The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1881-01-28

some strange INDUSTRIES
The work 81 the stan Of officers ap.
pointed BY the superintendent Of the
Census 70 collect statistics relating 20
the industries and manufactures Of
New York City Is now approaching
completion and viii show, in the
opinion OF Mr.. Charles T.. Hill. the
gentleman in charge Of II. very salts
factory growth since 1870.
In the course Of the investigation By
Mr.. Hills deputies some singular in
dustries were brought TO light. 1t was
found. for instance. that some use was
made Of old shoes. but exactly what
use was hard TO lind out. Large num-
bcrs OF old shoes were sold by rag
pickers to certain men who disposed Of
them at good price. II Is well known
that bits Of old leather make the com
mercial article known as Prussian blue.
but only few firms manufacture it.
and the new call for old shoes was
evidently for some other purpose. In
New York City and Brooklyn about
three million pairs Of old shoes are
thrown away every year. Formerly old
shoes were plentiful in the cutters Of
certain neighborhoods: now It appears
that they are sought after rs choice prizes
in the rag-picker' line. BY dint Of perse-
vering inquiry II was discovered that the
old shoes were used for three purposes.
First, all shoes not completely worn out
are patched, CREASED. and, after being
otherwise regenerated, sold TO men who
deal in such wares. Some persons wear
one shoe much more than the other;
these dealers lind mates for shoes whose
original mates are past hope. Second
w, the shoes not worth patching up are
cut into pieces: the good bits are used
for patching other shoes. and the worth
less bits. the soles and cracked sup
pers.n are converted into Jamaica rum
BY q process known only TO the manu-
facturers. 1t is said that they are
boiled in pure spirits and allowed to
stand for few weeks. the product far
surprising the Jamaica rum made with
essences, burnt sugar and spirits. A
gentleman who doubted the truth Of
this story stopped recently at low
grog shop in the neighborhood Of the
factory spoken Of and inquired il they
had any rum from old shoes. mo"
said the barkeeper. !" we don't keep Il
much now; the druggists. who want
pure article. all sell il. and the price has
gone up. But we have had il. and we
can get you some II you want IL" How
many old shoes 60 70 . gallon Of rum
could not be ascertained.
It has been noticed BY some deputies
that while manufacturers are quite will
ing to put valuation upon their manu-
featured product they hesitate about
stating the value OF the raw material.
and even return the schedules with the
space for the value Of raw material left
blank. Iii one instance manufacturer
OF tomato catsnp returned report Civ
ing the value Of his manufactured prod
uct at $4,000 and the value Of his raw
material as nothing. His explanation
was IS follows: Every year in the com
ing season he sends TO al! the wholesale
houses which make business Of can
ming tomatoes clean tubs, with the
understanding that the women who trim
and peel shall throw the skins and par
ings into these tubs; every day the tubs
are removed. the stuff in them ground
up. fermented. Favored and sold as to-
mato catSup 10 the extent Of $4,000.
Another singular and decidedly per
nicions business u the manufacture on
a large scale II cheap candies from
white earth or terra alba mixed with 4
little sugar ard glucose. The deputy
who investigated the confectionery
business reports that seventy-fivc per
centum of some candies Is composed 0f
these substances, and such candy, nota-
bly, gum drops" contain still less SUI
oar The elect If white cart uuon fha