The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-05-07
OUR EXPORT OF SHOES

lhe rapid growth OF the exports of
boots and shoes from the United States
- allractlng the attention OF the manu-
lacturlng world, aud OF the representa-
yves IN the United States Of the manu-
tacturmg countries of the world The
BRUSH Commercial Agent In the United
Slales hss forwarded 20 his home gov
efnment statement regarding the ex-
portatton Of boots and shoes from the
tnited states. I'm which he cites the ng-
ures relating To our exports 10 the United
hlnsdom British West Indies, Austria
lasta 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 reach
eu the Treasury Bureau OF Statistics
through the British Board OF Trade Jour
nal, shows that the export of boots and
shoes during the twelve months ending
December 81, 1900, to the United King
dom, British West Indies British Aus
traiasia and British Africa from the
mted states have grown from Gi42 32S
In lS@ 10 e323, ,30S I'm 1899. and e426. l94 In
1900, ana that the exports of "A similar
character from the United Kingdom TO
British West Indies. British Australasia
and South Africa have slightly decreased
meantime, being I'm 1895. G. 092. .094; I'm 1899,
4l lWl ,9al and In 1900. 81 O75.f7S
commenting on this growth OF Ameri-
can sales In British territory, and alb
same territory the report SAYS:
why this state OF affairs should be
possible Is not, at first sight. quite clear.
IL means either the American made ar
ticle IL cheaper than the British-made
one. or that IL 10 OF better quality. TAX
Ing II for granted 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 n a
large exporter OF leather 10 the United
Kingdom shows that they can manufac-
ture IL cheaper. Considering that 40
much of the raw material has 10 be inn
ported into the United States by the tam
ners. there seems no reason why leather
should not be manufactured as cheap or
cheaper IN the United Kingdom. This
applies especially to the finer qualities
such as patent leather. glazed kid and
others. There il no doubt that as far
as certain class leather is concerned
America possesses considerable natural
advantages. There are plentiful sup
plies OF suitable bark growing In the
different parts of the country. and the
tanneries have been placed at no great
distance from IL. The hemlock bark,
which is the most used for tanning sole
leather. is obtained from the forests sit
uated I'm the States OF Wisconsin and
Michigan. IL Is also found in New York
State and PENNSYLVANIA, hut the supply
Is rapidly diminishing For tanning the
inner qualities of leather, chemicals and
extracts are used, large quantity or
which Is imported
The United tSates is a large importer
OF hides. There were imported during
the year ended December 81, 1890, 305,251, .
pa hides valued az Ei0,74s,o01 OF which
iA2 792 PIP, valued at E3.Si5.9S1. were hides
of cattle which pay import duty OF 10 per
cent. ad valorcm and 90 i2i 500. valued
at L39Q320. were goat skins, which are
admitted free OF duty. OF Ihc total Inn
ports ~, 2,2j5,2 2a. valued at Gl,2SS.7o7, came
from Europe. and dG,2l2,192. valued at
So tei. .t5i. came from the West Indies.
Those ln the trade will doubtless he
able 90 say whether the disadvantages of
having TO import this quality OF hides,
bringing them from such great distances.
and paying a. per cent. duty, paying
higher wages than are customary iu Eu-
rope. and heavy railway ana steamer
trclghts. arc compensated Tor by gettinS
cheaper bark. tf not. there must De
something in tho process ~ tanning that
enables the American tanners ~ COM
pete with other countries In their own
markets Needless Co say, only the la
test improvements tn the general nrocess
ot tanning are employed Ia the United
States. ~ a. the use Of So much I'm
proved machinery that enables tho Amer
lean manufactures 20 turn out such
large quantities and 10 10 so chouply.
American manufacturers are going a.
make bid FOR the South American boot
trido ss well ss the European and CO
iAnhi here a. also some talk ~ ~
American factory being started in the
titN uf Mexico.
Practically the whole 80 the hpnts md
abpes made iu the United States cV'l'
formerly frvm factories situated "a ih,
East Boston being the centre. Lat ri'
however. tauueries have spriuu up fur
thor West. about chicago. especially, s'
ns ta ho near the supply of hemio'k bark
The boot aud shoe factories have uatu.
rally followed suit. aud. consequently
considerable pOrtiou ~ The Trade ha'
haeu taken Out ~ the hands 90 The East
Dru makers. and they. Boo turn. have beer
! inlliesd to look for other markeis WHORE
thcy san dispose Of their gocda