The morning call., 1894-10-28
ACID FROM STURDY PLANTS.
A New Industry Started in Cali
fornia.
INTERESTS THE RAILROAD MEN.
Three Hundred Families VIII Engage
in Growing Canaigre for Pro-
ducing Tannic Acid.

a novel industry has been started in the
San Joaquin Valley by Chicago tanners.
no selected California tor climatic and
other natural reasons for their extensive
operations. 1t means the employment If
large forces of workmen and the expendi-
ture Of large sums of money. The tanners
are TO cultivate weed with roots that can
tan leather better than anything else on
earth.
The land department of the Southern
Pacific Company is interested in the
Development OF this new ENTERPRISE, for
the reason that it will affect adjacent lands
in the San Joaquin Valley and furnish the
railroad with considerable business.
The men who had most to do in estab-
fishing the enterprise have been frequent
visitors at the railroad offices on Towns
end street lately. They are Professor C.
A. Gulev, J. II. Carothers and B. M.
Davies of Chicago. who are said to repre-
sent two of the largest t'nneries in the
world. Their business was almost ex-
clusively with w. ID. Mills Of the land
department.
A contract was closed through him on
Friday whereby 5000 acres Of land in the
san Joaquin Valley we're purchased for
the new industry, The land Is situated
about eight miles northwest from Merced,
a Chicago concern.
Yesterday sixty families were told to
get ready in Chicago and elsewhere to
move at once to Merced. and before the
end of this week they VIII be there on the
land. It is expected that at least 800 fami-
lies will be placed on the 5000 acres as soon
as operations are fully under way.
The scheme is to plant canaigre, a
weed of the yellow dock family, over the
broad acres. This vegetable contains
from % to SO per cent of tannic acid,
which can be extracted by chemical IrO-
cess at small expense and large profits TO
the producer. The canaigre is planted
thirty inches apart in rows twelve inches
from each other, and it is said to never
miss a season, even without attention he
yoDd that OF ordinary cultivation. As
much as 200 carloads CT twelve tons each
in roots have been ordered from the noun
tains of New Mexico, where ii abAunds in
its habitat. The Indians will gather it
from the hillsides and carry it to wagon
road stations, whence 1t will be sent to the
Southern Pacific railway. While the ca
naigre is a weed in most parts of Califor-
MIA, it thrlves along the San Joaquin River,
and is susceptible of extraordinary de-
velopment In size and intensity of acid
properties under cultivation. 1t produces
fifteen tons OF roots to the acre, and grows
In January. February and March, so the
crop must be put into the ground at once
10 secure return next year.
The producers expect to get about 500
carloads of the concentrated canaigre acid
"a year, amounting TO something Ike 5000
tons. This product will be shipped to
Chicago for use in tanneries near the stock
yards.
In addition to growing the plant there
will be extensive works for reducing the
roots into pulp, composed mostly of tannic
acid. The factory and other buildings,
dwellings, ETC.. will cost about 5000 000
If the enterprise proves successful it is
believed tie experiment will be followed
by many ranchers. and then a new indus
try of considerable Importance will be es-
tablished in California.
Tie canaigre is still unknown to agri-
cuIturists and others as plant Of great
commercial value. so the following minute
desert ption may be Interesting:
Found IN dry sandy places from Colorado,
and eastward 10 Utah and New Mexico In
California, along the Sacram nto and San
Joaquin rivers, in the San Joaquin Valley and
throughout the southern part or the State from
San Luis ObispO down to Lower California
Mexico, Arizona, New Mexico. Texas, LOUISE
and Florida, and in the Islands of Cuba
kumex is the old Latin name. known as dock.
ana belongs TO The order polygOnaceas A latge
genus OF perennial or rarely annual herbs
sometimes sub-shrubs, rarely tall shI ubs, dis
trlbuted throughout all temperate climates.
Flowers fasciculaLe In the nodes, fasclcles
axillary or disposed in terminal race
mes or panicles. Leaves sometimes all
radical, sometimes alternate On the stems
and branches. The species are mostly worth
less and in some cases troublesome weeds.
RUmex hymenOsepalus is tne most valuable
and greatly used IN medicine. It greatly re.
sembles the rhubarb and has often been substi-
tuted for it, and the feshy leaves for spinach.
They are also greediiy eaten by cattle. The
cane has pleasant acid taste, almost Identical
to the stem of rhubarb. II will grow In any To-
callty in the Stae suitable for the culture of
the potato Ii requires loose moist. sandy
SOIL. The roots OF the canaigre were used by
Indians and others In Texas, IN aud about San
Antonio. for tanning purposes more than fifty
years ago. The roots of the canaigre are pro-
duced in clusters like sweet potatoes many be-
ing of enormous size. From the analysis
made by the Department of Agriculture
Il appears to contain from % TO SO
per cent Of tannic acid. The plant
starts its growth very early in the spring
and rapidly natures, after which the leaves
die. The roots remain in dormant condition
for many months. The roots OF dark
brown color externally, deep brown color in
terDally, and of a peculiar odor. Both The fresh
and The dry roots have very astrIngent taste.
By the analysis made (neTe mentionpd), the
fresh root was found 20 contain 6807 per
cent of moisture, the tannin eqGaied 8.5I per
cent, or 26.62 per cent when calculated 10 free
water substance. The dry roots containing 117
per cent OF moisture, contain % 45 per cent of
tanDic acid, equivalent TO $3.50 per cent of
tan in strictly dry root. and from the close
agreement in The tannin estimates in the fresh
and dry roots tie tannin was not affected by
long keeping.