New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-26
FOREIGN SHOE TRADE.
Enormous Grozcth in the Exports
from the United States.
TrEoM THE TRIBUNE rURKAu.l

washington, Dec 2o-To furnish the footwear
Cor the world is the ambition OF American boot
and shoe manufacturers and. judging from the sue
cess which has recently met their efforts TO build
I'D foreign trade. their ambitions seem likely
20 De realized. More than 100000 worth OF
boots and shoes have been exported within the
calendar year just ending When IL is reflected
that as recently as 1898 this class of exports was
represented by less than $4,000 the phenominal
growth be appreciated.
Few OF the important articles entering into our
export trade show a more rapid growth in exports
or wider distribution than boots and shoes. More
than sixty countries and colonies are named by
the Department OF Commerce and Labor through
irs bureau OF statistics the destination or the
boots ard shoes exported from the United states
81 the year about 70 end England. Germany
France Belgium. Denmark and Netherlands. In the
order named are the chief European customers
and 10 Europe sent more than one-third OF our
total exports OF boots and shoes
IN North America Canada. Mexico. Cuba ana 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 10 the amounts
taken by the West Indian Islands Mexico AND
Canada To Asia the exports OF boots ano SHOES
from the United States are small the British East
Indies and China being the chief points Australia
is q large importer Of boots and shoes from the
United States nearly one-sixth OF our exports in
that line being British Australasia Africa is also
a considerable importer OF boots and SHOES from
The United States. especially British Africa
The United States holds second rank among
the worlds exporters Of boots and shoes and Is
making gains at such rapid rate as to Justify the
belief that Il viii soon stand at the head OF the
list A comparison Of this growth with that OF
Great Britain. which has until recently been the
principal boot and shoe exporting country OF the
world. seems 20 Justify the conclusion that the
United States is making a rapid approach toward
the highest rank. From Germany. exports Of boots
and shoes average q little less than 100000
year; from France. about So 100000: from Spain.
about So 000.o0o; from the United Kingdom, about
100000. and from the United States as already
indicated al the present time. about S.0O0o0O.
The Cnited States now stands easily second in the
list OF the worlds exporters of boots and shoes,
while examination OF the relative growth of ex-
ports OF this class OF merchandise from the United
Kingdom and the United States. respectively justi
nes the conclusion that shall soon overtake
that friendly rival IN the for this contribu-
don 10 the worlds wants and consumption The
value OF boots and shoes exported from the United
Kingdom in 1888 &.2Jo.OO0. and in 1902 was
ss25ocOo while from the United States the growth
sn exports has been from s59oz54 in the fiscal year
1889 20 sslS2C9S in the fiscal year 1902 which years
figures are used for comparison with the 1902 figures
Of the United Kingdom. Thus, while the exports
Of boots and shoes from the United Kingdom have
increased little than 81 100000 those from the
United States have increased more than 5500,OO0
Another interesting fact developed in a COMPARE
son Of the figures Of exports Of boots and shoes
from the United Kingdom and the United States is
that the value pair Of the boots and shoes from
the United States is apparently about 60 per cent
greater than that Of those exported from the
United Kingdom. The 1902 figures OF exports OF
boots and shoes from the United Kingdom show
szssO5s pairs valued at Ss.22s .sS. 81 cents per
pair; while from the United States in the same
year the total number Of pairs exported was 1856,
7ss and the stated value S6.ls2oSS, average OF
Sl56 per pair. Thus the average value per pair OF
boots and shoes exported from the United States
IS apparently more than 90 per cent in excess Of
that 81 boots and shoes exported from the United
Kingdom. Yet. despite this higher price for the
United States product. the growth in exports OF
boots and shoes from the United States is, as al
ready indicated much more rapid thar In those
from the United Kingdom
These low average prices explained by the
fact that the statements OF pairs and values in
clGde infants and childrens shoes well as those
for adults and the values given are based upon
wholesale prices
the exports OF boots and shoes from the United
States IN 1903 relates 10 the calendar year, for
which complete figures not yet available. The
fiscal year figures are. however complete, and
show the total value of boots and shoes exported
from the United States in the year ending June 80,
1908. Seee53l7 the number of pairs being 4ls7 $50
OF these 4lgl.566 pairs exported during the nscal
year ss6.l54 pairs went the United Kingdom.
a0O97s pairs British North America 399. $50
pairs TO the British West Indies. 4153s9 pairs 10
British Australasia and 1896 pairs TO British
Africa Thus practically two-thirds OF our exports
United Kingdom, chief competitor.
The following table shows the exports Of boots
Rnd shoes Of domestic manufacture from the
United States during the year ending June 80, 1903
20 the ten principal countries and the grand total
Of tie entire exports;