The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-03-11
ORTIZ GRANTS HIDE BUSINESS.
Taik- with the Owners of the Great Tam
ncries whcse cEiccs are Ia the swamp.

Talks with tho Owners Of the Grca, Tam
ncries whcsc OEiccs are ia the swamp.
Some investigation was made yesterday
In the Swamp 20 ascertain whether the horns or
the tails OF some Of the Government cattle,
whose hides form an important part of the tran,
ot own Grant military posts. M -ht he found
sticking out. The hest-known leather man In
the city pooh-poohed at the question. Said he,
Il don't believe that Orvil has ever sent hide
- New York. Most Of these military posts are
40 far In the interior that II wouldn't paw to send
them. hide weighing about thirty pounds, Is
worth from 50 to s. in New ork and II II costs
more than that to bring II here, 1t doesn't come
Those that do como from there are mostly
picked up when they get as far as Omaha, or
such places. where they are packed toce ther in
lots Of from ten TO lftv, aud then shipped to
Chicago OF 81. Louis or New York, where they
are manufactured into leather, and the
sn,ler That gets a hide OF squirrel
skin. or wooGchuck skin or a skunk skin
knuws 'iS value. Ny German jew friends are
out there In rye numbers, and have GOT the
thing down to cent. That Is too picayune
other living man does, and have helued him
out of good m nv diiiculiics. He and Mclean
were IN business In Chicago before the IRE
Mclean, who Is square man. put IN $4,000 and
lost II all, partly by the FIRE and paItly by bad
MANAGEMENT. | don't believe Orvil could End a
sutler that would trust him for hide. He's not
able t. tuy one. ana hasn't been since the
chicago Ire. lHE SUNS on the wrong scent
this time"
From another dealer il was learned that about
2jJOJO or 3OOUJO OF the 1.3Op,OOO hides that come
to New York yearly from the West re from inc
borders where the Indian reservations lie. The
post trader buys them from the Indian, who
rides mp 10 the post ON horse or mule back with
generally one or two at time. IL Is the current
opinion IN the SWAMP that sometimes these
post traders are not men OF high religious Drln-
ciples. and that sometimes the poor Indian h
porsuaded to part with the hide at some what
less than IT'S commercial value. The Western
leather houses have men out constantly who
visit these traders and buy up their stock of
niCes. The gentlemen VINO q We this lnforina-
ion had never heard Orvil Grants name men
toned in tho business.
Another firm thought that no hides were sent
from Fort sill TO New York, as they had re-
ceived none. and Orvii Grant was theiT friend,
ana had said that # any were sent to New orb
tho consignment should De to them.
Another gentleman laughed wnen he heard
tnat l III SCS wished To know something ABOUT
hides from the reservations, and said, IL see
tue polnt. Yes We had some OF them last year
"a fvw lots; but they've been discontinued
lately. don't know why. They are the best
domestic hides that come into this market. |
have tried u get them this yelr-niade several
atempts-Onrred as much ia ANYBODY tut
Cuul NJ yet them. VI had known that Oryil
Grant was In II would have been after him. |
don't know how many hides they take OF on
me average at the reservations but | have
heard IL sad there were about 500 a year al
Fort sll. We don't get them any more here.
hev gcl them IN Chicago, Bu1ralo, ST. Louis
MiWauLre, and LedVenwogth."
The inquiry IN tne swamp shows pretty clearly
thai OgvI and his partners at Fort Peck. Fort
BelEnap. ana other military trading posls, sell
tneir hides out West.