The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-11-10
THE IIITHER TRADE.
The Conditions a shown by the snow
Church Company'- Review.

The Snow-Church Company's Weekly
Review of Trade says.
The present cost of hides has little or
no effect on the present price of leather
Tanning is a SLOW process, requiring
some six months for completion, and the
hides bought to-day are therefore not
marketable II used Immediately or a half
a year. Leather selling to-day Is made
from hides bought six months ago, and
the selling price thereof IS based on the
cost price Of the hides at the time they
were purchased.
strides early in the'present year. a great
many tanners Of oak sole became alarm
ed and dropped out OF the market. Ihey
had no confidence in the ADVANCE anu
we're afraid 10 buy hides, and have con-
tinucd along, working in hides on mana
and waiting TIL prices fall before pui-
chasing new lots. Ineir yards nave neci
closed down In a good many cases Where
M stock ahead was provided, ana the
result OF It all is that the production OF
oak sole has been greatly curtalled' anu
the curtaiment Is added 10 every IA, uaS
Now that hides have fallen OF hlue
tanners are afraid 10 buy, less they ian
sfil further and IL is likely 10 be some
time before hides are put into the eHipls
watts. and IL will then be six months beloIs
they come forth as leather In We" y.
mes. facts II is predicted mat oak sole
will be scarce and considerably hlgher os
January ], 1870 -. ,..,,i,,od
I-r.,er leather tanners all seem iuciiheu
10 hold firm for top prices, ana nave Deeh
free buyers at top cost OF hides mere -
iiitfle prospect IL cheaper leather IN TINS
direction. Hides can stand slump. Ihey
have been and still are relatively mucn
higher than leather. and II sun furtneI
rhssrenei TO considerable degree Would
NOT result 10 cheaper leather.
Soeaking more particularly OF the har-
ness Leather outlook, the statistical posi-
tlon should really be better thah ~ sore
icetber hut tho latter branch OF the
,-ado is i'm fewer and stronger hands.
M long depression has forced numbers
- small harness tanners out OF the bust
80 uhile many have turned their atten-
-, - other lines or have run their
ards so slowly a9 to have almost ceased
production. -. ,o,soirad "a hiring
aho,,t this result. When hides were cheap
80 ,ienttfpl there was no incentive 10
S h, iben for the depression was being
nest severely felt in the agrlcultuial re-
'i~rs fairness tanners were toId oyer
and over again, until they canie 70 pc pc
lieu. ~ thar the bicycle ana the trv,i'.
had killed the trade In harness ied,hse,r.
anu tn.y reasoned that III Wouiu ~ .o'iy
10 huv hides and continue tanning. II
The hides had been permitted 10 accu-
mulate IL would not have been so D@u,
Native steer and COW hides, sultaplS IoE
harness however, were taken TOT Dtllns
leather and for tanning into secured
hacks for the soles OF fine shoes. ..,.
n as seems certain. the trace - ~
suffering from an artificial rather tnd" "a a
natural repression, the demand VIII pc
very great, when buyers can delay no
| longer IL at that time tanners 90 hoe
tola advantage OF the rush 70 ad.ahce
| their ouotatf0ns again the cutters or ndl
ness leather will be exceedingly fortunate