Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1876-08-31
The New Industry.


stopping IN EiiSWoTu to" o"' Pe~P'o
through the columns Of the American that |
In his travels through Eastern Maine he
had discovered great quantities Of
sweet fern, and that judging from
his own observation and from what
he had learned by inquiry OF the people,
one half at least of ali the uncultivated
lands In the counties of Washington, Han
cock aud Penobscot from which the forests
had been felled,or swept of by the forest
nres, were covered all over with dense
and luxurious growth OF sweet iern, aud
wondered why IL was that our people al
lowed ii to 20 to waste. a. the shruo WAS
richly impregnsted with the choicest and
most valuable tanniu principles used In the
manufacture OF the most valuable grades
ot misunderstanding that IL properly pre-
pared for the use OF tanners it would even
tualy prove one OF the most valuable re-
sources OF this part OF the Stste. lie
claimed that at the same price tanners pay
for ,um.c the fern would command tie
market, a. it impaired to leather greater
strength. tirmne.s, hexability and durabii-
ity beside 1t gave TO the stock color more
desirable than could be obtained from SUI
mac.
As AN illustration OF the magnitude OF
the industry which the utilization OF this
inexhsustable resources might build up IN
this part OF the State, he called attention to
the Immense extent OF the Importation OF
s,,,,.,. fr,,, a.. countries haTd,riny mn the
coast OF the MEDITERRANEAN. in addition To
the annually increasing quantities pro-
duced ami manufactured Ia Virginia, CLAIM
Ing TINT there is tern enough growing In
the counties OF Washington. Hancock add
Penobscut 10 answer the demands OF the
leather trade Ia the place OF suniac not
with>tandin: the gigantic proportions
which tue demand for that article has at
tanned. lie assured them that though they
might not be able TO wholly monopolizc
the trade the adv antages was 50 much 10
their tayot that they could with the rcq"is-
tie amount OF enterprise at least divide the
al. vantage which resulted to those who
supplied Il.
fern. MAS at the proper season-Ausust,
September and October--to gather and
cure the fern aud extract rs tannin prop
critics and concentrate them 10 an impcr-
ishable liquid extract for shipment to the
tanners.
lie asserted that this industry once com
mcnced would build up many Of these ex-
tract factories which would be located at
different points in the three counties most
convenient to the fields OF fern aud that in
the gathering curing and hauling TO the
place OF manufacture and In making aud
shipping the extarct, great mum beers OF our
laborins people would lind profitable en-
ploy ment which OF course would tend TO
impart healthy stimulous 10 all the in
dustries Ia their surroundings
Plausible aud tempting as the statements
in these communications appeared the pub
lie MAS not prepared 10 credit them. The
people knew that the statement relating to
the abundance OF sweet ieru in this part OF
Maine was true, but that this shrub which
they had always been accustomed to re-
gard as "A worthless incum berance 10 their
soil and which Increased in quantity with
their effort. 10 cxIermnate Ii, possessed
such virtues a. to entitle il 10 be siasscd
with the most valuable resources ri the
state, they "ere not prepared 10 believe.
II II possessed properties OF such sxtraor-
binary value to the leather trade. why had
a ytfI 81
leather trade found il out? There were
men all over the country as wise and IN
t-ilisent a. this stranger, why had not
some one OF them made this most impor-
taut discovery:
There Was however an exception to this
more lar sighted. Intelligent. enterprising
or senturesome than his nclghbors. be-
lieved the statement. lie recoIlected that
he had seen boots made from calf skins
tanned with sweet fern which were extraor-
binary for their pllability aud durability.
lie also RENE mbered that the strongest,
tirmest, and most elastic lace leather wa.
tanned with sweet fern and he saw no rea-
the strangers communications In the Ame-
lean. Acting upon the strength OF these
convictions, Capt. Eaton with his sons
commenced the construction of the extract
factory which at Hancock is now manu-
featuring 900 lbs Of fern extract per day.
The extract In the purity and strength OF
its tannin properties and in the beauty of
its color is even superior to what the strau-
ger claimed for il, while the yield, or per-
centage of tannin obtained from the fern
is much greater than was expected or that
Il was claimed 10 possess. The rapidty
with which 1t penetrates and tanas leather,
the pliabilty aud llrmness OF the stock 50
tanned, in connection with the beauty OF
its color, leaves no doubt OF its greater So
periority as tannn agent.
TO Capt. Eaton is justly due The credit
of having inaugurated and practically dem
onstrated the value OF an industry, which
for the want of material In other parts OF
the country, can flourish only in Eastern
Maine, the value OF which To the people In
the counties which produce this resource
can scarcely be over estimated.
Correspondence.