Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1869-07-30
LETTER FROM NEW YORK.
FIFTH ASENuE HUTEL,
NV YORK, July IL, 1869.

Mr. EDIToR: Ia recent somewhat ex
tensive exploration IF East Tennessee,
was partic ularly impressed with the inn
nlepse extent and luxurious growth Of the
great forests of black oak along the slopes
III your magnificent mountains, and over.
shaduwing tue shores OF ySur beautiful
river, aud stretching along the line Of your
railway, from Lyncbburg 10 Chattanooga
On mentioning this fact to friend 8 nee
my return TO this city he said, go with me
over to Astoria IA small village on Long Is
land, some three IN les distau',) and W u
show you how the people oi + iSt Tennessee
can make their black oak forests the most
productive element Of wealth, embraced
within their mountain region, II they have
the energy aud enterprise to develop it9-
Ia compliance with the re nest of my
friend, accompanied him to Astoria where
We visited sma factory, owed and OPP
Grated by Messfs. Johnson aud Sons, v no
were grinding aud refining black oak bark,
which they begged an sold To the whole.
sals dye houses for shipment to Europe,
where it is used for cUloriig purpose IN
print works, in place Of the East India
madden. Grounc, r, fined aud begged. it is
quo Sn as qla citrOn bark, AMI commands
a market p ice raging iIom Sj5 TO $40 per
ton, When scare IL mar iet II sometimes
runs up TO $50 and 500 per ton, Chat Is
the first grade which is tho article refined
or properly prepared.)
the mill reGIiUg attachments of Mos,r..
johnson aud sons, (Which they manufacture
ihe mseiyesl prepares the b,ik 50 rs H. iu
snre them The highest market prices
aud at The rate of from 20 10 10 cords per
day, or as SIR. johnson infom.d me THEN
mills will grind one aud bait cords OF
crude bark per hour aud prepare il for beg
giGg.
From most careful Investigation Of the
markets, the cost of cruIe ba,k or bark 10
the ab, delivered here, the cost Of labor,
price Of bags, g., AN s4ti. ii sd that, 81
the very lowest prlces the ground pa cit.
ron ever reaches, II will rel urn to these
men net profit OF from $40 to SIS per
cent. nice little business, truly, when
the entire oa'l J for a factory Tess IA rongh
shelter and ten horse motive power, which
may be Of steam or wLtvr,) caunot Exceed
5000. The mil, with retinIng atisehn~u,-
coslingb but 800, ~ was as'ur, by Messrs
!. & Sous that they sold III IN az that price.
Ga further inquiry learned there are five
or six o; these small factories ia aud con
tigiOus to the city, which owacd aud
operated by ssme OF the piinc.psl whule-
sale hOu"s in the ci'y, all receiving Their
supphos of ciuiu bark from the coubtry
slOIg tie Potomac IN James rivers, aid
fron along the st of Nortl. Cnolna.
Now, Mr.. Eli'Ur, your people eau pro
cu'e black oak baik pr, ssrd aud delivered
al stations aloug the liue of your road way
Throughout H. IN ire lrig b f,r pr,cs no,
exceeding 81 per cord, presm d, wheD it
can be ground, baeg aud shipped T., thi,
city for a transportation charge uOt cgce, d.
ing $40 per ton, TO which al price Of bark,
81 bags and Labor, So, with 81 per ton a.
commissions, making IA the aggregate the
cost per ton, S22, al the lowest raIrs which
IL ever sels IN tins cit., Boston aud Pnila-
dvlphia, $50 per tou, IL will return To the
op 'ratur net profit of sl3 per cord.
Black oak bark lrassed will weigh from
2 200 lrs. 10 3 800 lbs. per cord, which
would also be the weight when ground. ]
hazard nothing 10 saying that as prices
have ranged Tor good qua citron during the
last three years, It will retnrna net average
profit per cord of at least $40.
Please set these facts before the people
of East Tennessee through tho medium Of
your column, and if | haze not greatly
pverrated the intelligence aud enterprise OF
the people Of that mountain region, these
qua ctron mills will soon DO at work utiliz
ing these hitherto almost worthless f'rest.
-Haor. Wig. RlsDES.