Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1895-09-12
SHOE PRICES ADVANCE.

Leather Costs More In Consequence of the
scnrity of Raw Materials = local Shoe
Dealers Have Provided Large Stocks in
Anticipation.
Shoe prices are advancing, in con-
sequence of an increase in the cost of
leather. Several of the local shoe mer-
chants who handle large stocks of goods
have anticipated the raise and taken
the precaution to buy heavy before
there was any material difference, and
as result such dealers will be enabled
TO quote the same low prices for some
time yet. But those who were either
not aware of what was coming or did
not expect an immediate raise will be
put to inconvenience.
Several shoe men were seen by re-
porter of 1.-THE Gazette" on Monday
afternoon, and all agreed that in con
sequence OF the advance in the price of
the manufactured article the retailers
will be compelled to make a proportion
ate increase, but some of them have
not done SO yet and will not do SO for
some time.
John McVey, whose establishment is
at Eighth and Market streets, showed
the reporter letter from. e. & A.. ii.
Batcheller Co., of Boston, an extensive
has been dealing for the last nine
years. The letter fully ysubstantiatedwha
the merchants had told the reporter.
After quoting number of prices, in
answer to inquiry which had been
made by the local merchant the letter
said "We wish to say that all kinds
of veal, calf and split shoes that we
make cost us to-day, with the large
advances lin the cost Of leather, over
30 cents per pair more than they did,
and we are simply trying to accommo-
date you, &C." Mr.. Mcyey stated that
he had anticipated what was coming
and had laid in large stock of goods
that would last him for some time, and
il would not necessitate his raising the
prices Of most of his shoes for several
months at any rate, and by the time
his stock is down there may be a
change in the market that will again
bring the price down.
All of the dealers spoken to talked
in the same strain as Mr.. McVey and
most of them congratulated themselves
that they had seen some distance
ahead. One dealer told the reporter
that in buying certain kind of shoes
they lad to pay so cents per pair more
than they did, owing to the great adj
vance in sole leather.
Morocco manufacturers were also
talked to about the matter, and what
they said bore out the statements of the
shoe men. Charles Baird, who is al
ways well posted on such matters, said
that in the last 10 months the prices
of glazed kid have advanced about IL
per cent, and some grades have gone
above that figure, while sole leather
has doubled in cost "The sole rea-
son" he explained, lis the increase in
the cost OF raw material. ThZt has
advanced SO that the manufacturers do
not get even a proportionate increase
The manufacturers are not making as
much as they were when the prices
were lower, Notwithstanding that the
manufactured article is bringing
more. I"
"Then there is another bad feature, ~
he said "Shoe jobbers are not buy
ing in large quantities from the manu-
facturers, and consequently the manu-
factureres are not buying very heavy
from the leather manufacturers. - He
gave as reason for the advance in
prices of raw materials that as it has
not been profitable to raise cattle for
some time the stock has become SO low
that it will take at least three years
to bring it up to what it was before
the stringency in raw material made
its appearance.
A dispatch from New York gives as
the main reason for the advance that
the Leather Trust, which has a CAPT
tai of Sl20, 600, 600, and which controls
four fifths of the tanneries, has forced
the prices up, but the fundamental
trouble may be attributed without
doubt, according to local manufacturers,
to the scarcity Of raw materials.