The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1891-12-26
THE AGE OF LEATHER.
One OF the Oldest Commodities In q


when he says Heather dates from time
unknown" tor leather is of the very
highest antiquity. Long before the
days of Noah's ark there were those
who, according to Holy Writ, lived in
tents and kept cattle. 1t is hardly to
be doubted that these people who tend
ed hocks and herds. which furnished
them both with meat and drink,
also made use of the skins OF
their animals for articles of cloth
ing, and, therefore, very early acquired
some knowledge Of the amer art
In the book Of Genesis mention is
made of colored leather, and all evil
dences Of an ~extraneous character go
to show that some simple method of
tanning and dressing the skins of ami
mails was known before even Tubal
Cain learned the trade of a brass
founder.
The ancient Egyptians were skilled
In the art Of tanning leather, and manu-
featured IL in various ways and for
various purposes besides that of fur
nishing covering for the feet. Indeed,
IL is to those builders OF the pyramids
lin w dTt IlutDltu lDT tllt HTsL dTllS-
tic forms of footwear; and 50 far as can
be ascertained from history and the re-
searches of archnologists the Egyptians
were the first shoemakcrs who were
worthy Of the name.
IL is a fact. too. that tanners of to-day
employ very much the same methods as
did the ancieDts. About the same ma
terials are used. and the processes are
almost precisely similar to those in
vogue hundreds OF years ago. II is
true that tanners of the present day
have found means of greatly shorten
ing the time required to convert a hide
into leather, and that steam power and
modern machinery have done much TO
expedite and improve the process of
finishing the leather, but, after all, the
principles of tanning remain the same
Al they have from the first.
Leather was very early used rs a cur
rency, the Romans employing it for this
purpose before either gold. silver or
brass came into common use. History
Is full Of references showing that
leather was used by the ancients as a
sort Of circulating medium Of exchange.
II is said, on good authority. that so late
as during the reign Of Louis MI. Of
France the country became SO i'm
poverished, and, as p consequence.
money was SO scarce that little picccso of
leather. with a small silver nail driven
through each, were in general use as
money. Some few specimens Of this
leather money are still in existence, but
are only 10 be found in the possession
of numismatists, by whom they are
highly priced.
However. the manufacture OF leather
has ever been n slow and tedious pro-
cess, as compared with most other in
dustries, and even now, with improved
processes of tanning and finishing.
months are required for the tanner to
convert the hide Of an animal into lcath-
er. There is. too, a popular opinion cx-
IN that tanners do not make as good
leather now from hides that are tanned
in three months time as they used Ia
turn ont when nine. and even twelve.
months were necessary. This is a mis-
take.
As a matter Of fact. better leather is
made to-day from hides in from sixty to
ninety days than was manufactured in
the old way. II should be remem-
bcrcd, however. that hides are tanned
in precisely the same manner now
they have always been. That is, the
some agencies are used for combining
1t with the gelatine OF the hide
and for converting it into leather.
Modern inner have simply discovered
rnofhn1e hv trlirh tho fannie a,fI &c
made TO penetrate more quickly into
tic pores Of the skin. This is accom-
plished partly by frequent manipula-
ton of the hides while in the watts, and
partly by special treatments for keep
ing the pores of the skins open during
the tanning process. IL is a fact well
known to all tanners that any method
or process which will hasten the union
of the fannie acid with the hide short
rs materially the time necessary to
convert It into leather.
OF late years there has been much
talk OF tanning hides by electricity. and
several methods have been tried, but
with indifferent success. There is no
doubt, however, but that electricity
does greatly aid in the tanning process.
In the old days of tanning the hides,
after being dehaired and made ready,
were placed in the tan watts, and there
allowed to remain untouched and I'M
disturbed for from nine to twelve
months, and in some cases ever longer,
until the tannin in the liquors, thor
ougbly uniting with the hides, had con-
verified them into leather. But after a
time il was Ills covered that by putting
the hides into 4 revolving wheel. o
drum, which had first been partially
filed with the tan liquors, the time nee.
essary to convert them in.O leather was
greatly shortened.
As early as 1925 an English tanner
conceived the idea of forcing the tan
liquors into the hides Ivy hydrostatic
pressure. IIy this method he greatly
lessencd the time of tanning: and. as he
used a frame on which the hides had Ia
be tackled before being put into the
wheel, and as the hides had to he cut
to fit these frames, thus causing con-
siderable waste and damage, the pro-
cess was abandoned.
1t is hardly to be doubted, however,
that with the spirit of push and enter
prise now manifested by those en-
gagged in the manufacture of leather
the future will see wonderful
improvements in this important
industry. and that science and cleo
tricity will make it possible TO convert
hides into leather in as many hours rs !
it now takes days. II this is done at |
all the shoe consuming public need
have no fears that it will be accom-
plished at the expense of the excel
lency of the material which goes into
its foot wear, while tanners themselves
can rejoice in the fact that they, being
able to turn their money several times
a year. can make both better and
cheaper leather than ever before.-N |
Y. Advertiser.