Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-07-26
LEATHER Is SCARCE.

Some Curious Facts Disclosed I'm
Securing French Army Supplies.
From the New York World.
Leather is so scanty and high of price
just now in France that the minister of
war is greatly perplexed over the question
Of how to secure the necessary footwear
for the great number Of men which that
nation keeps continually in readiness for
its defense. Not only this. but sufficient
supply Of leather for the saddles, harness
and other furnishings of the cavalry and
artillery is lacking.
When the government invited bids re-
Gently for the equipment of the troops with
shoes and horse furniture, the only con-
tractors who dared make an offer demand
ed SO high figure that their propositions
were rejected, and those who have yet con-
tracts to fill for these articles are seeking
every means possible to break them, fear
ing that ruin Will be the result if they are
compelled to carry out their agreements.
Hides have doubled in price since the be-
ginning OF the present year. This unusual
state of affairs in the leather trade was
thought at first to be the result of a cor
ner in the market, but 1t has since become
evident that the remarkable scarcity in that
commodity Is produced by variety of
simple and natural causes.
Three of the principal reasons for this
dearth of leather are: The recent war be-
tween China and Japan: the many revolu-
lions and bloody conflicts in the South
American republics, and the scarcity of
fodder and pasturage owing to the unfavor-
able weather Of last year and the year be-
fore in the countries of the world from
which the principal supply of hides comes.
AS can readily be conceiv cd, the poverty
of pasturage is potent factor in the de-
crease Of the supply of cattle and of hides.
The number of cattle this year which will
furnish skins for the tanneries of the world
has not reached anywhere near that Of
former years. Though the grazing lands
are recovering from the effects of the long
and severe drouths. which. with the con-
sequent fires have killed much of the grass,
1t VIII be another twelve months even I'M
der the most favorable conditions before
they can supply cattle in sufficient num-
bers to even partly meet the demand. This
disproportion between the demand and the
supply is being felt not only in France but
also in every other manufacturing country
which depends upon the prairies and PAM
pas Of the western hemisphere for the sup
ply of leather.
In the countries of South America where
the cattle run wild in great herds the I'M
favorable climatic conditions have been less
severe in their results. but nearly every
one of these countries has been the thea:er
Of devastating civil war which has left
the people little chance to think of any
thing else. and has left the scanty popula-
ton still further reduced and crippled.
The catastrophes of the climate and of
war in South America, although serious
enough in themselves. would hot alone lave
been sufficient to bring about the present
state of affairs. 1t is the war between
China and Japan which is more directly
responsible for the jedrth which now pre-
walls. When war was declared Japan
placed large contracts in the United States
for the equipment OF Its infantry and cav
airy with footwear and other furnishings
To fill these promptly the contractors in
this country bought up nearly all the Wis
ible supply OF leather suitable for that pur-
pose.
Since the war closed Japan has sent new
orders of equal Importance to the mer-
chants here for fresh supplies of shoes and
military trappings. and the markets have
been swept bare to fill them. The price of
green" hides has therefore risen so high
that the tanners are buying as little as
they can, and large percentage of tine
tanneries throughout the world are closed
In France especially the wholesale manu-
1actare of shoes is in a daplorable State
Generally the product of one season is made
up to sell the next but owing to the high
prices prevailing this year for the necessary
raw material a great number of the shoe
factories are closing and thro wing out of
employment large number of workmen
An immediate and practical solution Of
the question seems impossible The crisis
has not yet been reached, and the ultimate
outcome will be interesting to note