Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-01-02
Tanning Extract
Supply Now Worry
of u. S. Leather Men

Washington, Jan. Within Il de-
cade or two, because of the eXhaus
ton of forest resources within the
United States, the tanning and
leather industries of the country are
likely to he dependent upon foreign
sources for the supply of tanning
extracts without which they must
fail.
This conclusion has been reached
by special Investigators of the com
mcrce department after nearly year
! of work in the inquiry into sources
of supply of industrial raw materials
authorized by the last congress. be
fore which charges of foreign mono
polization and price control OF rubber
and other Commodities were aired.
AS Il natinal prccauti0n, though
ConCcding that there is no immediate
danger Of deprivation, the inveStiga-
tors report suggested that meas
ures to be taken to encourage pro-
duction with the United States of
the woody plants from which tam
, ming is obtained.
1t also suggested that legislation
be enacted allowing American con-
sumers to associate themselves for
tho purpose of purchasing in foreign
producing areas the tanning extracts
!
allow the American buyers to stand
on an equal foting with sellers, some
of whom in tropical sections were
said to he combining under British
leadership and with British capital
largely to maintain prices.
Fortunately. the outlook is far
from gloomy If American industry,
American capital. the state govern
ments and the federal government
viii cooperate without delay" said
the report. There is need for federal
legislation. which will permit i'm
porters Of raw materials which are
controlled bv foreign mOnorolics. ma
tural or otherwise, to form aSsO-
Citations for cooperative buying Of
such imported raw materials. Such
legislation must be most carefully
and wisely framed so as 10 prevent
the possibility of these associations
creating n price monopoly within
this country. Such organizations. if
wisely handled and controlled by
law. could effect great savings for
american industry generally"
The report. prepared for Secretary
Hoover by Wilbur !. Tace of the
department division OF hide and
leather. with special assistance. ex-
planned that in the past the barks
Of oak. homlock. and chestnut, all
American trees, have furnished the
tanning ingredient most essential for
converting Jaw hides To leather. II
las been determined in recent years.
however. that certain woods and
woody products % tropical and sub
tropical areas. such as the Que
hracho Of South America. the attic
Of Australia md Africa. The Man
grove OF all the damp, hot areas. the
Sumac leaves If Sicily. and acorn
cups Of Asia Minor. contain tanning
in even greater portion.
Likewise the American product
has showed signs of diminishing in
quantity, the chestnut blight par
tiCuiarly DESTROYING one Of the tree
types most valuable at a very rapid
rate. The net result has been to
some extent q stiffening OF price for
the exotic products. the most valu-
able Of which. the Waffle, is grown
almost exclusively In British colonial
territory.
Analyzine all the possibilities. the
investigators suggested as most
practicable for building domestic
source the planting of the Waffle
tree in some Of the western states
on the Mexican border where climatic
conditions resemble those Of the
southern hemisphere. Some expert
mental DEVELOPMENT of the sunlac in
Virginia Carolina areas. and Of the
mangrove IN Florida was likewise
RECOMMENDED. though the( federal
agents We're careful to empha size the
advantage which present producers
have in labor costs. and to warn of
the necessity american cultivatoSs
would find considering the factor. A
sha ping Of national forestry policy
for the protection o. native tanning
producers was likewise suggested.