In the Delaware region, the bark of the black or quercitron oak, 

 the white oak, and the red or Spanish oak were the common tannin 

 yielders. In addition to oak, hemlock, sumac, willow, cherry, 

 and horse chestnut yielded tannin. ^^^ Bark supplies were usually 

 purchased in the spring, but out-of-season purchases were often 

 made if the price was right. Once again it was the currier who 

 was in a favored situation. Bark dealers demanded cash, and 

 in the bark season it was customary "for the Tanners to claim 

 some assistance from the Curriers." ^^^ In his ten years of operation 

 Cardon was forced to borrow heavily from each currier with whom 

 he dealt: 



We have now to ask you a favour, which we hope you will not deny us as on 

 it depends entirely our getting our supply of bark this season. We want 

 1500 Dolls, for that purpose, and rely upon your constantly liberal dealing 

 with us to advance us that sum in 3 different notes at 90 days. Say one of 

 535.06, one of 485.25 & one of 479.69 the whole amt. of which you shall 

 receive in leather between this and the latter part of May.'"" 



The dependence was real since Cardon admittedly had no other 

 means of purchasing bark. Thus, the city currier often acted as 

 the tanner's purchaser, sales agent, and financier. 



Southern Delaware was the center of the state's bark industry, 

 and most of the bark used at Hagley came from there. Each year 

 Cardon went "down the Delaware for the purpose of getting some 

 bark," ^^^ visiting dealers in Milford, Smyrna, Georgetown, Milton, 

 and Camden; occasionally he made inquiries at Cantwell's Bridge. 



At times Cardon was forced to buy in Philadelphia, because 

 "Some of the People below do not stick to their contracts for bark 

 as well as they ought to." Nevertheless, most of it came from 

 "below." For example, in two years Cardon purchased $6768.09 

 worth of bark from Joseph Oliver of Milford, and during the course 

 of ten years bark prices averaged between $S and ?15 a cord. 

 Cardon paid $23 a ton for "bl[ack] oak bark shaved, that is ready 

 to manufacture," and after grinding he sold the quercitron for $42 

 a ton. Delivery was effected in many ways, and, on one occasion, 

 a Philadelphia merchant was told: "Should you desire to have the 

 Quercitron delivered at the mouth of the Creek, we would be willing 

 to do it, and provided we were positively apprized of the time your 



1^^ Morfit (see footnote 41), chapters 6 and 7. 



"' Letter book, Cardon and Company, May 12, 1823. 



"0 Letter book, April 28, 1820. 



"' Letter book, November 28 1817. 



66 



