The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1908-06-25
A WONDERFUL POWER.
Electricity In Boot and Shoe Fac.
tories.
HOW TIE POWER IS USED.
Electric Nsws.)

The sandal is the most ancient
form of foot covering. The shoes"
mentioned in the Old Testament were
sandals. 1t was not until the days
of the ancient Greek and Roman
aristocracy that shoes of fine leather
were introduced. These shoes were
without extra soles until some in
genious person, who keenly felt his
insignificant height added thick soles
and high heels. 1t is said that the
first boots were invented by the Ca
rians. These early boots were made
of thick leather armored with iron
or brass. They were worn by the
javelin soldiers and the bowmen to
protect their limbs from the flying
steel. From that day on, both boots
and shoes enjoyed most wholesome
growth until they are now worn the
world over. They suffered many odd
changes in style and material until
developed into the boots and shoes
so common in this day.
The boot and shoe industry was
brought to this country in the May
flower in 1929 when Thomas Beard,
shoemaker, came over and set up
shop under the auspices Of the colony
leaders. Seven years later the in
dustry, which has since made Lynn,
Massachusetts, world famous, was
established in that city by Philip
Kertland, a native of Buckingham
shire. He began the manufacture
of shoes in 1886 and in fifteen years
his shoemakers were supplying the
city of Boston with footwear. In
1648 tanning and shoemaking was
established in Virginia. In Connec-
ticut it was an established industry
in 1856 and in New York previous to
1864. Shoemaking was also profitat-
ly conducted in Philadelphia in 1893.
The most Of the shoes for the patriot
army in the Revolution were made
in Massachusetts.
In 100 the business took on the
dignity of manufacture; sizes were
adopted to a certain standard and
the work was systemized. Prior to
1916 the shoes were mostly hand
sewn. The shoemaker sat at his low
bench and cut, sewed, hammered
and worked away until each shoe was
completed. Most of the soles were
sewn on and few fastened with
copper nails. The heavier shoes were
welted and the lighter ones turned.
In 1916 the wooden shoe-peg was in
vented and in that year began to be
extensively used in fastening the
soles of boots and shoes. Appren-
tees in those days served seven years
to thoroughly learn the shoe busi-
ness. The shoes, from the tanning
of the skins to the blacking, were
made in one building or at one plant.
Machines for assisting in the man.
ufacture of boots and shoes. were
first introduced to the trade in 1845
when the leather-rolling mill was in
vented which would do in one min
ute the work which formerly took a
man half an hour with lap-stone and
hammer" The wax thread machine
came next, followed with buffing
machine for removing the grain from
sole leather; then a peg-making ma
chine and a peg driving machine.
| Die machines were later introduced
for cutting soles, tops and heels OF
standard size. In 1860 the Mckay
sewing machine, which has done
more to revolutionize the shoe in
dustry than any other thing, was pat
ented and found instant favor in the
trade. Other machines followed
quickly in their turn until to-day
very little of the work about making
a shoe is done by hand.
With the advent of machinery in
the shoe industry power was neces-
sary. At first water power was uti.
lized and later steam engines were
used. Electricity, however. best
meets the demands of the manufac'
turer who has made study OF the
business and finds that good result:
are only obtainable under perfect
conditions. The shoe industry need:
plenty of heat and power which cleo
tricity furnishes under ideal condi
tions. AS source of power it i!
more economical than anything else
Nearly all the heating devices ane
about a shoe plant are now heatee
by electricity.
During the year 1905, when th'
last manufacturing census was pre-
pared, the boot and shoe industr!
was valued at 1920, 1O7,4l5 and EN-
ployed $50, 1000 hands. 1t took near
ly 65, 900 horsepower to turn tn
shoemaking machinery in that year
Tho nouer has since increased at tn