The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1904-01-02
EXPORTS ARE GROWING
Boots and Shoes Made in
America Are Popular
DISTRIBUTION Is w lDE
More Than Sixty Countries
Wear American Shoes.

Washington. Jan. 1.-Exports of boots
and shoes from the United States show
steady growth. and for the calendar year
about TO end will aggregate more than
100000 in value. In 1898 they were less
than three-quarters of a million dollars
in value.
Few OF the important articles entering
into our export trade show a 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 labor and commerce
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 ISL
ands. 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 large
importer of boots and shoes from the
United States. nearly one-sixth OF our ex-
ports in that line being to British Aus
tralia
Africa is also a considerable importer
Of boots and shoes from the United States.
especially British Africa
The United States now stand easily Sec
ond in the list of worlds exporters Of
boots and shoes. while an examination
Of the relative growth of exports OF this
class of merchandise from the United
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 worlds
wants and consumption.
The value of boots and shoes exported
from the United Kingdom in 1898 was
$4,000 and in 1902. s.. 25o. 600. while from
the United States the growth in exports
has been from s5so.754 in the fiscal year
1898 to s6.1S2,0ss in the fiscal year 1902,
which years figures are used for com
parison with the 1902 figures of the United
Kingdom. Thus, while the exports of
boots and shoes from the United Kingdom
have increased little less than 1900, ooo.
those from the United States have in
creased more than $4,000.
Another interesting fact developed in
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 Kingdom.
The 1902 figures of exports of boots and
shoes from the United Kingdom show
81. 466 056 pairs. valued at s., 229 .S23. or 81
cents per pair; while from the United
States in the same year the total number
of pairs exported was 1866 766 and the
stated value $s1s2. COS. an average of 1856
per pair.
Thus, the average values per pair OF
boots and shoes exported from the United
States is apparently more than 90 per
cent in excess of that of 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 already indicated much more rapid
than those from the United Kingdom.
These low average prices are explained
by the fact that the statements of pairs
and values include infants and children's
shoes as well those for adults and
the values given are based upon whole
sale prices.