The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1907-05-02
SCANT LEATHER SUPPLY
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.

A crisis has arrived in the boot and
shoe trade of England, the results OF
which are already apparent in this
country and will be felt with In
creased severity in the future. In
spite of her free trade policy, Eng
land is unable to get sufficient
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 a
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 a
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
2or 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 a basis so tempt
ing that the big multiple shop con-
Germs had enough to go on with and
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 IS 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
condition.. The single shop man has
awaited with great concern the ac~
:Hsa OF his Dig competitors, the null
asSte shop owners, and pending some
announcement from them not unnat-
HFal1y feGEed to make q 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
THE big multiple shop firms have
protected themselves to a large ex-
tent. One firm owning over four hum
dred shops throughout the country
stated that they held largely in
creased stocks which had been laid
III as 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-
1actdrers, and prices will be raised
n proportion to retail customers.
1T 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
~ put out of the field by the Ameri-
cans. The leather dressers in Ame-
rlca produce nearly all the glace kid
and boXcalf now so extensively use1
tof uppers and American red sides
are also very heavily consumed. The
great scarcity in skins in America
thus practically dominates the Eng
fish market.
AS far as Leicester is concerned,
BOOT and shoe manufacturers never
on spring and summer
trade with such gloomy prospects
FOR the last half Of 1905 they could
not get the ORDERS now that thew
nave got the orders they cannot Sc
cure the material"
British manufacturers are now
ready to admit that the control of the
nlde market, and with it the control t
OF the boot and shoe trade, has
passed from England into the hands
d american and German traders. a ,
London expert accounts for this :
ehanse as follows:
Not SO many years ago CONT
mental and American leather alike
aad deserved reputation for infer
orlty, for light skins as well as for
Inc heavier varieties EMPLOYED for
footwear and for betting for machin-
cry. The foreign material was all
'adly tanned, sEongy in texture. and
he hides always failed to stand the
est OF Our damp climate But since
nat period thc foreign tanners and
curriers' have made great progress in
heir craft. The fact appears to he
nat the English merchants have
practically let the control of the
alaes and skins trade slip out of their
lzrads. Germany and America have
Tsarped the foremost position in the
market 1t is stated that the hides
n American live cattle sent to this
country to be killed and eaten are Nv
all sent back across
he Atlantic, there to be tanned, and
reshipped to England as
Gather or in boots and shoes. All
around the African coast are to be
oInd the American and the German
raiders, industriously buying hides
IND skins, and almost anything that
Kill sell besides"