The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-09-07
BOOT AND SHOE TRADE.
Jobbers n Unit An RePoftiRR nm In
crease in business.


crease in Business.
The story % the boot and shoe jobhers
OF the years business IN certainly a graf
flying one. They report an Increase In
business as compared with lac, year. and
all indications point TO the fact that con-
sumption In this line has been large. due
10 the broader territory worked and the
energetic efforts OF the dealers 10 thor
oughly cover the territory they controlled
at the beginning OF the year
For years past the Savannah dealer has
found the boot and shoe trade confronted
by a formidable competition from Eastern
houses which travel men the year arouui
In this and adjacent territory Baltimore.
Philadelphia and New York jobbers not
only sell direct 20 many Of ths local trade.
but so a step further In travelling men
here 20 sell 90 the trade the local jobhers
cater TO- True. some OF the jobbers deal
directly with manufacturers. which may
have something 20 do with the infringe
ment by Northern jobbers. To counter
act these infringements local johhers are
sending men In ali directions OF the
South. 80 that the prospects for wider
fields IN this line are growing daily Houses
which would naturally control the
North Georgia territory. for in
stance have men In this section.
and in turn the Savannah Job
hers send men 90 that aeld for the pnr-
pose Of equaliEing things. IL Is said sew
eral houses worked In Alabama during
the year. and will enter that field more
energetically the coming season.
The close OF the season nnds prices IN
the boot and shoe line slightly of due
10 the fact that manufacturers have snut
down. and are making concessions TO rid
themselves OF stocks Otherwise the
market has ruled steady. with the de-
mand. as stated. fully up 10 what job
bers reasonably expected. The enormous
ness OF the boot and shoe trade In this
city may BE- judg6d from the conservative
estimates OF houses placing the amount
Of business done annually at 100000
While there r. a fair demand from city
dealers. the most Of this vast trade repre-
sents the efforts Of the knight OF the
grip in the country. Until the spirit OF
patronizing home affairs grows more en-
thusisstic the icbber and the retail dealer
may continue TO so Il single handed for
a while
One feature Of the years business has
been the noticeable increase In the demand
y
years past the country trade generally
wanted the coarser grades. but an i'm
Provement In the times among the country
classes has brought with Il . desire for
a better article, which the jobbers are
endeavortng TO supply. In few lines II
the prosperity among the farming classes
reflected more than Il Is In the boot and
shoe trade.
Much has been said at times during the
year about the manufacture OF boots and
shoes IN the South. Enterprising persons
in Savannah have put their shoulders TO
the wheel 90 find out what there IL in the
business for this section. This has nat
urally attracted the attention OF jobbers
who feel a deep interest I'm any move
looking 20 che betterment Of the trade.
The main question with the jobbers a.
whether skilled labor can be obtained and
held in the South They are n unit In be-
mevlng that this manufacturing will have
10 be done by skilled white labor. II tho
undertaking IL TO be successful Win
finely executed work they do not doubt
but the manufacturing OF shoes In the
South can be made n success. However.
they realize that goods inferior In quality
and appearance 90 the Northern-made
would not stand much show In the South.
and until they are satisfied with the kind
OF article 60 be turned out they hesitate
90 participate IN the enterprise. i, T.
the opinion Of many. however. that 4 Is
only a question Of time until manufactnr-
Ing IN this line will follow IN the steps Of
the manufacturing Of cotton IN the South.
which has made such rapid strides during
the past year.
II believe there are many In Savannah
who would take stock IN n boot and shoe
factory" said q Jobber. provided Il can
he conducted on a feasible plan. And
the main thing IL IN getting the skilled
labor. Nowadays tobbers generally give
their orders early in the season 20 the
manufacturer, who makes zap the goods
accordingly. They can afford TO do this
with orders Of tSaooo at one time. which
n IL not uncommon for Savannah jobbers
10 give a. the opening OF the season. We
are as anxious as any TO leave this money
In Savannah. and when the feasibility OF
home manufacturing IL shown. Il will not
meet with serious opposition from those
who handle the goods"