~ 1904-5.] THE CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES OF THE DOMINION. 163, 
II].—THE MANUFACTURE OF LEATHER. 
The manufacture of leather has, during the last thirty years, occupied 
quite a prominent position in Ontario and Quebec, and, during the past 
few years, through the stimulus from a larger home market and increasing 
sales to foreign markets, has grown greatly. As compared with a decade 
ago the value of the leather produced in the country may safely be said to 
have doubled. There are from eighteen to twenty large establishments 
in operation and fully fifty small ones. No tanning is done in the North- 
West Territories, and practically none in British Columbia. - Bark, chrome, 
and combination tanning methods are employed, the spent bark being 
utilized in large establishments in specially constructed furnaces. Though 
the United States may be said to lead the world in the extent of leather 
produced, the qualitv of the Canadian product is not surpassed. The 
Canadian specialties are hemlock sole and harness, black and coloured 
shoe leathers, coloured and fancy side leathers for the bag, trunk and 
saddle trades. In Toronto there are several sheep-skin tanneries as well. 
Speaking generally Quebec supplies the cheapest grades of leathers, 
chiefly black; Ontario the better finished lines both black and coloured. 
A portion of the American patterned machinery employed and formerly 
imported is now being manufactured in the Dominion, such as bark mills, 
fleshing machines, glazing jacks, drums and presses; but the most expen- 
sive and elaborate machinery is still made in the United States. The im- 
port duty on machinery is 25 per cent. The manufacture of hemlock ex- 
tract in New Brunswick has already had a beginning, and will doubtless 
_ grow as the prices of bark and labour advance. 
IV.—Su.LpHuric Acrp, AcETIC Acip, Woop ALCOHOL, CHARCOAL AND 
AMMONIA. 
The manufacture of commercial sulphuric acid has not yet been 
developed to the extent that the quantity of sulphur found throughout 
the Dominion would justify. There is enough sulphur in Canada to supply 
the entire home market with acid and even to develop a considerable export 
trade. Only a few firms, however, are engaged in the trade, and a large 
portion of their product is used in the refinmg of Canadian petroleum, 
some five million pounds being annually consumed for this purpose. Que- 
bec, Ontario, and. British Columbia are each represented in the acid indus- 
try. It is probable that the construction of electrolytic lead smelters 
will lead to the sulphur dioxide obtained from the galena being made into 
sulphuric acid, as is done at the Electric Lead Reduction Company’s works 
at Niagara Falls, N.Y., where, it is stated, the sulphuric acid produced 
