New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-12-24
THE LEATHER INDUSTRY.
MILLIONS OF POUNDS OF HIDES AND
SKINS HANDLED IN THE SWAMP" 3
kARIors GRADES WHICH co INTO THE MANU-
FACTURE OF BOOTS SHOES. DELTING p
HOLIDAY GOODS AND FUR
NlTURE.


Millions of hides are imported annually into
che United States through the port OF TINS c''S.
From Russia. Italy. Germany. France. England
and the numerous republics Of South America
the skins Of animals are collected in order to
meet the demands of this country. One wouid
think that with the thousands of herds Of cattle
roaming over the Western plains there would
be a sufficient supply from domestic sources
Such a conclusion would err. for the reason that
the enormous annual output OF leather manu-
featured goods could not be appreciated Thc
single of boots ard shoes would consume
enough leather in the course of year to staSSer
the average reader il even an approximate guess
could be made. Seventy millions OF people IN
this country, to say nothing of the rest 0i tne
world. require to have their feet clad. and IN
order to meet the demand thousands OF factories
are running full time and hundreds OF tnou-
sands of men and women depend for their daily
bread upon the industry.
Wherever machinery is used betting is re-
Quired to transmit power. ard here is found an
other demand for leather. The manufacture OF
betting has developed an industry than wnich
few are more important. Gloves, fancy articles
furniture and a host of other manufacturer
articles come next in order all requiring dif-
ferent skins and different processes.
There has never been time when New YorK
was not a leader in the leather business. From
the days of the early Dutch the swamp has
been the scene of operations in hides, leather
skins and tanning Land became too valuable
years ago for tanneres to be profitable propo-
sition. and they have been removed to smaller
towns. where the use or tanDark does not III
Vo,ve ruinous freight rates. and where taxes ana
other expenses are light In the years gone by
there have been splendid opportunities to make
money in the tanning and leather business. and
many fortune has been accumulated. Among
the prominent names connected with its history
is that OF Fayerweather. whose estate amounted
to millions. and who left many large requests
to the different educational institutions OF the
country.
t. AN UNRIvALLED CENTRE
An examination Of commercial statistics shows
at glance the lead New-York has over all other
ports in the quantity and value of hides and
leather which are brought into the United
States. For the present year the eight months
ending in august but which have been correct ct,
total imports Of hides and skins from all cOun-
tries have amounted to 1SOGlOS1S pounds. with
q value of $21.74S0S4 against 1tI3.60S.U1i
pounds with value of So GIT ,22SG for the same
period in 1891. or tie quantity imported during
the period of the present year the larger part
came from South America, with the United King
dom next in importance. Germany and France
also send important shipments of the raw
product each year Early in the present year
there were many unusual conditions present in
the market At one time the visible supply Of
hides at NewYork had decreased until there
was scarcely any at all. and there was no little
anxiety in many quarters as to the causes. AL
though there a good demand. there ap-
ceared to be lack Of the raw product in the
principal localities of supply One Of the rea-
sons advanced for this that cattle raising
I'm South America and in this country also had
received black eye. Up to few years ago
before the big packers in the West consolidated
there active market for all sorts of live
stock and the resultant products Prices were
good and competition for business was keen.
When the trust formed there was only one
buyer where there used to be many. and.
result prices wer, dictated which the seller was
obliged to accept or not sell his product. From
this time there decline in cattle raising.
The influence In this country spread to South
American territories and the industry Ian
guished This was about three or four years ago
As il takes just about that length of time for a
creature to develop for the market the extent to
which cattle raising curtailed three years
ago is now fully demonstrated bysthe lack Of
supply in the market to-day.
THE TRADE SITUATION
While TIE principal centre for the domestic
product is IN the West. still NewYork handles
immense quantities of it, and each year dis
tributes big portion through its important
commission houses. The principal office Of the
Leather Trust is in the Swamp This concern
Is a consolidation of many Of the leading tan
neries all through the United States. and its
annual output of leather Is Of enormous pro-
portions. There are number of disturbing ele-
rnents in the trade at the close of the present
year. RumOrs have been in circulation that
many factories were to be shut down. and that
q manipulation OF the market might be at
tempted. The trade has also had two
large failures. which would Indicate that bust
ness not Of profit making character
In New-YOrk City there are about one hun
dred and fifty shoe factories which consume the
best leather in producing the high ade manu-
featured goods sent into the market. Large
capital is invested and the annual profits from
the investment amount to over $10OOOOO0
The finer grades of leather go into the produc-
travelling bags. ard holiday presents in general.
There are nearly sixty firms in New-YOrk City
commissioning to this daintier side Of the trade
MILLIONS OF CIGARS
OF making cigars there is no end. The great