Evening star., 1901-03-27
BOOT AND SHOE EXPORTS
AMERICAN PRODUCTS CROWDING
OUT BRITIsH-MADE GOODS.
1t Is the Use of So Much Improved
Machinery That Makes
1t Possible.


and shoes from the United States is attract
ing the attention of the manufacturing
world and of the representatives in the
United States of the manufacturing coun-
tries of the world. The British commercial
agent in the United States has forwarded
to his home government a statement re-
garding the expectation of boots and shoes
from the United States, in which he cites
the figures relating to Yur exports to the
united kingdom British West Indies. Aus
tralasia and Africa, and says: "A glance
at these figures will show how American
made boots and shoes are being pushed
with success in places where British-made
goods ought to have practically the mo-
nopoly."
Invading British Colonies.
This report, copy of which has reached
the treasury bureau of statistics through
the British Board of Trade Journal, shows
that the exports of boots and shoes during
the twelve months ending December 81.
1900, to the united kingdom, British West
Indies, British Australasia and British
Africa from the United States have grown
from tli2,32S in 1898 to t:,23, ,soS in 1899
and fi26124 in 1900 and that the exports
of similar character from the united
kingdom to British West Indies. British
Australasia and South Africa have slightly
utcreaSt-u meantime. DelnS IN lSf>. <l.ffZ.-
094; in 1S99, l,001 ,921, and in 1900, tl,pT5,
AIS
Commenting on this growth OF American
sales in British territory and absence of
growth of British sales in the same ter
ritory, the report says:
why this state of affairs should be pos
sible is not at first sight. quite clear. 1t
means either the American-made article is
cheaper than the British-made one. or that
1t is of better quality. Taking it for grant
ed that the British boots and shoes are not
inferior to those of America. there must be
some important reason why the latter
should cost less than the former. That
America is a large exporter of leather to
the united kingdom shows that they can
manufacture it cheaper Considering that
so much of the raw material has to be i'm
ported into the United States by the tan
nerS, there seems no reason why leather
should not be manufactured as cheap or
cheaper in the united kingdom. This ap-
plies especially to the finer qualities. such
as patent leather. glazed kid and others.
There is no doubt that as far as certain
class leather is concerned America pos
sesses considerable natural advantages.
There are plentiful supplies of suitable bark
growing in the different parts of the coun-
try, and the tanneries have been placed at
no great distance from it. The hemlock
bark, which is that most used for tan
ming sole leather, Is obtained from the
forests situated in the states of Wiscon-
Sin and Michigan. 1t is also found in New
York state and Pennsylvania, but the sup
ply is rapidly diminishing. For tanning
the finer qualities of leather chemicals and
extracts are used, large quantity of
which is imported.
Large Importer of Hides.
''The United States is a large importer
of hides. There were imported during the
year ended December 81, 1900, 3O7, ,257 924
hides, valued at f10,74s0eT, Of which 1872
92,232, valued at f3,s15,9s7, were hides of
~ H., s,l..
ad valorem, and So 121, ,666, valued at e.
960.320. were goat skins. which are ad-
mitted free Of duty. OF the total imports
124, ,255. .264, valued at fl 2SS, ,7O7, came from
Europe and 66 212 192 valued at 70 l9l 45l
came from the East Indies.
''Those in the trade will doubtless be able
to say whether the disadvantages of hay-
ing to import this quantity of hides. bring
Ing them from such great distances and
paying Is per cent duty, paying higher
wages than are customary in Europe, and
heaVy railway and steamer freights are
compensated for by getting cheaper bark;
If not, there must be something in the
process of tanning that enables the Ameri-
can tanners to compete with other coun-
tries in their own markets. Needless to
say, only the latest improvements in the
general process of tanning are employed
in the United States.
1T is the use of so much improved ma
chinery that enables the American manu-
and do it so cheaply.
South American Trade.
american manufacturers are going to
make bid for the South American boot
trade as well as the European and colonial.
There is also some talk of an American
factory being started in the City of Mexico.
practically the whole of the boots and
shoes made in the United States came for
merly from the factories situated In the
east, Boston being the center Latterly.
however, tanneries have sprung up further
west, about Chicago especially, so as to be
near the supply of hemlock bark. The boot
and shoe factories have naturally followed
suit, and consequently a considerable por-
tfon OF the trade has been taken out of the
hands of eastern makers, and they in turn
have been obliged to look for other markets
where they can dispose of their goods, 1t
is therefore from that quarter that British
manufacturers must look for the seyerest
competition. 1t has been suggested that a
combination of American manufacturers
should erect in different parts of the world
large warehouses in which could be stored
the different kinds and sizes of boots and
shoes, so that retailers could replenisb tneir
stocks as and when they required it The
advantages of such a plan. should it be
carried out, would be considerable"