The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1885-11-20
Leather for England.

Leather for England.
! Thomas Waller, the recently ap.
pointed United States consul general
at London, has sent to Secretary Bay.
ard an exhaustive report on the leath.
Grand boot and shoe trade of Great
Britain. He says 321,591 persons are
engaged in working leather in Eng.
land, Scotland, and Wales. The esti.
mated yearly production of hides in
these three countries is IL, 500, 874.
Nearly 1000 firms are engaged in the
different branches of the leather trade
in London and suburbs Mr.. Waller
says: Notwithstanding the general
commercial depression, the imports
of leather into Great Britain are on
the increase. The large imports from
European countries are for the most
part transshipments of South Amerl-
can hides. Last year the United
States exported to Great Britain 29,-
42O hundredweieht of wet and 4,119
hundredweight of dry hides. In dress
ed leather the United States furnishes
more than one-half.
''1n comparing the American and
French exports it will be found that
the value of the French leather was
twice as much per pound as the Ameri-
can. In vanished, japanned, and en-
ameled leather Holland came first and
the United States second. 1t is said
by leather mercha nts here that in this
branch of the leather trade the United
States has of late years been making
great progress, especially IN patent
leather, which depends upon sunshine
so much for its non -crackable quail
ties. American japanned and enam-
eled leather for the numerous purpo-
ses for which they are used have
good reputation in London, and the
trade is one it would seem that might
be increased. OF 4,O59.8S3 undressed
sheep and lamb skins-the produce of
Great Britain-more than 95 per cent
goes to the United States.
''There is no doubt an unjust pref
udice is still existing against American
leather; indeed, for general use it has
no standing in the English market.
The steady increase of the American
trade in leather here during the last
four or five years, as statistics show,
indicates, however. that American
sole, upper, and patent leather is
gradually growing in favor. The
difference between English and Amer
ican leather almost entirely arises
from the different systems and pro-
cesses of tanning. The issue is be-
tween oak and hemlock. The verdict
of the English IS undoubtedly in IA
Vor of the former. A thorough inves-
tigation carefully made justifies the
statement that American leather is
only used in this country for waxed
uppers and soles, and in rough, low
priced, and inferior goods. Indeed,
it is the fashion of boot and shoe
dealers to deny the use of American
leather altogether. whenever they can.
Some of the objections to American
leather may deserve consideration.
They are as to its harshness, Its want
of finish, and its red color. The en-
largement of American trade in leath-
er here, mostly depends, first, upon
the readiness OF our countrymen to
the faults of their pro-
duction and to apply the remedy, and,
second, upon their recognition of
English prejudices, if it exists, and,
tor the sake of trade, upon their will
ngness to humor it. The best way to
cultivate and increase American trade
N this country is to adapt American
goods to this market and then depend
upon esta blished merchants and fac
,ors to sell and dispose of them.
London and its suburbs support
LOG wholesale and 4, 4,24S manufacturers
md dealers IN boots and shoes. This
country is supplied with the latest
American inventions in shoe machin-
ry. The American boots and shoes
ire scarcely known in London. As
treat Britain exports over half mil
ion pairs of shoes over all imports,
here is not an absolutely necessary
lemand for foreign shoes here. Still
france. Belgium, and Holland send
$4,000 pairs annually, while America
ends only four thousand. This record ,
certainly ought to be speedily and
improved. To this end the
'ractice of the French and Germans
n sending experts here to investigate
nd report upon the trade, its needs, .
ancies, and prejudices, might be fol-
owed with profit. To succeed the .
american trade will have to offer this
market the English form and style of I.
hoe with American notifications.
these should at first be slight to avoid :
r humor existing prejudices. There Is !
10 objection to the present mode of !.
'acking American shoes, tho only
'oint being to economize space with '
'ut injury to the goods" 1
A Good RetOrt. ,
At the breaking out of the Crimean ,