Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-11-24
OF TRADE.
Wonderful Growth Of Express Busi-
ness to the East End.
LIGHT HIDES STILL DROPPING.
Bark Problem of Great Importance to
Tanning Industry.
HOGS AT THEIR LOWEST THIS WEEK
OFFICE OF PITTSBURG DISPATCH, I
SATURDAY. November q, 1890.
Growth of Eruress RuSipess

SATURDAY. NOVemDer lO5V. } F.
Growth of Express Business.
The growth of the East End is abundant
" demonstrated by the great growth OF the
express business. About so horses are enl-
pIoysd to deliver packages to Oakland,
Shadyside, East Liberty and beyond, out
side of those employed by the merchants of
the city in delivering goods. One company
employs 13 teams constantly, and, in present
condition of East End streets, the work is
very trying to the patience and muscle both
of horse and human flesh. Last winter this
company lest six horses, and. from present con-
dition of streets in eastern suburbs, as many
are likely to succumb this winter.
One expressman, who, until recently has been
delivering as far east as Williamsburg, has
lately retired from the field. There are no
harder worked men or horses in our city than
those employed in delivering packages to the
suburbs.
Hides Still Dull.
The hide market continues dull. From all
centers of trade advices of dropping tendencies
are received. A letter received by one of our
dealers to-day, from one of the leading opera
tors in Boston, says: ''The financial cloud over
the country makes buyers very cautious. There
is no change for the better, but rather the re-
verse. The drooplng tendency in our hide
market still continues"
The tanners of Pittsburg and Allegheny are
Offering within &c Der pound of the lowest
price reached by light hides last spring. This
brings prices Lc below last weeks offers.
Heavy hides and calf skins are practically un-
changed, but dull and slow.
The following from the Shoe and Leather
ReUte10 opens up subject OF great Importance
to the tanning industry:
The Bark Problem.
"One casually would scarcely comprehend the
great drain which is annually being made upon
our bark-producing forests Half a century
ago the tanning industry of the United States
was ventered In Western Massachusetts, and
Eastern New York. Gradually by the denuda-
tion of the forests and the development oil the
Great West the industry has become more
generally disseminated, until to-day prosperous
tanneries are scattered throughout many
states of the Union. But as the bark supply
becomes limited in one section the industry is
apt to seek new fields. This has been demon
strated in the East. Western Massachusetts
to-day does not possess dozen hrms, and those
in Northern and Eastern New York, Maine,
New Hampshire and Vermont are gradually
going out of the business Bark, which is such
a factor in the production OF the heavier
feathers, is becoming too scarce and TOO dear to
make the business profitable.
Each succeeding year notes an increased de-
mand for both oak and hemlock bark. This
increase is not alone due to our own growth
and development as a nation, but to the in
creased call for American leather or extract
which other nations make upon us. This
country is not alone expected to supply the
bark for tanning the leather used by its own
g. 600 900 people, but in addition to our own
population must supply the tapnin or
leather for nearly as many more.
"How much bark have we left on the trees?
How long will it continue to supply this
country with taunin tor the great number of
watts and prospective watts? Perhaps the man
of to-day-the generation of co-day-need not
worry. There is no danger of the supply Civ
ing out right away. and forcing barefooted
nations into existence. There is much bark
left in Pennsylvania. There are millions upon
millions of cords still standing upon the great
trees of Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota and
other Western States through to the Pacific
slope The South and Southwest will still
yield us cords upon cords. Virginia and West
Virginia still yield, and will continue to give
our Pittsburg. Wheeling and Cincinnati tan
ners oak bark for their famous harness leather"
Hogs and Provisions.
1t will be seen by reference to domestic mar
ket column that hams, shoulders and bacon
have been reduced, the reduction to go into
effect Monday, Path. The run of hogs during
the present month at Chicago has been unpre-
cedeutedly large. AS many $4,000 head were
received there in one day this week. At East
Liberty the total receipts Tor the week past
were about 100000 head. and the same number
the week before. The largest receipts in any
one day in Chicago were on December 3. 1884.
when the total was &c 669. and the next largest
November 25 1879, when 64, CAB head were re-
ceived. This week prices of hogs touched
their lowest point for this season, when tops
sold in Chicago at So 60. At the same time a
year ago top price was s. 50.
Said one of our leading packers to-day: Nv e
would now be selling provisions at present low
figures had it not been for the late financial
furry which has tightened money markets.
AS compared with prices in other lines, the
cheapest articles in the country at this time
are wheat -four and provisions"
Old Shoes Not Rubbish.
The old boots and shoes which, when quite
past wearing by anyone. find their way into our
dustbins, are extremely valuable, and find their
way again into our houses in most artistic
| forms. They are soaked in many waters to re-
move the dirt, all the nails and threads are
picked out. and the leather reduced to a thick
pulp, from which the now fashionable wall
papers. screens, ETC., are made. The finer the
original quality of the leather the better il
takes the bronze and old gold of the designs
which make these hangings things of beauty.
Bookbinders and framemakers also know full
well the value of this pulp, and carriage build
ers press it into sheets, which are invaluable
for the roofs of the most luxurious vehicles.
After this feels that the word rubbish
is misnomer, and that no such thing exists
EI.