Spanish hides, may be estimated at $200, which leaves a balance of 1,000 

 annually in favor of the country establishments, besides the comparative 

 cheapness ot current expenses of a family. 



In ascribing the decline of the business in this place to the high price of 

 bark, I may be thought in error, as it was equally high in former years, when 

 more than double the amount of the present business was done; but at that 

 time the prices of Spanish hides were lower, and the prices of leather 20 per 

 cent higher. In 1817-18, best Spanish hides were from 14 to 16 per lb., 

 and sole leather from 30 to 32 cents. At this time hides are from 16 to 18 

 cents, Spanish sole leather from 22 to 25 cents. ^°' 



Tanyards and sites for tanyards offered for sale or rent, outside 

 of Wilmington, were not uncommon even early in the eighteenth 

 century. In the older and, at the time, flourishing town of New 

 Castle, a ''Tan-House and Tan-Yard" was to be "Sold or Let" 

 in 1733, along with ''near Four Hundred Hides . . . \a}id\ several 

 Dozen of Skijis . . . fiow a Tanning." ^°^ James Merre wether, the 

 owner, considered renting the yard, but he wanted "Ready Money" 

 for the Hides and Skins. Ten years later, what appears to be the 

 same establishment was again advertised and still again in 1758, 

 but by this time the prospects of trade in New Castle were dimin- 

 ishing in favor of Wilmington. ^^"^ Elsewhere, Thomas Noxon of 

 Noxontown had operated a tannery, ^°^ and in May of 1750 the 

 Gazette advertised a property formerly owned by John McMechen 

 and its advantage was direct contact with Pennsylvania's rich 

 hinterland of Berks, Chester, and Lancaster Counties. McMechen's 

 property adjoined Christiana Bridge in White Clay Creek Hundred 

 and included a "good tanyard, bark-house, and bark mill," and 

 all fronted upon the great road running from the bridge to "Not- 

 tingham and Conestogoe" in Pennsylvania. ^°'' 



At Newport, the birthplace of Oliver Evans, Lewis Stone 

 operated a tannery that included "two bark mills" and ready 

 access to wharf facilities. ^°^ Located in the center of town and 

 complete with a currying shop, millhouse, and beamhouse, it was 

 said in 1762 by Samuel Ashmead to be "perhaps the best Seat for 

 the Tanning Business in the County," since hides could be obtained 



'"2 Ibid., p. 827. 



'"3 Pennsylvania Gazette, March 22-29, 1733. 



'"^ Ibid., September 15, 1743, and June 29, 1758. In these years, ownership seems to have passed 

 from Merrewether to Stephen Lewis to Zachariah ^'an Leuvenigh. 



'"■^ Ibid., Nov. 28, 1745. Noxon's property included a brick malthouse and brewhouse as well as a 

 tanyard. 



103 Ibid., May 24, 1750. 



'0' ScHARF, vol. 2, p. 894. 



43 



