Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1869-10-08

rossed is worth one-third more per ton |
than ton of hemlock bark rOssed. Ev- !
cry Intelligent manufacturer OF leather un-
derstands that leather tanned with an equal
mixture of oak and hemlock bark gives
more weight, and greater value is impart-
ed to the stock. rendering it more desirable
and moro profitable.
The reason why tho tanners of this anu
the Now England States use hemlock bark
exclusively in the manufacture OF their
leather is simply because these States pro-
duce only the hemlock. The oak they
have rejected in consequence of the dis
tance of supply. Had Virginia and North
and South Carolina been peopled by race
as inquisitive and ambitious as are those
on our northern frontier, they would long
since have found that an unlimited market
existed along the New England coast for
the oak bark, which they have hitherto
suffered to go to waste.
| No effort as [ can learn has been made
oven since the construction of the numeI-
GUS railways from the Atlantic ports back
into the oak forests of Virginia, North
and South Carolina, Georgia and Florida,
| to transport bark to the very heart OF the
leather trade of New England cheaper
than it can DO transported from beyond
the Canadian border over the long rail-
forests are also penetrated by innumerable
navigable streams, which offer cheap and
convenient transit to tidewater.
Tho art of converting the astringent
properties of oak and hemlOck bark into
an imperiahable extract, which is being
successfully introduced in various parts CT
the remote forests where bark costs only
the labor of peeling, should be noticed
here The great cost of the necessary ap-
pliancea for this manufacture and the
practical chemical skill required, cOnfine
the profits of tho enterprise to the few,
who can control the necessary capital and
skill The limited pccuniary means OF the
people of Virginia places its advantages
beyond the reach of the masses Of the PEG
pie As all tanners prefer the ush OF crndC
bark to concentrated extract, however per
foct it's manufacture may be, it is clearly
for the interest of the people Of the Allan
tic oak States. where bark can be had IN
abundance contiguous to tho facilities
of cheap transportation to tidewater
to grind and chip their bark in bags like
those used for transporting snmac, as i
prevents waste and saves the cost OF hand
ling bark in tho slab in the several trans
shipments through which it must neces
rily pass in reaching its destination. -
Tanners not only prefer it in this shape
but tho bark, after being deprived of it,
tanning properties, will command ready
sale to tho chemical works III the towns
contiguous to the tanneries-the formel
paying from six to eight dollars per tor
for it. This will reduce the cont of trans
portntion to abont tho price of transport
ing ita equivalent in extract mndo iron
h the same quantity of bark.
, Now, Mr.. Editor, should tho "Jonrna
CT Commerce. set forth these facts to the
people of Virginia as earnestly. clearly
and ably III it incnlcatcd the importance
of the culture and preparation of snmac, i
would benefit alike the people Of Virglnli
and tho leather trade OF the Northern ant
Eastern States.
Oak bark raised, gronnd and shipped il
bags to this and tho Eastern markets vii
eventually form one Of the most Valuabi
of the commercial industries Of the Ok
Dominion, and Your paper will deserV
the credit for urging upon the people o
Virginia to take Immediate stops iii tn
inauguration OF All enterprise 90 essentia
to their prosperity. j.