing but heavy hides are handled
in this building, and only heavy leather
is found stored in the loft. One would
think that fire would have to be watched
pretty closely where there is so much
valuable property. 1t certainly is here.
The arrangements are truly admirable.
There is rotary pump connected with
each engine which will throw water all
over the building where it is located.
Besides this there is an excellent fire
engine which is always ready for service
in case of necessity. Thus far the con-
pany have been very fortunate in regard
to FIRE. But one of the best things we
noticed was an