The morning call., 1890-05-05
TAN-BARK SEASON,
The Time for Feeling the Oak Is
Now at Hand.
An Extra Big Supply Wanted-Tanners Fix
the Price-substitutes for Oak Bark and
Something About Them.

The busy season for the tan.bark men ls Just
cOmmencing-the time when the peeling of the
oak starts In earnest.
In some places 1t Is possible to commence
operations earlier than In others. In warm
sunny spots week or two hence will see every
thing In full swing; in others and colder neigh
borhoods, month may elapse before much can
be done.
In view Of the bright prospect among
tanners, an unusually heavy supply will be
needed this season. In fact, there is no danger
OF there being too much, the possible trouble
may lie in there being too little. The rapid
growth OF the leather trade on this Coast In.
wolves quite heavy consumption even under
ordinary conditions though as slated, the
sors in lively activity.
The average yearly consumption probably runs
into fully 10000 cords OF oak bark not to speak
OF certain substitutes coming into more frequent
use. mentioned below. Already the tanners
nave fixed on SIG so per cord as a fair price,
which they agree to pay the season through, a
hgure slightly above that of other average years.
YET, while they claim IL is the extreme limit they
can AFFORD to pay, bark-getters, especially those
al distance, claim that the price is not too
profitable.
A TANNERS VIEWS
" The fact is" said Mr.. kaufman of Kaull-
man & Salz, Of the Stockton and Benica tan.
neIies, 1--WE can't afford to pay one cent over this
Sl6 DO per cord, delivered, and consider 1t
Just prlcet at WHICH Dafk-StrlpperS can make
living or course, for those who peel bark too far
back and have difficult means of transportation,
there Is little profit stick ing out worth speaking
about. The profit In getting bark to the market
Is largely matter Of distance aud haulage Still,
at the hgure fixed on by the tanners, those within
easy range can make really good wages. The
biggest supply comes from Mendocino, Hum
Doldt ana Sonama counties. The oak grows all
mike mixed with the redwood. and must be got out
nfst OF the TWO. l mean before the redwood, as
the falling OF those giants would smash all the
oaks into smithereens
g Yes. honestly, that Is the best price we tam
ners can AFFORD to pay In The face OF the extra
good prospects ahead that we all cheerfuly ad-
init and are thankful for II the barkmen 90 be-
yond this limit and shove prices up Pm soiry TO
say we'll have TO go In for the extracts, now be-
Ing SO freely put upon the markets OF the world.
SUBSTITUTES FOR BARK.
Now about these extracts, concerning which
so little Is known outside the trade They are
largely used In the East and are chiefly put Ip 10
Virginia, Pennsylvania and some in Tennessee
Laid down here they cost just about equal to the
oak bark values here. Indeed, that has been
about the basis OF our calculations In deciding on
that price. Higher than that we can't go and
compete with Eastern tanners. And while We
prefer Californian oak bark for some reasons,
there are others In which these substitutes have
marked advantages.
"They are highly concentrated extracts made
out OF either oak or hemlock. the latter being
somewhat cheaper, but they be mixed TO
concentrated extracts have to be reduced TO a
strength TO suit the style and grade of leather
they are iuteHueu 10 tail we nave been using
them In our tanneries at Benicia and Stockton,
the liquor registering strength OF from 70 to
30 degrees Beaume. Some / saw to-day have
been Imported in q dry state-a new departure
As yet, though, the crude manufacture, with
some very visible imperfections. has not Justified
any extensive use of these extracts dry. The
drying process at present seems Inclined to burn
the extract which, of course stains the leather
and so deprecates values. III appearance they
are more like soda crystals than anything else,
only, OF course. quite dark in color.
ADVANTAGES OF EXTRACTS.
spoke of some decided advantages In ex.
tracts over oak bark. First and foremost, 1t is
nicer and more easily handled. Then we can regu.
late the thing down 10 so fine point, The specific
strength being marked on each barrel, that
there Is not One-half degree OF variation in the
matter of strength, while California bark liuuor
VIII show live or six degrees variation in twenty
Tour hours The one has not the same regu-
iarity, Is more uneven than The other in
strength. And why not? Perhaps half dozen
mixed lots Of bark from half a dozen localities
each OF varying qualities, are all used together
growing on sunny slde-hill yields 4 very differ
eDt bark in point OF strength from one growing
at the foot OF gully. Aud so climate Is a great
help In this respect to California tanners. Indeed
with our climate, our bark, and a hide naturally
superiOr-if the branding-lron and the butcher.
natioD--we can turn out as we do, leather that
can hold Its own anywhere In the wide world"
ANOTHER TANNERS VIEWS.
Eyes, indeed" said member OF the firm OF
Franks q Co., tanning prospects are very fat
teing, and we Will want every cord Of bark we
can lay our hand. on. Let 'em send 1t along In
any quantity, but beyond that SIG so we can't
pay. Wen have 10 fall back largely on extracts
Il we can't get bark aud enough Of 1t at that