The Republican journal., 1877-03-01
Russia Leather Goods.
Boston Commercial Bulletin.

Russia leather pocket books for fifty cents q
piece, offered by street ptdders, of course eX
cited the suspicion that they must be mere
imitation article, but the passer who, attracted
by their appearance, halted for Il moment for
examination, was struck with the fact that they
wert. not only soft, we'll dressed leather but
stood the iufallhe test of smell by which the
genuine "Russia" i, distinguished The con
cu>ion reached, therefore, was, that the stock
offered by the Vent!er must have been III some
manner itltgtimateiy obtained, or was part of
somebody : failed stock. The real fact, however
is that the secret Of the Russia leather perfume
has been discovered by an American, and that
we can make Russia euther goods now in Amer
lea much cheaper than they can be imported.
And ere loug. owing to the superiority of our
tannage, may export these goods to Russia and
Austria; Vienna being the place where Russia
leather is manufactured into the beautiful port
manteaus, hand bags, pocket books, card cases,
and hundreds of other articles, all fragrant with
The peculiar and agreeable perfume.
The red hue of Russia leather IS simply
staining process that is no secret but the dis
covery of the scent is what we have to do with
and it is Il wonder that some enterpriSng \ an
kee did not ascertain it before.
The Hon. Marshall Jewell, our late Minister
to the Court Of St. Petersburg, was practical
tanner having in his youth been apprenticed
to and thoroughly learned the business, and
like a practical man, besides attending TO the
diplomatic business OF his office in the country
into which he had been sent, instead OF allowing
that To be his sole occupation, made an eXamina-
tion, us far rs practicable, into the system of
government, finance, methods of business, and
the position and progress of the manufactures
Of the country. Among other examinations, he
visited all the tanneres possible and examined
the different methods of curing and tanning
hides. In this, many facts interesting TO Amer
leans We're developed. One that the Russians
cannot make as good sole leather as is made in
this country, the American sole leather now
being the best uScd and another, what he
specially sought, the source of the Russia leath-
er scent. This Is owing to the presence OF
birch-bark tar, which is used in dressing the
skins in place of tallow and grease, the latter
substances being so largely used rs food among
The lower classes. This tar, which Is carefully
saved as it eXudes from the wood when burned,
was first used as substitute for wheel grease
in Russia, as it is to this day, and then for the
filling and dressing of skins
BY a system Of careful inquiry, and literally
following his nose during his visits to some of
the great Russian tanceries and curriers' shops,
Mr. Jewell found this compound in great ket-
tie ready for use, and thus the mystery was
solved. 1t is not an expensive article, costing
something like ten dollars Il barrel, and he i'm
mediately ordered ten barrels and sent them to
various leading leather manufacturers in this
country with Instructions, and the result is that
genuine Russia leather goods are now made in
America, and doubtless will soon be sold at
nearly fifty per cent below former prices.