The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-03-25
Why Yankee Shoes
FIRE Worn so Widely


Washington, March -.
TllE RAPID growth OF the exports of boots
and shoes from the United States is at.
Il tracing the attention of the manufacturing
world and OF the representatives in the
United States OF the manufacturing countries
ct the world The British commercial agent
in the United States has forwarded to his gov
c'rment 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 Amcrcan-madc
boots and shoes being pushed with success
in places wcherc British.madc goods ought to
have practically the monopoly"
This report, a copy OF which has reached the
Treasury Bureau OF Statistics through the Brit
sh Board of Trade journal, shows that the cN'
ports Of boots and shoes during the twelve
months ending December 81 1900, TO the United
Kingdom, British West Indies, British Austral.
asia and British Africa from the United States
have grown from Eli2.s2s in 1905 TO E32S.3os in
1899, and GI26,12i 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 in the
meantime, being in is9s, El,002,Ooi; in 1899,
~ 90, ,o21, and in 1900. El,o'j,Fs.
Commenting on this growth of American sales
British sales in tho same territory, the report
saws: "Why this state of affairs should be pos.
siblc is not, at first sight, quite clear 1t means
either the Amcrican.madc article 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
America there must be some important reason
why the latter should cost less than the former.
That America is large exporter of leather to
| the United Kingdom shows that they can manu-
factlrc it cheaper. Considering that 50 much
Of the raw material has to be imported into the
United States by the tanners, there seems no rcd-
son why leather should not be manufactured ~
cheap, or cheaper, in the United Kingdom. This
appliCs especially 10 the hnCr qualities, such as
patent leather, glazed hid and others There
| is no doubt that as far certain class leather
| Is concerned, American possesses considerable
natural advantage There are plentiful supplies
| of suitable bark growing in the different parts
| of the country, and the tanncrlcS have been
| placed at no great distance from il, The hem
| lock bark, which is that most used for tanning
| ,oc leather. is obtained from the forest, situated
| in the states of Wisconsin and Michigan II is
| also found in New York state and PENNSYLVANIA,
| but the supply is rapidly diminishing For tam
| ming the finer qualities of leather chemicals and
| extracts are used, a large quantity Of which is
| imported.
| The mica states IS large Importer OF
hides There were imported during the year
ended December 81, 1900 307 ,2j7 o2t hides, valued
at elO,7is,Oo7, of which ~, 232 valued at
| e3.Sl5,9s7 were hides Of cattle which pay import
duty of IL per cent. ad vslorcm, and Go,l2l 666,
| valued at G3,060,320. were goat skins which
| ave admitted free OF duty. OF the total im.Srts,
| ia 2j5, ,26i, valued at 70i, came from Eu
rope and 66,2l27o2, valued at e2,l0l,ijl. came
from the East Indies. Those in the trade will
doubtless be able to say whether the dsadyan
tagc of having to import this quantity OF hives
bringing them from such distances and paying
Is per cent. duty. paying higher wages than az,
customary in Europe, and heavy railway anc
steamer rcighs, are compensated ion by getting
cheaper bark; ii not, there must be something IL
the process of tanning that enables the American
tanners to compete with other countries in thcil
own markets, Needless TO say, only the lacs
improvements in the general process OF tanning
are employed in the United States, 1t is th'
use OF much improved machinery that en-
| ables the American manufacturer to turn pu
| such large quantities and do 1t so Cheaply."
|