Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1875-09-16

tries requiring the use Of leather. and where
green stock from the great slaughter houses
can be had in abundance.
This branch of the trade. so far rs 1t relies
upon crude hemlock bark as tannin materi-
al, receives its supplies (Which are growing
year by year more precarious) from the de-
tmllcd or small forests near the line OF The
rilway, stretching along and beyond the
Northern borders of the states. the deficiency
being made up by East India and domestic ex-
tracts. ON which they must eventually wholly
rely.
Our extract manufacturers. In order 10 avoid
competition in the price Of bark with the sole
leather tanners aud with the agents who pur-
chase bark along the line Of the railways for
III .i2ht stock tanners Of the great cities, are
forced to seek locations, for the manufacture OF
tn / srticle in forests too distant to be effected
by such competition. hence the Jason
why they are located in the distant forests
along the gulf and lower ST. Lawrence.
aud in the forests along the shores of the North
western lakes Extract manufacturers, in This
way, secure themselves, in a measure. against
competition in the price Of bark. but at the
sane time subject themselves to greatly in
Of railway, and to other Inconvenience and
expenses inseparable to their isolated aud dis
tant position. Yet, even with these drawbacks,
tneir situation i, far preferable to that of the
extract makers located in Northern Pennsyr
yauia and along the borders Of the lakes in the
immediate vicinity Of the great sole leather
tanneries, where competition has so increased
the price OF bark rs to greatly lessen the profits
on the manufacture. 1t must be remembered
that extract manufacturers in the localities re-
ierrcd TO above, do not own or control any
very considerable tracts Of hemlock lands.
Thi. brings my communication TO a point
where can more clearly illustrate TO the I'M
dcrstanding of those owning or controlling
hcmock forests, in this part Of Maine, my
views ~ 10 how they may realize from these
possessions the largest profit. Ifmy statements
are incorrect it is an easy mstier TO ascertain
wherein they are so.
The rannin business like all other industries
Ia. It's periodical depressions. These oernr a
often, at least, once every decade.
The s,aglaiion which has paralyzed sll the
manufacturing interests Of the country, has
fallen A. heavily upon the leather interest, a.
upon sny other OF our prominent industries.
The history OF the leather trade in this coun-
try, exhibits no instance of longer or more
serious depression thsn that which has borne
| 1t down for the past three years. During thai
| time the tanners near Boston have reduced
| their manufacture TO nearly one fourth the
| capacity OF their tanncres. while bark has re-
| ccdcd in price within the same time, from two
/ to four dollars per cord, hcmlock extract hsy-
los in nrttsa frg,
] tour and three quarters cents per pound to
! four cents per pound Now any man in this
/ part Of Maine. familiar with the cost OF peel
! ing, hauling and shipping bark TO the Missa-
/ chusetts markets, need not be told tnat there is
/ no money TO BE- made in the business at present
| prices sl3 per cord. He had better sell the
stump-lcaf 10 the bush tanner sst fifty cents per
: cord. ON the other hand. should he manulac-
/ turc his bark into extract, and 10y thu, dong.
| be able TO utilize all the bark of the tree. in.
stead OF throwing the better half away, tas is
| the usual customl and sell his extract at pres
/ ent market rates, which extract he can maui
/ ficturc. barrel and deliver in Boston. III his
! bark cost no more than the expense OF pseliuS
| and hauling TO his factory at cost not eN-
cecdins one cent and one half per pound. he
/
| per cord. while this is a correct and reliable
statement OF what is certain 10 be realized
! from judcious prosecution of the manufIc-
turc in thi. part of Maine, near the facilities
| Of cheap transportation and the bcst markets
! II by no means follows that any such results
can be realized where the price Of bark is
materially enhanced by competition. added to
| the cost Of transportation over long lines Of
railroads, 10 which most manufacturers OF eX-
tracts are subjected, present rates leaving
| them but small margin Of profit, compared
| with what may be realized from the manufac-
| ture here
| Ine value OF the business, In this part OF the
| state i, therefore, almost wholly due 10 the
| favorable location OF the hcmlock forests. and
to the fact that there are none other Of like cx-
tent, on the continent adyantagcously stu
ated for shipment to the best markets, and also
| 10 the fact, that most OF these great forest are
owned and controlled by parties who can util-
| ize them, wholly for the manufacture Of con
centrated extracts without fear that the piece
of bark will be advanced above the cost Of peel
ing and hauling by competition.
II the proprieiors OF these most valuable pos
sessions have not the ssgaciry 10 comprehend
their value, let them pass into the hands Of
those who can better understand their worth,
| and who Will utilize them for the benefit OF
the industries Of the country, before inatten-
ton and the forest fires render them a recollec-
,ion OF the past.
The depressions which periodically PROSTATE
the industries of the commercial world, do not,
necessarily arise from corrupt Legislature, nor
are they removed by the wisdom Of cabinet, or
OF statesmen. Resulting generally, from over
stocking the markets with the fabrics of the
work shops, the end works its own cure
through the enforced continent OF manufacture
and more restricted economy on the part Of
the people. We may therefore expect that the
enforced entrenchment, in the manufacture Of
leather during the past three years, with the
necessities OF the party, millions Of our people,
and the outlets we have opened for the sale of
the products Of our tanneries, through the Eu-
ropean markets. that our own stocked ware
houses OF the fabrics, are becoming sufficiently
retired TO stimulate with renewed activity, the
most important of our Industries. When all
the elements used in the manufacture will be
made more active and renumeraye.
4. W. JOHNSON.
Ganara No,uc