The Texas Almanac for 1872, and Emigrant's Guide to Texas. Page: 54
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05 THE TEXAS ALMANAC.
der states that in five minutes after the hide is bathed in the ooze, a section
of it will show brownish lines, produced by the tan, passing through it from
surface to surface. This is a most important quality of these materials in
two particulars.
(a) It shows that it acts with such energy as to hasten the tanning pro-
cess to an early completion.
(b) It is of vast value in this climate in securing the hide against decom-
position. Tannic acid is an active antiseptic. WVhenever the hide is per-
vaded by it it is safe from decay.
8d. Our southern climate is especially favorable, with these agents, for
the manufacture of leather. Our long and warm summers and mild win-
ters keep the chemical process of tanning in active play without being
interrupted by frost or freezing. Our climate and these active agents
would perhaps enable a Southern tannery to turn out double the amount of
perfect leather which a tannery, say in New York, would turn out in a
given time.
4th. The leather produced by these materials is of superior quality.
5th. The common oozes have to be mild or weak when the bides are first
submitted to the process of tanning; otherwise they are "hashed" or
" burnt," and when tanned the leather is brittle and weak. But with the
ooze of these materials it may be quite strong from the first, and the hide
suffers no damage and the leather is pliant and durable.
These distinguishing properties point out to the man of science and the
practical tanner the excellency of these materials.
Thpquestion arises, how are these woods to be reduced so as readily to
yield their tan? This is a problem which the ingenious mechanic can very
readily solve. A chipping machine, similar to what is used in chipping log-
wood for the extraction of the dye, would answer. Dr. Park improvised one
during the war which answered pretty well, chipping about seventy-five"
bushels of the wood in ten hours. Ingenuity will readily devise an expedi-
tious and cheap machine for the purpose. The chips, thrown into a reser-
voir, are to be steamed or boiled and the ooze extracted.
The field over which the live oak and mesquit extends is very large.
The live oak is found in sections where the mesquit does not grow, and
the mesquit is found where the live oak is wanting. They are generally
found occupying the same ground. The area of the two is very extensive,
and rapidly increasing by young growth.
A Texan, who saw my article in the Almanac of 1870 respecting the mes-
quit, took a barrel of this tannin to KentuCky, to submit its virtues to a
practical test. I learn the experiment was entirely satisfactory, and that
he has returned to establish a tannery, being himself a practical tanner.
Texas should go largely into the tanning business. Anywhere it is p o fit-
able if properly conducted; here it would be eminently so. Hides are here
in ample supply and very cheap-tens of thousands are virtually wasted
because there is no market. Tanneries over the country would prevent
this loss. The best of material is at hand all over the West. Our climate,
contrary to the general impression, is highly favorable to the manufacture of
leather. It is a cheap branch of manufacturing, requiring but little capital
to start with. It soon begins to pay. If the hides annually sent out of our
country, together with those wasted, were converted into leather, it would
add eight or ten millions to the wealth of Texas annually, and if it was all
manufactured into boots, shoes, harness, saddlery, etc., it would probably
increase the wealth of the State threefold, or some twenty-five or thirty mil-
lions annually. That sum accumulating for ten years would increase the
actual cash wealth of the State $300,000,000. Texas would soon become
very wealthy, and ready to introduce and carry on the manufacture of cot-
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The Texas Almanac for 1872, and Emigrant's Guide to Texas., book, 1872~; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth123777/m1/70/: accessed April 26, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.