96 Transactions of the American Institute. 



tanned sides," but that " the leather exhibited must be samples of the 

 whole product of the tanner." It was also stated by Mr. Schultz that 

 the design in establishing these premiums was " to encourage skill 

 and merit," so " that we may at no distant period be able to say of the 

 tanning interest of our country, while it is second only in importance, 

 it is equal in skill to any mechanical trade in the land." 



It is evident, therefore, from the above statement of the terms on 

 which the competition rests, that our decision must go further than a 

 simple judgment as to the best side, per se, out of some twenty or 

 thirty sides of hemlock leather, or the best side of oak or union 

 leather from an equally small number of specimens exhibited. We 

 have to decide upon these specimens only as they are " samples of 

 the whole product of the tanner," and, with the view of " encour- 

 aging skill and merit," we have to take into consideration, as far as 

 possible, the end which the tanner sought in manufacturing the 

 leather, provided his object was to make the best leather of either 

 class. 



In the present competition, however, from the small number of 

 samples presented, we do not think any further detailed statement 

 necessary, except so far as to say that our examination has been made 

 and our judgment is based on the conditions prescribed in the oiler 

 of the medals. It will at once be seen that such conditions impose 

 upon the judges a great responsibility, and that, where the competi- 

 tion might be very close, it would be "necessary that they should be 

 supplied with accurate data respecting the tanning operation, and the 

 usual product of leather. 



We have, therefore, in accordance with our views of the ground 

 upon which the merits of the several samples are to be judged, deci- 

 ded to award the medals as follows : 



The " Lorillard medal," for the best oak tannage, to Messrs. Con- 

 rad & Fabel of Louisville, Ky. (Sample No. 1,371.) 



The " Lee medal," for the best hemlock tannage, to Messrs. Grant 

 <fc Horton of the Eidgway tannery, Ridgway, Pa. (Sample No. 

 1,532.) 



The medal for " Union " leather, for best mixed oak and hemlock 

 tannage, to Adam Innis, Esq., of the Scotia tannery, Scotia, N. Y„ 

 (Sample No. 1,577.) 



In conclusion, we must express our surprise that there has been, 

 apparently, so little interest manifested by our tanners in the objects 

 sought in founding these medals. The competition, it appears to us, 

 is no greater now, with the offer of the gold medals of Mr. Schultz 



