Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-07-15
FARMERS SUPPLIES.
This Is an Unusually Favorable Sea-
son for Bark Peeling.
LEATHER MEN WELL PROVIDED.
Bark Extract Is Product to Be Added to
Our Industries.
THE WHEAT AND FLOUR OUTLOOK
OFFICE OF PrTrsBuRG DISPATCH,

OFFICE OF PTTTSBURG DISPATCH,
TUESDAY, July IA (
The bark question is one of great interest
to one of our most important industries,
namely the manufacture of leather. 1t was
stated in this column a day or two ago that
the tanneries of Allegheny absorb about
$500 hides weekly. With one exception
these tanneries which are ten in number,
are devoted to the manufacture of harness
and collar leather. One only pro-
duces sole leather. In Pittsburg proper
there is but one tannery the product of
which is betting These eleven tanneries
consume in round numbers $4,000 cords of
bark annually. OF this amount 10000 cords
arc oak bark, and the remaining $4,000 cords
are hemlock. The latter comes in the main
from Northern Pennsylvania, and the oak
bark from the Southern part of the State
and the Nirginlas. The cost of hemlock bark
s about 81 per cord, and oak bark $40 per
cord.
Prices are the same this season as last,
though the supply this year is much larger
than last. By ordinary rules of trade there
should be decline in prices, especially
when. as has been tine case this season,
leather has been depressed But bark con-
tracts are made wear ahead and, nOtwith-
standing the fact that this has been an un-
usually favorable year for peeling and pre-
8 serving bark, tanners are paving the old
prices. There is this compensation, how
ever. to the tanners that their bark is stored
IL better shape and quality for the coming
campaign than for many year The dry
spring weather OF 1891 WAS unusually
Favorable to Bark Feeling,
and stock is coming to market in much bet
ter shape than usual. Bark Is for the most
part sold here by the cord. Allegheny City
has an official measurer. In Boston and
Eastern cities generally bark is sold by the
ton. ton being considered equal to a cord.
Here and West sales are made by measure.
said 4 representative OF one OF our lead
5r5tr ri npplpd
will cigh over 1900 lbs to the cord, but
when thoroughly dryit generally falls below
a ton in weight. Occasionally there are
sales of hemlock here by weight, but tan
ncrs. aS rule, cling TO the old method of
measurement
The Introduction of sales by weight would
spoil the occupation of an Al egheny offic al
who now receives &c per cord on the IS 600
cords measured yearly.
IN addt.o on to the amount of bark con-
sumcd by our tlnncries n large and increas-
ing amount of extract is consumed. This
extract comes, in the main, from the bark
regions of Virginia. Recently a company
has been organized, with Boston and En-
EliSh capital. for the manufacture of eX-
tract and a location has been chosen for the
new plant on the Pennsylvania Railroad. a
little west of Greensburg. The new enter
prise will soon be in the field, and will be in
competition with Virginia manufacturers of
bark extract for the trade of Allegheny tan
Dcrs. 1t would seem that there is future
for the trade in extracts of bark, when the
heavy railroad treights and the large room
for storage are taken into C c,nsideration.
The Wheat and Flour Outlook.
Flour is evidently trembling on the edge
OF fail, and though iobbers do not lower
their "a ties. there is not a little cutting going
on in order to effect sales Some of the
Northwest mills have already reduced prices
l0c per barrel, and il is only question of a
day or two when prices here must be re-
GUced.
Our jobbers are carrying very light stocks,
as is the rule when markets are on the de-
cline. The new wheat crop. the first fruits
OF which are already on the market prom
lses to be larger and better quality than for
many years past.
\ Pittsburger who recently returned from
q trip through Minnesota and Ohio had this
to S1N OF crop prospects. The wheat harvest
i about ten days behind time this season.
Dut the WELD Will be beyond any previous
year. and quality promises TO be of the very
best. The color of Minnesota wheat was all |
that the most sanguine could desire, and if |
the yield Is not greater than for many years !
am very much mistaken.
"OatS do not look so promising through the
Northwest as wheat The effects of frost are
seen i'll the oats crop, and do not look for a
full yield in this line. As to corn, it is too
early to make predictions The crops in
this line are not as far advanced as they
ordinarily are at this time, but with favoring
weather there IS yet time enough to make
up for lost time.
About the only bull symptom that ap-
pcared in the interview was the fact
that supply of wheat in the hands of farm
light. With the good prices offered for
wheat Of late and bright prospects for a
large crop, the farmer who failed to unload
his old wheat was blind to the situation.