Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1883-03-24
Boots VI. Shoes.

Boots VI. Shoes.
The Shoe and Leather Reporter calls
attention to the remarkable change that
has taken place in mems foot gear during
recent years, and attributes to it some
notable changes in the leather trade.
Less than thirty years ago, the man who
wore shoes was an exception. 1t was
heavy boots: common boots and light
boots-boots for the field, the workshop,
the drawing room, or the dancing saloon,
but always boots. In very hot weather
low shoes were sometimes admissible,
but the tailor would always insist that
no gentleman would wear shoes in full
dress, since without the boot legs the
pantaloons could not sit we'll. 1t would
seem, in fact, that boots came in as knee
breeches went out; for in the days before
Butcher and Wellington. buckle shoes
and small clothes were the rule. The
return to shoes began shortly before our
civil war. the first styles being button or
laced shoes coming to the ankle.
In the early part of the war, the pre-
scribed army shoe was pretty generally
rejected by officers and men, who soon
learned, however, that for long marches
and heavy campaigning the despised shoes
were the best. After the second year
boots were a rarity in the army, except,
Of course, among the cavalry.
There is no doubt, the Reporter thinks,
that the general change from boots to,
shoes was fastened if not largely brought
about by army experience. Atthe West
the boots held out longer, but at present
they form q very inconsiderable feature
in the stocks of most retail stores. An
ordinary average Of sales is six pairs of
mems shoes to one of boots. In the cities
the proportion of boot sales is even
smaller, and the man wearing boots is al
most looked upon as an old fogy.
According to the recent census report,
the total product of boots in the United
States for 1880 was 80, $685. 76 pairs, and
of shoes, 94,S87,615 pairs. Under the
heading of boots, however, is included
all goods for men, women, or children
that r button or lace fastened. This
would reduce the number of regular
mems boots to probably not to exceed
100000 0 pairs out of a total of 1885,
478.511 pairs of all kinds of boots, shoes
and slippers, according to the censu
figures.
Aside from the curious feature of the
change in styles. the Reporter notices a
practical question for tanners as to how
far the decreased manufacture of boots
affects the consumption of leather. The
ordinary boot leg above the ankle
takes from one and one-half to one and
three-fourths feet Of leather, or not less
than three feet to the pair, which is about
as much as is required for the foot Dor
ton of the boots. In round numbers we
might say the consumption of upper
leather for shoes is only one-half as much
as would be required for boots. Thus
considering the subject, it appears that a
production of upper leather that would
be sufficient for, say, $4,000, 900 pairs of
boots in 1870 would still be ample for
3d. 900. 900 pairs of shoes in 1880. The
increase in the production of upper
leather since 1870, while it has not been
in proportion to the grown of boot and
shoe manufacturing, has unquestionably
been somewhat in excess of the actual
demand for leather, so that the buyers
have had the advantage. Whether there
is still an overproduction or not is an
open question, but from the small stocks
of upper leather, including calfskins, now
Offering IN the principal markets, it looks
as though the point Of equilibrium had at
last been reached. If this proves to be
the case, and the business Of the coming
season will develop it, then any further
growth of the boot and shoe manufac-
turing must have a direct effect on the
leather markets, and the demand will
have to be met by a corresponding in
crease in the activity of tanners. 1t must
also be borne in mind that, although
boots are on their last legs, so to speak,
just now, there is no certainty that they
may not again come into favor. FASH
ions have a curious way of repeating
themselves, and if boots were the style we
would all wear boots, irrespective Of con-
siderations Of comfort or convenience,
just as we now wear shoes. The tanners
can, therefore, look forward to great pos
sibilities american.