The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1906-07-24
Has Caused Sharp Advances in
Shoe Prices is England.
WORKING CLASS SUFFERS
Manufacturers in Sore Straits
American Makers Also Feel Effects
Great Quantities Are Brought
From This Country-Control Rap
idly Passing Into German HANDS.


spite of her free trade policy, Eng
land is unable to get suficient
leather to meet the demands OF her
boot and shoe factories and the re-
tail prices of shoes are being ad-
vanced in every direction. With
leather shortage abroad and our New
England manufacturers of shoes
clamoring for free hides In order to
keep their factories going, the inter-
esting possibility is suggested of
famine in the worlds supply OF
leather
The troubles in the boot and shoe
trade Of England are described by
Consul Hamm, of Hull, who writes:
"The great improvement in the
general trade Of the country which
took place in 1904 had an effect upon
the purchase of boots and shoes, but
for some time the retailers and fac
tories were able to cope with this in
creased demand by using up their re-
serves of stock Shoe manufacturers
had been keeping themselves going
by cutting prices on basis SO tempt
ing that the big multiple shop con-
could afford to be Indifferent. AS the
year progressed, however, the leather
market continued to advance and
producers of boots and shoes found
themselves unable to continue at the
old rate and were forced to hold out
for stiff advances. Having used up
all available stock, they found them
selves compelled to accept the de-
mands of the shoe manufacturers for
advances equal from 15 to 25 per
cent on all lines. 1t was at this
stage that the retail section of the
trade began to feel the effects of the
severe advances. Until the present
time, however, no attempt has been
made by shoe retailers to educate
conditions. The single shop man has
awaited with great concern the &C
ton of his big competitors, the null
uple shop owners, and pending some
announcement from them not unnat-
urally feared to make move In the
direction of raising his quotations,
in view of the possibility that his
multiple competitors might announce
their intention of continuing the old
values
1.-THE big multiple shop firms have
protected themselves to a large ex-
tent. One firm owning over four hun
dred shops throughout the country
stated that they held largely in
creased stocks which had been laid
in as a precaution against the pres
ent scarcity. Other firms had fol-
lowed their example to some extent;
but in spite of this prices will be
raised generally for all classes of
goods. They had also, in order to
secure supplies of good quality,
agreed to pay advances to the manu-
facturers, and prices will be raised
in proportion to retail customers.
ut is a noteworthy fact that nine
tenths of the leather used In Leisces-
ter comes from America. The i'm
ports from Australia are nearly all
bottom leather, and the French and
German tanners have been complete
ly put out of the field by the Ameri-
cans. The leather dressers in Ame-
rica produce nearly all the glace kid
and boxcalf now so extensively used
for uppers and American red sides
are also very Heavily consumed. The
great scarcity in skins in America
thus practically dominates the Eng
lish market.
"As far as Leicester is concerned
boot and shoe manufacturers never
entered on a spring and summer
trade with such gloomy prospects
For the last half of 1905 they could
not get the orders; now that they
have got the orders they cannot Sc
cure the material"
British manufacturers are now
ready to admit that the control of the
hide market, and with 1t the control
of the boot and shoe trade, has
passed from England into the hands
of American and German traders.
London expert accounts for thi!
change as follows:
mot SO many years ago CONT
mental and American leather alike
had deserved reputation for infer
tority, for light skins as well as fol
the heavier varieties employed foi
footwear and for betting for machin
cry. The foreign material was al
badly tanned, spongy In texture, ant
the hides always failed to stand tn,
test of our damp climate. But sine,
that period the foreign tanners ant
curriers' have made great progress II
their craft. The fact appears to b,
that the English merchants hav,
practically let the control of thu
hides and skins trade slip out OF thei
hands. Germany and America hav'
usurped the foremost position In tn
market. 1t is stated that the hide
of American live cattle sent to thi
country to be killed and eaten are b,
prearrangement all sent back acros
the Atlantic, there to be tanned, an,
mayhap reshipped to England a
leather or In boots and shoes. Al