The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-04-20

of dwelling. Yet the fact is Substantlated
that, as regards one industry, at least 10
Gated in this city. there is a reader and
larger patronage of the product found among
dealers in Minneapolis than in st. Paul,
where the factories are operated.
Reference is made TO the shoe industry.
St. Paul Is a recognized center in connection
with the manufacture Of shoes in the North
west. 1t primarily took the lead, and not
only continues to hold 1t, but the volume of
products in this. line is annually increasing
its capacities are constantly eplarging, its
field Of patronage is broadening, and, as an
evidence Of the liberality and public spirit
Of those engaged in the work, the estab-
lishment here of new factories, which would,
Of course, mean competition, would be well
coined as tending to create an indisputable
center in st. Paul, which would become per-
manent and famous as Syracuse is already
famous for its salt, Fall River for its manu-
faeture Of textile fabrics and P:ttsburg for
its iron and steel products.
The shoes made in St. Paul are equal in
quality both with respect to material and
workmanship to any made on the continent.
But so quietly is the work in these big fac
tories carried that many OF the business
men and residents of the city are unable to
appreciate the merits of their own industrial
institutions. An illustration was supplied
the intolerable prejudice of a local dealer
who absolutely refuses to carry St. Paul
made shoes in his stock. 1t Is not perhaps
so much because his customers would not
buy them, if offered to them over the retail
counter, as it is due to the fact that he is
possessed of that spirit Of general cussedness
which induces him to believe that nothing
is good that is made at home. If this man
was a retailer in Lyons France, or in Brus-
sells, Belgium, he would, unless he could not
help it, refuse to sell the famous silks man
ufactured III the first mentioned place, or the
laces made in the last mentioned
As feature Of local industrial economy
the manufacture of shoes in St. Paul is of
considerable Importance, in that the sales as-
gregate about $4,000, coo per annum, and en-
ployment is afforded to approximately 200
pairs of hands. st. Paul has come to be a
center IN this particular branch Of manu-
features by reason of it's commercial re-
lation to the gradually opening section of
the Northwest
The first concern 81 any pretenttons in
the line Of 1obbing was the house of Louis
Semper. c. Gotzian was in the retail trade.
Mr.. Semper retired from business in 1867.
Meanwhile Mr.. Gotzan prospered to the ex-
tent of starting the first mandatory of
boots and shoes in the Northwest Shortly
afterwards a considerable establishment in
the wholesale and jobbing line was started
In the name of Grant & Johnson. This was
followed by the firm of Kellogg Johnson &
Co., who also entered into the manufacturing
branch, but their establishment was finally
burnt out, after which they discontinued
manufacturing and confined themselves exclu-
sively to the jobbing line. In 1885 Foot
Schulze Co., who had tannery at Red
Wing, opened a boot and shoe factory here
which still continues in operation Mean
while Tarbox, Schiiek & Co. went into the
business; and about five years ago the factory
of Starood & Crooks was started TODAY
the prominent concerns directly EMPLOYING
St. Paul labor are c.. Gotzian & Co.. Foot
Schulze & Co. and Sharood & Crooks. That
OF Tarbox, Schliek & Co. .is, it is said. grad
uelly transferring its manufacturing plant
to saltwater, though the larger warehouses
oil the company remain in ST. Paul
stroll through the factories of these great
concerns illustrates the degree of perfection
10 WHICH modern invention, as applied to
machinery in this connection has arrived
Every improvement is introduced as deyel-
oped, and object lesson is afforded the
visitor. AS a shoe manufacturing center ST
Paul contributes to a population of about
1900, 0O0 The field at present embraces West
ern and Northwestern Wisconsin, the penin-
suid VI hlcHiSdn, all OF minnesota, the north
ern half of Iowa, North and South Dakota
Nebraska, Montana, Washington. Oregon and
Idaho.
This territory is industrously worked by
sales agents, who are just now starting forth
In all directions for orders for fall stock The
indications already favorable to con-
Siderable increase In the output. St. Paul
manufacturers have practically no COM
petitors, except those Of the East and the
quality of their products and the prices at
which they can be sold leave them masters
of the situation.
In this connection, the absence of tan
merry in st. Paul, or its vicinity, is sur
prise. A well-known manufacturer said YES
terday: 81 do not know of a place afford
ing so excellent opportunity for the busi-
ness of tannery right here in ST. Paul.
We can get the bark at this place cheaper
than it can be supplied at either Milwau-
kee or Chicago. The same is true of the
hides, of which we have an abundance"
The project Of starting tannery at St.
Paul was Initiated several years ago, but the
sudden breaking away Of the underpinnings
OF the boom caused a collapse of the under
taking. The subject Is likely to be revived
at an early day. The revival of the packing
industry at the Union Stockyards, at South
st. Paul, ought to be an incentive The prop
oslucn 10 locate tannery at that place, In
connection with the Swift & Co. plant
was discussed some time ago. 1t would be an
appropriate location and profitable Access
sion to the Industrial outfit at that place.
The hides are here in good supply already.
They are now shipped to Milwaukee and Chi
cago. large proportion of these can be
tanned into a good quality of leather used
In the manufacture of uppers for the coarser
grades OF shoes, as well as for sole leather.
Much of the leather now used here Is pro-
duced from those hides, tanned and prepared
at Milwaukee. and the cost Of transportation
from this point thither and return might
be saved II a tannery was established at
this point.
But the shoes made here are of all grades.
from the finest to the coarsest, and the sup
plies of skin are drawn from the best fac
tories In the East, such as Philadelphia, Will
mington, Newark. N. j.. Boston, Lynn and
Salem, in Massachusetts, where the goat
skins from South America and Mexico are
prepared for the manufacturing trade. Some
of the finer leather entering into the manu-
facture of shoes in st. Paul comes from Ger
many and other European countries, while
Buenos Ayres and Montevideo contribute
largely to the hides of which the red sole
leather is made.
Taken altogether. the shoe manufacturing