Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1876-07-01
TUMWATER INDUSTRIES.
THE TANNERY.

THE TANNERY.
One oi the most useful industries,
especially in new country, is that of
the tanner: He not only affords mar
kct for product that would otherwise
be valuclcsS, but cuts off the importa-
ton of many of the important staples
made from leather. The tannery ut
Tumwater, established in 1859, has con-
tributed no little aid towards pioneer
i"g the way for manufactures and keep
ing the hard earnings of the early set
tiers in the country. It was the joint
enterprise of Messrs. Biles e. Carter
until 1862, when Mr.. Biles became sole
owner. The business is now conducted
by j. b. Biles & Co.. son of the pro
pricter having become the principal
member of the firm. The tannery is
situated on the eastern bank of the ill.,
let, about 900 yards from the lower fall
Immediately opposite the sash and door
mandatory of Mr.: Cooper It is ap-
preached by road leading from the
old stage highway at the top of the
hill, and by one traversine the banks OF
the Des Chutes from the upper bridge
The tannery is supplied with all the
essential requisites for conducting the
business thoroughly in the manufacture
of all ordinery grades of leather. The
machinery is driven by an 8-horst
power Kendall turbine wheel, under g
2s-feet head of water, conveyed by 6
Aume from top of the lower fall. This
power is found to be ample for running
the bark-mill, the fulling-mill and the
rockers by which the leather is handled
in the watts. Hemlock bark is used ex.
clusively in tanning in this country
oak not being produced in sufficient
quantities to make trial of it advisable
The bark is furnished at the tannery fo1
$9per cord. The quantity is practically
unlimited, and differs very materially
from the hemlock in the East. It needs
no rousing," and is possessed, to {
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qualities which make it an agent fol
converting hides into leather. In thu
course of time an important business
may spring up in extracting this princi
pie from the bark for export. The ex
tract of cord of bark may thus b.
placed in an ordinary barrel and it oil
ways commands stated quotation as
staple of commerce. .1.-.
Hides cost 4 cents. pound greer
and from to 10 cents dry, which ar
about one-half the rates they com
,manded a year ago. The differen
varieties of sole, upper and harnes
leather are produced equal to the hes
that can be imported, and at quite a
reasonable figures, ranging from 25 t.
30 cents per pound Betting of superio
quality is supplied at the latter figure
and the firm are now manufacture!
lacing, which finds ready sale in tn
mills and machine shops on the Coast
The tannery at Tumwater has cos
about $4,000. Its annual product j
valued at about $4,000, and it employs
on an average, four men. The produc
could be doubled, if the demand woul'
justify it. The firm ships surplus hide
to Portland and Victoria, where ikewis
they find their principal customers TO
leather, aside from the local trade.
The leather trade is at present con
siderably depressed, the prices being
about ten per cent. lower than the.
were last year, but as the expectation o
leather and hides to Europe has largel,
increased of late, it is hoped that th'
rates will advance. The average ship
ments from New York have been 10, 00(
ides per week during the past few
months. Remotely situated as we are
of course Eastern prices exercise but I
partial influence, but as the grea
arteries of business regulate the com
merce of the world, it is interesting tx
note in this connection, the; revival of &
trade in which our whole country ma,
be largely pro6ted.