Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-10-08
LEADS IN LEATHER.
Pittsburg Produces e-Third of the
Output of the World.
TANNERIES ARE BEING ENLARGED.
Reciprocity Expected to Create Big South
American Trade.
THE CHICAGO HIDES ARE SENT HERE

An important local industry generally
overlooked is the leather trade. 1t will be
news to many to learn that the twin cities
produce annually one-third of the total
amount of oak-tanned harness leather of the
United States, and that the reputation OF
the product stands higher than that made
elsewhere. The industry to-day is in a
| fourishing condition, and the chief tan
neries are being enlarged to overtake the
| increased demand.
Eight concerns are engaged in tanning
oak harness leather, and one, A. Groet-
Finger & Sons, does an extensive business
in sole leather. About 50, 100000 are in.
vested in the industry. According to the
computation of James D. Gallery about
66S, 200 sides of leather are annually made in
the county. This is about one-third of the
product of the country, which Mr.. Gallery
estimates at 1850, 900 sides annually. Esti-
mating each side as value for S5, this fgur-
ing places the annual value of the product
of these nine tanneries at S3,34O, ,0OO
WHERE THE HIDES COME FROM.
Of the So, 700 sides of leather tanned every
month, about 10000 are supplied by the
Herr's Island abattoir, 5000 beasts being
the average number slaughtered monthly
A further supply, not ascertainable, is pro-
cured from outside butchers The bulk of
the hides are procured in the West, Chicago
being the shipping point. Here is pre-
sented the curious anomoly of beasts being
slaughtered in Chicago and being shipped
as dead meat to this city, while their hides
are also sent here in large quantities for
conversion into leather The question pre-
sents itself; if there is not much demand
here for meat killed in Chicago, and for
hides for tanning purposes, why cannot
Pittsburg and Allegheny raise and slaughter
their own meat supply and so largely sup
ply the tanneries at the same time.
Under the reciprocity arrangements with
Mexico and South American countries the
leather trade of the country is expected to
sustain stimulus. The business shut out
of France and Germany by the recently
imposed tariff on imported leather will be
more than resumed nearer home. The
quality of the Allegheny leather is favor
ably known far from home, and under the
improved commercial conditions it will not
surprise the trade if their business is dou-
bled in few years.
BIG MEXICAN TRADE EXPECTED.
The Mexicans, especially, are accustomed
to make their own saddlery and trappings
and the trade with the neighboring country
is reported as increasing daily. The oak
tanned leather made here is conceded to be
superior to the hemlock tanned material
made at Detroit. The oak bark is obtained
principally in West Virginia.
A. Groetzinger & Sons do a large busi-
ness in sole leather, tanning about $50 hides
a day. This firm has lately spent big sum
of money in extending its capacity, as has
also j. Groetzinger & Co. James Gallery
& Co. are also effecting improvement nts and
are reported as being at the head of the
business. M. Lappe & Sons Oak Leather
Company and J. G. Lappe & Sons Tanning
Company are well equipped. One concern
turns out leather betting.