Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1888-01-27
WAGES AND TAXATION.
Useful Facts About the Manufacture of
Boots and Shees-If Protection
Regulates the Rate OF Wages
why LIZ There Such a Wide Difference in
Wozkmen's Pay Ia Several States
of the Union?
New York Star.

New York Star.
To the Editor of the Star.
SIR-In recent communication illus
trated, by the aid Of the unerring light of
official statistics, the wonderful changes
for the better which the removal of the
burdensome tax On rev materials pro-
duced il the business of tanning and cur
rying leather in this country. In this I
will endeavor to make the fact clear to
those interested in the boot and shoe
manufactures Of the several states that
they also participate IN the benefits de-
rived from reducing the first cost of
leather.
II will be remembered that the customs
statistics showed that none CT the leather
manufactured in this country found its
way into the markets Of Europe previous
to the fiscal year ending January
so, 1885, but the same official
datl showed also that nearly
81, 600, 600 worth of leather and goods
made Of lea. her were exported last year.
a pretty good beginning, certainly. The
exports last year equal shout one-seven-
teeDtn of the total output OF our factories
IN 1880. Last year boots and shoes valued
a. $685. were exported and sold
IN Europe. The amount is not large, it is
true, but IL is fair beginning, 10 say the
leAst. The exports were equal in value
TO C2e-third the output of the shops in
the state OF Connecticut, where 1412
hands are employed. IL addition TO boots
and shoes, the reduction in the tax on
leather enabled the American manufac-
turers of other goods composed of leather
to sell 1914, l02 worth Of their products in
Europe at good paying rates.
The present tariff tax OF foreign made
boots and shoes is So per cent. of the
custom value, but inssmuch as our
factories are now able, owing to cheaper
leather, to underseu the manufacturers IN
England, this feature OF the tariff affords
only an Incidental protection to the home
trade.
The statistics given in the table below
are based on the returns for the census
year 1880, and of course they may, there
fore, vary considerable from the wages
paid and the profits which capital now
earns under the new conditions. The TO- |
tai number Of hands employed in the boot
and shoe factories in this county in 1880 |
was Ill, l52, and the total sum distributed |
in wages was S43, COL, 488. OF the en-
ployes 50, SAT were men, %. 112 girls above |
fifteen years of sge and 1888 children and |
youths. The product of the factories |
was valued st $l66,050,354, and they
comprised so, 590,89 pairs of boots, |
valued st $l.75 pair, and 94,887, 615 |
pairs Of shoes, valued at about Sis per
pair.
The amount of leather used to make |
the goods mentioned was es follows: |
Sole leather, G,83l Gel sides; upper |
leather, IL 1855 sides, and 80 $50, GA |
pounds Of ell other kinds of leather. The |
value Of the raw materials was SI03, 442,-
4+2. The amount Of capital reported WAS
$40, 1874 OPS, and the average percentage
of profit on this WIS ~ per cent. The
average sum canned by the shoemakers
YVES 1886 81 per annum per person, or
S7.44 weekly.
The gross sum realized in profit by the
5939 different establishments in the coun,
try in 1883 WAS $40, 506, 473, or Just S1O,-
1917 for each factory. The average
profit made on the product Of each en-
ploye's labor, after deducting the cost CT
all raw materials and paying for wage
rolls, Was Sl85.40 per annum, or SIS 80
weekly per person. AS is the case
in all industries where the
rate of protection doesN not ex-
coed so per cent, the figures demonstrate
the TACT that the sum paid IN wages is
nearly double the gross profits, and yet
the return on the capital averages about
~ per cent. annually, sum which fair
minded men will consider good earn
ing.
IL the Tete Of tariff protection regulates
the rate of wages, will some of the admir-
ers and defenders of the present war
tariff tell US why there Is such wide diff
in he ~ IN ba |
states to boot and shoe m kers?