The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-12-26
Foreign Consumption of Ameri,
can Boots and Shoes Increas-
ing by Leaps and Bounds.
EUROPE, LARGEST PURCHASER
Only England surpasses United
States in Total Shipments
and She Is Being Rap
idly Overhauled.
REPUBLIC SPECIAL

REPUBiLC SPECIAL.
Washington, Dec 25.-Exports of boots
and shoes from the United States show a
steady growth, and for the calendar year
about to end will aggregate more than
100000 in value. In 1893 they were less
than three-Quarters of a million dollars
in value.
Few of the important articles entering
into our export trade show more rapid
growth in exports Or a wider distribution
than boots and Shoes More than sixty
countries and colonies are named by the
Department of Commerce and Labor
through its Bureau of Statistics as the
destination of the boots and shoes ex-
ported from the United States in the year
about to end. England. Germany, France,
Belgium, Denmark and the Netherlands,
in the order named. are the chief Euro
pean customers, and to Europe is sent
more than one-third Of our total exports
Of boots and shoes.
In North America, Canada, Mexico.
Cuba and the British West Indies are the
largest consumers of our boots and shoes,
while the South and Central American
countries also take greater or less guam
titles, though not in proportion to the
amounts taken by the West Indian
islands. Mexico and Canada
To Asia the exports OF boots and shoes
from the United States are small, the
British East Indies and China being the
chief points Of destination for the exports
to that continent. Australia Is a large
ted States, nearly one-sixth of our ex-
ports in that line being to British Aus
tralia.
Africa is also considerable importer of
I'D a EA fynY ha mi ad
especially British Africa.
SECOND IN WORLDS LIST.
The United States now stand easily sec
ond in the list of the worlds exporters OF
boots and shoes. while an examination of
the relative growth of exports Of this
Kingdom and the United States, respect.
lively, justifies the conclusion that we shall
soon overtake that friendly rival in the
| race for this contribution to the world s
wants and consumption.
| The value of boots and shoes exported
from the United Kingdom in 1888 was
$4,000 and in 1902 was s9.250.00D, while
from the United States the growth in ex.
| ports has been from $3.50, 754 in the fiscal
year 1893 to Sc. lS2, 09S in the fiscal year 1902
which years figures are used for compari.
kingdom. Thus, while the exports OF
| boots and shoes from the United King
dom have increased little less than ST..
100000. those from the United States have
| Another interesting fact developed in g
comparison of the figures of exports OF
| boots and shoes from the United King
dom and the. United States. is that the
value per pair of the boots and shoes
| from the United States is apparently
about so per cent greater than that OF
those exported from the United Kngdom
| The 1902 figures of exports OF boots and
| shoes from the United Kingdom show g..
| z66056 pairs. valued at 50, rs, S23, or 81
| cents per pair; while from the United
| States in the same year the total number
Of pairs exported was 3,966,766 and the
stated value, s61S2,oes. an average of 81 81
per pair.
Thus. the average value per pair OF
| boots and shoes exported from the Unit.
ed States is apparently more than 60 pei
cent in excess Of that of boots and shoes
| exported from he United Kingdom ct
| despite this higher price for the United
| States product, the growth in exports OF
| boots and shoes from the United States
is, as already indicated. much more rapid
than in those from the United Kingdom.
These low average prices are explained
| by the fact that the statements Of pairs
| and values include infants a 20 children's
shoes as well as those for adults and the
values given are based upon wholesale
prices.