New-York tribune., 1910-12-19
BY AID OF SHOE MACHINERY
A. W. Donovan Gives Some Interesting
Data on New England 8 Industry.

In the New England Magazine for De-
cember is an informing and interesting ar
ticle on New England, the Worlds Shoe
Centre, written by Alfred Warren Dono-
van. president of the Boston Boot and Shoe
Club, successful shoe manufacturer Mr.
Donovan devotes particular attention to
the question of shoe machinery as a factor
| in the development of the industry
THE making of shoes up to the Civil
War" he says, was crude sort of busi-
ness at best, and progress was hardly no
ticeable until Gordon Mckay, with Blake
OF Abingdon, invented and perfected their
remarkable machine. Because capital re-
fused to listen to Mr. Mckay he adopted
and perfected a leasing system, through
which he retained title 10 his unknown
machines and got them into factories at
a low rate TO the conservative manufact-
urers, who at that time distrusted their
efficiency. All manufacturers know that
1t this lone fighter. penniless and
friendiess who started the efficient leas-
ing system, which was adopted, perfected
and continued with phenomenal success by
the United Shoe Machinery Company The
advantage of this method to the struggling
manufacturer who need not spend a great
sum in starting his business cannot be
oyerestimated.
THE many manufacturers who have
struggled, I have here indicated, will
agree with my humble opinion that the
leasing and royalty system was Of in
effable advantage 10 them, and never did
they fear for their future with the able
support behind them The truth about
New England is all that is necessary to
advertise her. We are all working to-
sether TO make New England superior, not
only in shoes, but in every other line Of
activity Shoe manufacturers and shoe
machinery interests have worked shoulder
TO shoulder. Our shoes have gone out
from New England and made US famous.
Our shoe machinery interests have carried
the doctrine and products of New England
inventive genius tc the distant parts OF the
world. Both these manufacturing interests
of the shoe industry have been imbued
with the wholesome desire TO produce at
ali times masterpieces in their particular
line so that the New England dogma has
become world famous.
Mr. Donovan does not fear European
competition. He says:
Although they have IN Europe the ad-
vantage Of the same highly perfected ma
chinery which We have, the European shoe
for 81 or s. cannot compare with our 5;
shoe either in beauty or comfort. We can
maintain the New England lead even in !
Europe as the tariff is not severe. 1t Is
not In excess OF 80 cents a pair on any
European tariff list, while the whole italian |
market is open TO US with 20 cents a pair |
tariff
AN organization that makes II possible |
for any intelligent shoemaker to begin the |
manufacture of shoes without the initial |
outlay of vast sum Of money. and with |
1DIc % tv,ta L IL
investment as well the loss through de- |
preciation of equipment. has been a potent |
factor in progress. No man say
that the startling advances that We have |
made in the last decade shoe men and |
as New England business men would have
been possible without that factor"