Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-10-11

rested on a floating island. Report says
that when building the road the pies
were sunk to depth of 100 feet without
much improvement as to solidity.
The tanning OF alligator and snake
hides is one of the industries Of Fort Myers.
The Fort Myers Press says Among the
many Industries of this State that have
been agitated this one has taken definite
shape. Although the building is some
what small even now for the work, they
are making the best Of II and are turning
cut pelL5 by the hundred. We believe
they have now several hundred gator,
snake. buck, faWn, otter, etc, skins IN
various stages OF completion. Among the
most beautiful of pelts now in durable
leather, we noticed particularly the moe
casin, RATHER, thunder and black snake,
all retaining their natural markings TO 8
wonderful degree. The gator, fawn and
buck skins are simply perfect, soft, plia-
BILE and strong. 1t Is stated by no less au-
thority than the Shoe and Leather Re-
porter, Chicago, that all such tanning has
hitherto been shipped to France in order
10 receive this fine fnisb. Mr.. Daniel
Welch has solved the secret, or what is
more likely, discovered process Of his
own which is unapprOachable and far sur
passes the foreign goods now on our
markets. AS we have heretofore said in
these columns, this is a most commend
able industry and one that will eVentu-
ally bring in large profits to it's owners.
There will be no difficulty in procuring
all the SKINS that can he hand led, and
next year with improved machinery they
nope to bring the mangrOve tree, leaves
and roots to serve their purpose, which
will be used in the process of tanning.
Washington Cd. c. Post: The War
Department clerks have been good deal
puzzled OF late in preparations for repairs
70 the sea wall at st. Augustine, Fla.
The wall was built by Gen. Scott hat
century or so ago. There were left in il
some openings, which it is now thought
best to fill up. 1t is also to be extended
TO further protect the public reservation
there. When the appropriations came to
he made for this work there was natural
inquiry as to the material Of which the
wall is built. TO this inquiry the answer
came that il is built OF "coquIna." This
was a stumper. Dictionaries were
searched, experts were questioned, and
there was great time to tnd out what
"cOquina" was. At last some officer
who had spent some time at the st. Au-
justine barracks came to the relief of
the puzzled clerks. He told them
that cOquina is a conglomerate stone, a
sort of natural concrete. which the ocean
has mixed at this particular point and
left it there for the use of man. 1t is
cOnglomerate OF small shells, coarse sand,
and lime deposit from the salt water.
The lime so deposited forms a cement
which makes the whole mass soft cor
crete. which hardens rapidly on exposure
to the atmosphere. This material has
been used for building purposes at this
point for century or more. 1t is found
at but one other point in this country. IN
deed, it is not known of it exists any
where else In the world 1t makes very
fine building material. easy tn quarry and
cut into blocks, and durable as stone
when it has hardened. The old fort and
most of the buildings at ST. Augustine
are constructed oft, for the supply thert
is ineXhausGible.