20 LEATHER INVESTIGATIONS: SOLE LEATHERS. 



As will be seen, this quantity does not vary greatly from 0.7 part. 

 In those cases where it is materially greater, it is probable that the 

 leather contained many difficultly soluble reds, or uncombined 

 tannins which were not completely extracted from the leather. 



SUMMARY. 



A large majority of the samples examined contained an unneces- 

 sary quantity of uncombined tanning material. But little less than 

 $1,000,000 worth of tannin is wasted annually in this way. 



Sixty-three per cent of the leathers examined were weighted with 

 glucose, with Epsom salts, or with both. The quantity of loading 

 varied from 1 to 7.3 per cent of Epsom salts, with an average of 3 per 

 cent. The maximum quantity of glucose in the loaded leathers 

 was 10.4 per cent and the average 5.5 per cent. The maximum 

 amount of these loading materials found in any leather was 16 per 

 cent and the average where both were present was 8 per cent. The 

 results obtained indicate that not less than 12,000,000 pounds of 

 glucose and Epsom salts are sold annually in sole leather to the 

 American people. 



The materials add absolutely nothing to the wearing value of the 

 leather and where present in large quantity may positively decrease 

 its wear. Shoes made from these leathers are readily penetrated 

 by water. Loading makes leather more costly, consequently an infe- 

 rior leather costs more than a good leather. 



Leather-making raw materials are wastefully consumed, the product 

 may be inferior, the cost increased, and health is endangered by the 

 prevalent practices of weighting and bleaching sole leather. 



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