The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1857-05-16
Iaritult urul =.
The Scarcity of Hides.


SUGGESTIONS 10 FsEVEES.-Tie public have
learned through the recent proceedings Of
the shoe trade in this city, that they arc
likely TO experience some Inconvenience
from the present scarcity Gf hides aud the
increased cost Of shoes. This i matter
which concerns the farmers Of the country,
and the following suggestions from prac-
teal farmer are timely, and worthy Of the
Special attention Of agriculturiS's.
The scarcity of hides, and consequent ad-
vance CT leather, Is 4 matter too serious to
be regarded lightly or overloOked-lcather
being 80 indispensable Il commodity Should
the falling off IN the supply of hides contIn-
ue for few years, prOpCrtIonahly To what
has been felt In the last twelve months, il
NAV he feared that. with rateablc increase
of feet 20 be shOd, the price of boots and
shoes will he so exhorhitaHt As TO be seri-
ously felt by all, particularly the working
classes who, even at present prices. are
picuhcd to Eecp the feet suitably covered.
Without looking into the causes that have
LED to the scarcity Of foreign hides. and the
changes that have taken place ia the social
and political condition of the countries froia
whence we hith.rto have had supplies, /
take occasion To make few Suggestion 10
our farmers and gTazier> a, home upon the
iug mere attention to breeding and raising
fine cattle. even Cor the sake OF cleavcr.
large hide. which, in connection with the
ta,Inyr and large carcass Of be {, ta.i being
compatible and easily producci,D Will rcuU-
neratc them beyond anything else they car
hope to bring TO market for years to come.
No sensible farmer can expect III l>jS, and
for years after, except in case Of an Euro
pean war similar TO the one lately ended.
that the same prices that ruled in bread
stutfs can toe maintained; a., under average
crops. wheat must come down to the rate u
sold at previous To the breaking out OF the
wa. Therefore, farmers must depend les
upon growing grain, and more on rai>n
cattle 10y way OF promoting their own inter
eStS-the breeding Of fine stock will not on
" prove profitable 20 themselves. but lee Of
great benefit 20 the public. IL i anything
but Credirable iO our farmers in general, 20
witness the wTctCheti COW beef that * expo
sed for sale from wagons and stalls along
Market and Second streets on market day>.
OF what avail are the Scrimped hides Of such
cows 70 the tanner? And Of what account
are the Carcas<cS TO the butcher: No good
yictual.cr would touch them. And how Un-
profitable to him who raised and fy,! such
cattle. II it Were possible to feed such AMI
mails into condition for slaushtering-m"st
If them being far gone III calf, The -laE-h
tering 80 many cows and calves = 20 shock
iuEly waStefuI, that il cannot be too severe
" censured, and II perScvered in much long
eT, Will diminish the number Of cattle, such
they are, To- alarming extent. The
diminutiOn IN the SIC and number IN Penn
syivania, Is already bat too apparent, k,n-
lucky. Ohio and Illinois understand this
matter much better; but for these States.
we should he much worse of for beef and
hides than We are. II j. much less cNpcus-
i've to reed AMI keep in good condition.
healthy, well -iZ-d animal than i,'>hap-i.
under>.zcd, greedy thing, that will empty
the corn crib, and yet loak and handle as
though it never had had a bite from it. II lis
high time our farmers should look To this.
Let them turn over new leaf. Discard the
'TaHt' bulls that penetrate the vile and
improbable stock. that j. 10 he found 80
generally on the farms, and provide their
cows with well formed, Young bulls from
some reliable Strain-gyeH bull cali Of 81,
right breed, will Prove in two wears Of >eT-
Vice, and thenref,rwari produce a wOua-r-
full change IN The character of cattle. How
little expense and pain. is necessary 20 a.
feet this desirable change, which would ca
rich the farmer, and add greatly to the gen
erai supply OF hides, beet, butter, &c.-I
FTieHd 10 FsrnSJs.