Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1905-09-17
9O3B Broadway,
DR.. BYE,
Shoes May Be Higher.

There is every indication, says the Boston
Transcript, that as time goes on prices Of
shoes will advance rather than recede II
was announced some time ago that prices
this fall were 20 be in excess of the sum-
mer rates. or a cheaper grade of shoe. would
be offered at the old price. At once a pro-
test went out against a poorer shoe; the
people wanted a better shoe, even, than
that on the market. This left but one
course open to the manufacturer, since he
was pursued by the relentless leather tan
ner. who in turn, was beset by the still
more heartless dealer in hides, both asking
higher prices, and that course was to ad-
vance the price of shoes to not less than
$3.50 for those which had been selling 10
per cent cheaper. The customer being APP
prised Of the fact was satisfied, but the
dealers thought differently. For a time
they continued to demur but they have
been coming to see that there was no al
tentative, and an unusually large business
has been done Factories are crowded with
orders, and during the last month or six
weeks much business has been placed.
Those buyers who delayed, hoping that
there might be a drop, are now in the mar
ket, convinced that all hopes of placing
their orders on lower terms are but idle
dreams. The cost Of manufa curing con-
tinues to increase. No. hides in Chicago
are quoted at 1871 cents, the highest mark,
and the demand for leather has continued
| to be strong. With such conditions OBJ
tanning the future of prices can not be any
less, at present, with a strong possibility
of their reaching 81 before they go any
lower.
This is the situation which is beginning
TO prevail in the large shoemaling centers.
Manufacturers in Brockton are watching
the prospects with some uneasiness ma
terials are increasing in value; the public
are demanding better shoes The cost of
shoes has jumped already from s. to $3.50,
and so the higher price must come. AL
ready a number of large manufacturers are
considering the desirability Of advancing
the price of shoes In the retail stores which
they control to 81.
Should this advance be made II does not
follow that all $3.50 shoes would be taken
of the market. They will be made and will
| be in spring stocks, but the 81 shoe will be
| advanced as fast as possible. It would be
a good shoe, better than the $3.50 one, and
| the intention will be to make It more pop
ular on that account. At the same time,
the retailer would be given a greater mar,
gin for handling his goods. The future
months will settle the question.
| The indications continue TO increase that
next year will be known as Color year, I"
for manufacturers seem to have laid their
| plans for shoes of all possible colors. For
men the field OF color is limited. but there
will be black, brown, russell, tan, cham
payne, white. which are all reasonable
enough. The spring designs produced by
manufacturers include in mems wear black
russia, white buckskin, morocco in various
| colors and colored canvas. Among the
freak lasts are to be found those for pointed
toes, and having straight insides. the out
sides having a pronounced swing, full ex'
tension soles will be used. Large eyelets
will be IN most shoes.
| For women's wear some agents are show
ing snappy designs OF oxfords, gibsons
pumps, Dutch straps and other slippers II
Alice blue, champagne, canary and Other
delicate tints. A new wrinkle will be can
vas with raised embroidery on the vamps
the white having the designs wrought II
| delicate colors, and the colored shoes with
white embroidered figures. One Haverhil
manufacturer will produce ninety dlReren
| styles for women and misses, in canvas
bright leather and dongola, and the designs
for the spring samples are artistic as wei
as original.