The herald., 1897-09-28
CANAIGRE IN DEMAND
SECRETARY FILCHER'S LETTER
CRITICISED
The Root and Extract Both in Demand
in Europe at Good Prices-Val-
liable Information

tary Of the California Canaigre and Ex
tract company, which puts a differen
light on the market value Of this tan
ming plant from that set upon it by J. A
Fflcher, secretary of the state board o
trade, in a communication to the cham
Der from Hamburg. Germany, few day.
| ago:
| LOS ANGELES, CAL, Sept. 27, 1897.
have read with much surprise the
letter published recently in the city
press to your honorable chamber from
Mr.. J. A. Filcher, secretary of the state
board of trade, on the subject of canal
gre, and feeling that Mr.. Filcher has
been grossly misinformed by the report
of lone of the largest importers of ca
naigre in Hamburg" on some of the vital
points. l would respectfully submit tc
the chamber some remarks in connec-
tion Herewith.
AS to the relative percentage of tan
mic acid in canaigre as against other tan
ming materials. I would call attention
to the report of the Chicago world s
fair commission on this subject. In book
A, page IA, section A, division 2, class
552 you will find the report of F. r.
|,Gammon, superintendent Of depart
ment H, which says:
II report that this exhibit (canaigre) af-
ter a careful and thorough investigation of
all standard commercial tanning material,
and the compaEisop of the manufactured
product of ,ceHkf Eea, therewith, I am of
the opinion tf'Hiunlt agre contains larger
quantity of t.shaN AnI, with less injurious
substance. thar S'ny other known tanning
matertll in use"
Further: about $50 tests Of various
leather tanned with canaigre by different
manufacturers. discioses that leather
tanned with this material is much stronger,
more durable and flexible and is affected
less by heat and moisture than that tanned
by any other material.
The Hamburg report further states
that "in England there may still be
about $50 tons, for which ga los was bid.
But E5 los per tor was asked" Now, I
say that during the past eighteen to
twenty-four months there has been
shipped to England from California,
Arizona and one or two other places in
this country, over 1900 tons of dried
chips, equal TO $500 tons of the green
roots; and that within the past sixty or
ninety days they received in Liverpool
about 200 to 300 tons of dried chips These
were sold fol more than double the price
quoted by the Hamburg agent.
1 have had quotations and offers from
England during the past six months for
any amount of canaigre chips al prices
never less than double the amount of
the Hamburg importers quotation, ard
money lay in one of the banks of this
city, and I think is there now, to ad
vance to me rs per cent of this price for
chips against bills of lading.
I have received from Liverpool a sam
pie of dried canaigre chips which were
part OF lot of 40 tons sent from this
country and sold there for E10 per ton.
This sample was sent to me for the pur
pose Of comparison. with the California
product. I mention these details sim
ply to dispose Of the question Of market
price.
The Hamburg report further says:
Should it be possible to make an ex-
tract of the canaigre roots and to ship
the tanning acid contained in the roots
in the form Of extracts, it would be quite
different" The Hamburg importer is
evidently very ill-posted on the facts,
for it is fact that canaigre extract re-
ceived an award at the late Chicago
worlds fair for its superiority over all
other tanring materials.
1t is probably true that more canaigre
Is being planted in Southern California
than in any other part of the state (bur
this is being planted with eastern cap
ital almost entirely. The Hamburg
friend Of the farmers Of Southern Cali
fornia while admitting that extract of
canaigre would "be quite differert,"
seems to overlook the somewhat import
ant fact that it Is necessary to grow
the roots before you can make extract,
and from advices l have in my posses
sion from most reliable firms in Eng
land, it is a fact that the California
grown canaigre commands the highest
price in the English market, price that
the Hamburger's figures do not COM
mence to approach.
The question of profit is ore that Is
very largely controlled by "cost ofpro-
duction," and that only experience can
settle. All wish to say is that the let
ter of lone of the largest importers Of
canaigre in Hamburg" is not correct,
and Mr.. Filcher has been misled, and I
trouble you WIFI lnlS letter lOr the sake
Of fair play for an industry that Is prob
ably understood by very few people, but
which, with its natural attendants.
viz, growing the roots and extracting
the acid here, tanning the leather here,
and, finally, manufacturing boots and
shoes here, all Of which will come in
time, will be most important COM
mercial business ard great benefit to
this much favored country of Southern
California.
Since writing the above have thought
it might be well to quote from letter
dated July 21, 1897, from a Hamburg
house to our company, asking us TO
"send large, fresh sample Of your ca
raigre and quote me your lowest deliv-
cred price in Hamburg"
This does not indicate that there Is
no demand for canaigre, ever. in Ham
burg. Yours very truly.
JOHN ALTON,
Secretary California Canaigre and Ex-