The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-05-07
TANNERIEs FOR THE SOUTH.
The Use Of Palmetto Offering an OPP
portunity for New Industry.

The formation of the United States
Leather Company. or the leather trust, as
it is commonly called, with a capital of
S12O,0OOOOO stock and Sl0,0OO,0OO gold
bonds, has probably been read by many
without the least idea that it would in
any way affect the south, except to in
crease the price of leather and shoes. In
fact it is bound to play an important part
with an immense amount OF raw material
which. so far, has been considered al but
worthless, the saw palmetto, which Gov
ers 10 O00, 600 of acres of southern lands.
Mr.. c. b. Warrand who has expert
mented extensively with the extract OF
palmetto in tanning, and who is the owner
of patents covering the process, believes
the tanning industry in the south will be
one of the largest industries in the next
few years.
In speaking of the operation of the
leather trust yesterday Mr.. Warrand said:
1T expects to act in two ways, first to
reduce the output and let the prices take
care of themselves: and, secondly, to reduce
the prices of hides by keeping out of the
market at stated periods. This action
/ viii necessarily arouse two powerful rae
( tions to do something to protect their in
J terest Such meat packers as Armour,
Swift. etc. already propose to establish
/ their own taHneries. and they have Sc
| cured 100000 acres of timber land III Ken
/ lucky with this object in view. On the
other hand the shoe manufacturers and
I dealers will soon be aroused TO combine IN
/ self defense. "
/ 1t is claimed that IS per cent. of all the
! bark producing territory in the United
| States and Canada are owned by the
/ leather trust. Much OF the remaining
+ land will be or is already held by the
| packers. thus precluding any move for re-
nd afh
/ are anxiousIy looked for; chief among
/ which is the saw palmetto, which from eX-
pertinent has all advantages in its favor
/ it is practically ineXhaustiDle, as the
leaves reproduce themselves annually
without cost. IT is available at all times,
hence it will be d steady stream of revenue
| TO the south.
The technical value Of palmetto has
! been demonstrated beyond doubt at the
experimental tannery at NARROW. Five
/ hundred sides Of leather now in the
! process Of tanning indicate the entire
| success of the process. The margin IN
| tanning with palmetto is from 5 to III
cents per pound for leather less than OAK.
| The quality is equal TO oak. In color the
I palmetto leather is as bright and even
! brighter In the construction Of the
| leather il is just as firm in cut 1t Is of a
bright straw color, very attractive 70 the
eye.
| The most important IdcJ, however III
palmetto. MIR WaiTand says, is that the
refuse from tanning is Of considerable
value for q number Of technical uses.
Palmetto can be delivered along the At
lautic coast from Baltimore to Boston for
$40 or Sl2 per ton. The refuse. Mr.. War
rand says. viii almost pay for the raw
material That there will be large de
mand for palmetto in the near future
seems TO be certain. and il viii 70 a great
extent depend on the south itself
The patents controlling the situation
| are owned IN Savannah. The Owners
! favor Savannah and the south and would
like ~ see both benefited, and IL viii de
pend on the public which way the trade
| Of palmetto will drift.
There Is no doubt Alr Warrand says,
that the palmetto industry promises ~ b.
the beginning 81 . neH era for the south
| which viii rank in Importance with IN
1 phosphate and naval stores industfiea
Atau events. whether tho raw materla
| Is used north o. south much money vii
fOw ~ this section. Should extract and
/ fiber NnrEs b. started here there - 2
] strong probability That both northern