The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1905-12-07
he large tanneries were unionized.

kiIleu PRIOR TO Jan. i, lJOO. lneSe caCUlo
are now feeding in the corn lots and
feed yards of Iowa and other states,
perfectly happy and contented, without
the slightest inkling that their very
hides have been sold from of their backs
and that tanners, manufacturers, retail
ers and consumers are bowling for
leather, leather, leather.
How much higher leather will go is
question. Conservative people say 10
per cent. People who thought leather
would never advance are now predicting
extraordinary future advances, but one
thing is certain, viz, the shortage is
most serious and people should at once
purchase harness while the retailer has
some of his old stock on hand and not
wait for the avalanche of high prices
to reach the man they buy from.
San ordinary farm harness will last
over ten years and raise of $1,000
set when spread over it's lifetime is not
a very serious matter, being only $1.OO
per year and less than cents month.
Harness is used in rain or shine, mud or
in easy going service, and will wear out
all the united machinery and wagons
owned by the farmer during their life
time.
Hides Worth More Than Porter
house.
"Hides are worth more than porter
house steak per pound. A good steer
hide is worth from $1,000 to $1,000, or in
value about % per cent of the animal
from which it came. Every one buys
leather and is affected by it's cost, and
every one in the leather trade is in
favor of legislation repeating the present
heavy import duty on hides. Why are
cattle so much cheaper than they were?
Hides have greatly advanced. 1t was
supposed that higher prices for hides
would make higher prices for cattle,
but the reverse is true. What value is
the duty on hides to the farmer? Prices
Of cattle on the hoof are lower and the
farmer receives less for his product
than formerly. Therefore, under the
circumstances, why not remove the duty
from all importations of hide, allowing
them to come in free, and every man,
woman and child will save money when
purchasing shoes. Also every farmer
and every teamster will save money
when purchasing harness.
"The increase of population is enor-
nous. The immigration of adults alone
being over 100000 year, and every
one uses leather. Add to this the enor-
nous consumption of leather in furni-
ture, automobiles, etc., and some idea is
gained Of the constantly increasing
demand for this most useful article.
slides are by-product. Cattle are
killed for beef and are not killed for
| their hides; therefore, hides are by
| product and should be imported free of
duty. The consumption of beef in the
United States per capita is decreasing.
The per capita consumption of hides
! Qeather) is increasing, and as no one
| thinks Of killing cattle for hides alone,
hides have to be imported from South
| America and other countries and should
come in free OF duty, as otherwise prices
are liable to extreme high limits"
Mr.. Olmstead Talks.
"The removal of Is per cent duty on
hides would be grand thing for the
whole country" declared Mr.. j. G. Ohm
sted of Bentley g. Olmstead, jobbers of
| boots and shoes.
at would be good for the farmer, for
| the manufacturer and for everybody
who uses leather in any shape or form.
The day has gone by when our own
cattle industry is sufficient to supply
| the home demand for leather; we must
| import more and more as the years go
by ard removal of the duty would not
in any serious way affect the cattle
growers of the country. The demands
for leather have grown tremendously in
the last few years. There is, Of course
the increased consumption of shoes and
boots, due to increasing population, but
the new and various uses to which
leather is being put exert still larger
influence upon the present shortage in
the supply of raw material. One indus.
try alone, the manufacture of automo
biles, has increased the demand fol
leather many per cent, for leather is
used in large quantities in every ma.
chine that is put out. This is only one
instance; there are scores of others;
and, as a result, the demand for leather
has increased far out of proportion tx
the increase in the production of hides
This discrepancy, believe, will con
tinue and the shoe and other leather
prices will continue to rule high unles:
congress cuts down the duty and allow,