Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1875-08-19
ELLSWORTH, August 18th, 1875.

| -uF- EutOf.
In late communication to the American. |
undertook TO impress upon the minds of III g
people OF Eastern Maine, the advantages they
might derive from utiliziog the Sweet Fern for
'he use OF tanners. which is everywhere so
abundant in this part Of the State.
In that communication l stated this, ,bs
sweet Fern, As . tsnnin agent. was AS valu. n.
BILE as the most costly tannin material used I'm
the manufacture OF the choicest varieties az
ieiiher. In this opinion have the concurrence
OF score or more Of the most prominent tan
ners OF Eastern Mass, engaged In the mann.
faeiure Of the different varieties of the finer
kinds OF lesther-to whom have written. ask
ing its value and uses as a taunin agent. NJ.
compared with other tannin material euployed
IN the manufacture BIZ them.
As stated in my former communication TO
your journal, my attention was called to this
subject by noticing, while travelling through
The forests regions of this part Of the state
great barren or burn, districts, comprising
many thousands of acres. covered with dense
growth OF Sweet Fern, and on emerging from
the forests. also saw that most of the pasture
lands produce IL in great quantities. aud was
told by the people OF whom | enquired, that
Its growth was not colined to any one portion
OF the state, that though IL might grow more
ensely on the barren, it was produced IN
great quantities on the pasture lands IA the in
terror and along the entire coast, many fields
being overgrown with it. Being myself tam
ner, and knowing the yalue OF this shrub As y
tannin agent. and TO some extent. familiar with
the magnitude. growing enlargement, aud want.
OF the leather trade. aud fully cognizant Of the
rapid depletion OF the great forests of hemlocs
ia the Northern States. which have for 50 long
period. constituted the principal source from
which the trade has derived it, supplies Of tan
min. IL is not strange that should recognize
this shrub. so prolific in your State. as eyentu-
ally hecoming one OF the most ysluable OF it,
Resources.
The advantages which the people Of Maine
mar derive through the utilization Of this pro-
duct, for the use of tie leather trade viii be
more readily comPrehcnded by those Of your
citizens who understand the magnitude OF that
industry, and the growing scarcity Of one Of
the most important elements by which Il is
sustained in districts Of the country. which
have hitherto constituted it, great or PRINCIPAL
sources of supply.
The manufacture Of leather, occupies the
foremost rank Of the manufici uring industries
OF the Northern States. Its product. exceed in
value by many million dollars those. either OF
the Iron, Cotton. or Wooden manufacture. OF
these states. Pennsylvania, New York and the
New England States, hold in about equal pro-
portions the monopoly of thi, NEST important Of
all our manufacturing enterprises. II has,
with lis coilaieriye, or dependant branches
made OF Boston aud the towns in it, enyirons,
the great manufacturing center OF the Eastern
states. aud ha, given TO this State a prominence
most en'iable, not 30 much perhaps. from the
extent the state produces, from the acknowl-
edged eNcellency Of the product. Of 1t. Mann
moth Sole Leather Tanncre..
Our tanner, have attained 4 skill in the man
ufaciuie Of many of the varieties OF leather,
which has opened the European markets for
the sale Of their products, against " hich they
had. until within the last few years, been stu
diously closed. Our exports in the products of
our tanneries, hsye within the past three or
four years, more thsn quadrupled, and from
present indications, promise ere long, TO ex-
cede in extent, the expectation Of any Of the
fabrics Of our workshops.
The tendency OF this industry ike that OF
many Of our manufacturing enterprises, is, TO
center or locaiize around our great CONNER
ciai center,-hence Boslo on and the towns IN it,
environs, have become the great boot aud shoe
manufacturing districts OF the United States.
Attracting with IL, the manufacture Of leather,
and most OF its dependant, or collateral
BRANCHES Of the trade, 10 An extent that makes
Eastern Mass, the most prominent leather
manufacturing district Of the States.
The great forests Of heIHiock which once COY.
cred 20 large part OF the New England States,
aud those beyoEd their Northern border,
stretching deep into the Canadian Provinces
have constituted the source from which the
leather trade here, la, derived lis principle sup
ply Of tannin. In contributing 10 thi, trade,
Maine has derived for the last my years, an
annual revenue, most important 10 her people.
The drain Of the leather trsde-the inroads
of ciyilzation-the lumber demands. together
with the ever active elements of waste, and
devastation, have 50 lar depleted these great
forests, ~ 10 render them incapable Of longer
contributing materially to the wants Of the
leather trade, beyond the require ment, OF the
bush tanners along their rececding borders thus
cutting Of one Of he mo-; important sources
OF profit, aud employment. the people OF Maiue
have mninterruptedly enjoyed Tor the last half
century. While the trade. once wholly depeu-
dant ON these forests for thi. most important
adjunct Of the manufacture, gradually subsii-
tute.. in place OF the hcmlock. East India ex-
Ia.
the Mediterranean Sea, aud on the worn out
plantations OF Virginia. While Maine unknown
even 10 the most Intelligent Of her citizens,
produces in almost unlimited abundance, a
product Of her soil Extremely limited In all
the other States rich in properties most valu-
able tor the manufacture OF the yarietie. OF
leather product by The tanners Of Eastern
Mass.
Nearer TO the best markets along the Sc,
board, for the sale OF tannin material and hay.
ing the advantage OF cheap freights, which tide
water insures-her people may, il they will, al
most wholly monopolize the traffic in this mos
staple OF our commodities.
Well instructed in the proper time TO gather
the Sgee, Fern a4d la The hest m,de Of pre-
pairing il for shipment, and the Use of the tan
ner. they may soon, more than regain the
Trade they have lost with the disappearance q
their forests of hemiock, Il, this product o
their soil will yield much better profit.
There are none OF the elements essential /.
cisiliz 'iion. which Providence has planted il
the soil Of the RESPECTIVE states, the development
OF which, will not enhance the wealth Of III,
people and elevate :heir condition, Will
States in which these gins are allowed to re
main dor.nan'. or inactive, seldom increase II
population. As the more ambitious of the peo
PIE seek other localities more active. and en-
terprising, T. W..
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