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


The several communications which have ap-
peared in your Journal, during the pat few
weeks, relating 10 the variety and extent OF
the native tannin material, embraced in the
forest regions and uncultivated districts Of
your county, showing their Importance TO the
manufacturing and commercial interests OF the
county, and their value, as a source o fwealth.
TO those interested in them, ifjudicously utiI-
lied, were intended to prompt those who own
them, TO greater care in their preservation.
II is u fact too we'll Understood 10 require
comment, that sll men are in-trictNely inclined
10 guard, with more jealous care, possessions
which they deem valuable, than they in
the habit OF giving to those OF little value, or
doubtful worth: hence while the people OF
Maine regarded the ir hemloek forests rather
as "a. incumbrancs than source Of profit. IL Is
not strange that they have been careless in
their preservation. What is strange, however.
in this connection, is that people so sccute
and comprehensive in the valuation OF their
other resources, aud OF all CONNIE rcial com
modities, should not have long since discovered
the enhanced value that each succeeding year
was giving TO their forests Of hemlock. and
have given TO them a corresponding with
their supposed value. Reasoning from these
premises the guarantee best calculated to in
'ure the future protection OF the remaining
iemlock forests of this State, from inattention
md waste, and that will tend 10 inaugurate
heir more judicious util izstion, is 10 make tile
people more fully comprehend their present
md growing importance 10 the commercial
| and TnauIifasfuripu int Of he
md how they may be most profi,ably distrib-
tied to meet these interests.
Although the articles already alluded TO,
which have appeared in your journal. have
uy elaborated these points propose to make
hem more plain, by briefly summing them up
this communication. The colossal fortunes
formulated by the tanners of the swamp (the
! eat OF the leather trade in New York City,
| ssny Of them ranking it'll the most promin-
4 MT financial princes Of the country, have been
| equired by the manufacture OF sole leather in
be hemlock forests, which once covered the
Aged slopes OF the Catskil mountains, along
heir range from the Hudson to the upper wat
Is Of the Delaware, and in the intervening
RESTS Of Northeastern Pennsylvania, lying
etween the Delaware and Susquehsnna. These
feat forests Of hemlock, once so extensive,
| ee now almost swept of, and the tanners are
ready beyond the Susquehanna with some of
| z largest sole leather tanneries in the world,
anted in the great forests along the Juniata,
I'd In those covering the mountain districts
Northwestern Pennsylvania, lying between
Y Susquehanna and Allegheny rivers, which
| 6mprise all the hemlock now left In that state.
1ese forests il not now wholly controlled by
= sole leather tanners, will soon be occupied
q monopolized by that gigantic interest.
The great forests Of the Adirondacks, in
3thern New York, are encirsled by the NAM
9TH tanneries Of the sole leather magnates of
1eton, whose great factories are also planted
ing the border forests Of your own state, and
t@se of New Hampshire and Vermont.
These are the forest districts occupied, mo-
rpolized and controlled, by the great sole
lAher interest Of the Northern states. To Sc
cSe themselves against com petition in the price
dark, these great sole leather manufacturers
pechase large tracts Of hemlock land In the
vlnity Of the intended location Of their tan
MES, or control the bark by contracting to
ps given sum for the stump-leaf. The pur-
cloes are, Of course, made ut the lowest pos
- rates yielding to the owner Of the land, In
NJ instances, but slight profit In COMPARE
10 what his bark might turn him IL judic.
ioay disposed Of. Unlike the sole leather
tsners who seek the wilderness where bark is
clip anc abundant, the manufacturers Of up
psleather, calf skins, harness leather and fan
cyfock, generally cluster around the great
ca1nercisl centers Of trade, nearer the manu-
fsarers Of boots and shoes, harnesses, car
ii, upholsterers and the many other indus