The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1875-04-22
BALTIMORE INDUSTRIES.
Wholesale Boot and Shoe Establishment Of
T. j. Magruder & Co.

lmpresslvey Indicate the wisdom and goodness
of the Creator. The cushioned feet of the
camel and other animals adapted to the hot
and yielding sands of the desert, reveal how
wonderful is the contrvance which protects
the brute creation from injuries which would
The human being, however, has no such natu-
raj provision. The savage goes with his feet
bare and his body naked, but civilized man is
forced to depend upon his reason and create
his resources, and to exhibit his inventive ge-
MUS.
Among the nations of antiquity, sandals
were first used to protect the feet, and were
made of wood, leather, felt or cloth, and were
often shod with iron. They consisted of
simple sole fastened to the foot by thongs. In
Egypt, papyrus and palm leaves were made up
into sandals, and various fashions prevailed,
some OF them turning up in 'front.' others only
protecting the sides and heels of the feet.
Among the Jews the wearing of sandals was
general, and as with most nations Of the East,
they were worn only when walking on the
rough and uneven surface of the ground being
removed upon entering their dwellings,
Among the Romans the art of sandal making
was carried to high degree of perfection, and
in the luxurious days of the Empire, the san
dals worn by the women we're beautiful aud
expensively ornamented. During the middle
ages the fashions of shoes became so extrava-
giant and eccentric as to call forth denunciation
from the pulpit, and stringent laws were passed
for checking the extravagant display and waste
full expenditure, but it was soon discovered that
legislative enactments and priestly anathemas
were alike impotent against senseless fashion
in the United States began early in colonial
cho n nj, Off q.
most to the landing of the pilgrims in 1920.
The first shoemakers that set foot upon these
shores were Thomas Beard and Isaac ReSman,
who bore across the ocean with them letters of
recommendation and upon their arrival agreed
with the New England Co. to work for them
at shoe making for their dyette (beard) and
lodging, and ten pounds sterling per annum.
The New England Co. was so sharp, that it re-
quired certificate from under the hand of
"whomsoever they shall be so dyetted and
lodged, how long tyne they have remained
with them, in case they shall otherwise dispose
of themselves before the yeare bee expired, or
at leastwise at the end of each yeare, to the
end wee may heere receive paym't according
to this sd. agreeme't, and that the said Thomas
Beard hath in the shippe May Flower, divers
hydes both for scales and vpp feathers, wch
hee intends to make vpp in botes and shes In
this country" At that time of day, shoes were
made with sharp toes and wooden heels, from
one inch to two inches and a half high and
covered with leather, and not until 1900 were
wooden heels discarded and leather used in
stead At that period woman seldom had
more than one pair of shoes in life time, and
not until her wedding day, after the ceremony,
were they taken off and preserved for genera
tions In 1870 shoes with straps and buckles
began to be worn, and this fashion continued
for long period.
The first invention of any Importance in
shoe making was the pegging machine, and the
next great invention vas the stitching machine,
patented in 1915. Then in 1861 came the
hardly less important Mckay sewing machine
for stitching the uppers and bottoms together.
In the city Of Baltimore are vast shoe indus
tries unsurpassed in excellence of workman
ship, and prominent among them are the
wholesale manufacturers and dealers,
T.J. MAGRUpER CO., NO. HANOVER ST.
This firm are truly the pioneers in the boot
and shoe business in the United States. 1t was
established in 1874, in the city of Washington,
and in the early career of this house, the pro.
prietors were compelled to travel in the good
old stage way, away down East to purchase
their stock, and three weeks in it's accomplish
ment was considered an expeditions trip. The
present firm consists of I. j. Magruder, the
senior partner, who is the vice president of the
shoe and leather exchange, and the son, Mr.
Lttleton Magruder 4 short time previously,
it included the elder son, Mr.. Hamline Magru-
der, whose sudden death occasioned a bereave-
ment, not only poignant to this house, but to
the business and social circles of Baltimore
city. The present firm carry on large trade
with almost the entire South and Southwest,
and in their large warehouse, 25 feet front and
IS feet deep and five stories high, can be found
large and select stock of boots, shoes aud
brogans.
The Importance of the boot and shoe trade
of Baltimore, can be comprehended by few
extracts from the report of the Shoe and
Leather Trade, of January, 1875. 1t cheerful
branch of business has been making healthful
progress toward making Baltimore the great
centre for the shoe and leather trade for the
South and West, and that there is no reason to
doubt, that our foreign commerce, inland trade
and manufactures will assume ere long the
largest proportions, and are now attracting the
attention of the entire country, and that the
day is not distant when Baltimore will manu-
facture shoes and leather for the entire country
South and West of US, and that during the past
year great improvements have been made in
the style and quality of goods manufactured in
Baltimore, and this fact is becoming known to
buyers and is being appreciated by them, and
Baltimore dealers and manufacturers, under
standing the taste and wants of Southern and
Western merchants, gives special attention to
their requirements, by which means the largest
buyers can be supplied in the Baltimore mar
kct, and on terms as favorable as in any East
ern city, for with rents and other expenses
scarcely onc-fourth of those paid in New York,
the jobbers and commission merchants can
afford to sell at manufacturers prices AS ev-
idence of the progress of this branch of indus
try, in 1874, the sales of wholesa lers and re-
tailers of boots and shoes amounted to SIS, ,OOO,-
600, of manufacture, s7,OoO,0Oo, rubber boots
and Shoes Sl,OOOOOO, auction sales, $3.50, 900,
sales of leather, S4,OOO,00O, sales of hides,
S1,375,OOO, kip, calfskins and upper leather,
$45O,0O0, and we have in our midst, in this
department of industry, 30 large shoe factories,
,.;,,. tLo r,oct imnroved machinery pivnr