The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-03-25
AMERICAS new CONQUEST
Growing Exports of Boots and
Shoes to British Markets.
English-Mnde Articles Being Driven
Ont by Those Manufactured in the
United States-SOme Reasons for
tine Success of the Competition,

United States-SOme Reasons for
the Success of the Competition
The rapid growth of the exports of
boots and shoes from the United States
is attracting the attention of the manu-
featuring world and of the representa-
tives in the United States of the various
manufacturing countries. The British
commercial agent in the United States
has forwarded to his home Government a
statement regarding the expectation OF
boots and shoes from the United States.
in which he cites the figures relating to
our exports to the United Kingdom,
British West Indies. Australasia, 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
monopoly"
This report, a copy of which has
reached the Treasury Bureau of Statis-
tics 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
9142,32S in 1898 to e323, ,3oS in 1899. and
f426, ,124 in 1900. and that the exports of a
similar character from the United King
dom to British West indies. British
Australasia, and South Africa have
slightly decreased meantime. being in
1s9s G1, ,692 09i; in 1899 f1.OGl so, and in
1900, G1.075, as.
Commenting on this growth of Ameri-
can sales in British territory and the abb
sence of growth of British sales in the
same territory. the report says:
why this state of affairs should be
possible is not. at first sight, quite clear
1t means either the American made arti-
Gle is cheaper than the British made one
or that it is of better quality. Taking it
for granted that the British boots and
shoes are not inferior to those of Ameri-
ca, there must be some important reason
why the latter should cost less than the
former. That America is a large export
er Of leather to the United Kingdom
shows that they can manufacture 1t
cheaper Considering that so much of
the raw material has to be imported into
the United States by the tanners. there
seems no reason why leather should not
he manufactured as cheap or cheaper in
the United Kingdom. This applies espec-
tally to the finer qualities. such as patent
leather, glazed kid, and others.
There is no doubt that as far as GER
tain class leather is concerned, America
possesses considerable natural advan-
tages. There are plentiful supplies of
suitable bark growing in the different
parts of the country, and the tanneries
have been placed at no great distance
from it. The hemlock bark. which is
that Most used for tanning sole leather,
is obtained from the forests situated in
the States of Wisconsin and Michigan.
1t is also found in New York State and
Pennsylvania, but the supply is rapidly
diminishing. For tanning the finer quail
ties of leather chemicals and extracts are
used. large quantity of which is i'm
ported
THE United States is large importer
of hides. There were imported during the
year ended December 81, 1900, 30I, Isl, ,92i
hides. valued at f1O74S,o ,og7, of which 49,
'92,232 valued at R3.S15.9s7, were hides of
cent ad valorem. and IS. .12l 666 valued at
G., $50 800. were goat skins. which are ad-
mitted free of duty. OF the total imports,
I24, ,255, 254, valued at e42sS,707, came from
Europe. and 65,212. 1872, valued at e. 19I ISL
came from the East Indies.
Those in the trade Will doubtless be
able to say whether the disadvantages of
having TO import this quantity of hides,
and paying IS per cent duty, paying
higher wages than are customary in Eu-
rope, and heavy railway and steamer
freights, are compensated for by getting
cheaper bark; If not. there must be some
thing in the process of tanning that en-
ables the American tanners to compete
with other countries in their own mar
kets. Needless to say, only the latest i'm
provements in the general process of tan
ming are employed in the United States
IL is the use of SO much improved ma
chinery that enables the American manu-
facturer to turn out such large quantities.
and do il so cheaply.
American manufacturers are going to
make bid for the South American boot
trade as well as the European and Colo
NAL. 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
formerly from the factories situated in
the East, Boston being the centre Lat
terry, however, tanneries have sprung up
farther West, about Chicago especially
so as to be near the supply Of hemIock
bark. The boot and shoe factories have
followed suit, and consequent
y considerable portion or 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 II is
therefore. from that quarter that British
must look for the severest
1t has been suggested that a combina-
non or american manufacturers should
rect in different parts of the world large
warehouses in which could be stored the |
different kinds and sizes of boots and |
shoes, 50 that retailers could replenish
heir stocks as, and when they required |
I. The advantages OF such plan should |
be carried out, would be considerable" |