The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1912-05-30
Shoe Trade Notes.
ChuZZleWit.

StdtetHoHU UHdI I'd per cent. Oh Un0
shoes worn next fall will be fasten-
ed with buttons. Last fall more
than 80 per cent. were fastened with
buttons.
The custom shoemakers of New
York and Brooklyn control the high
grade trade in New York. according
to shoe journal. The shoemakers
make shoes from 1875 to $50 a pair
and even higher.
A sort of sentimental soreness un-
doubtly pervades the shoe and
leather trade. Hide and skin merch-
ants who had the foresight, several
months ago, to predict conditions
which now exist, were not taken
seriously and tanners who privately
urged customers to buy heavily
when leather was cheaper than at
present replied by ordering slowly,
hoping thereby 10 effectively check
the rising tide. These were sound
business tactics, but throughout all
human affairs there are unseen cur
rents of uncertainty which effect the
prosperity of us all. This of nee
cessity should encourage the cult
walton of philosophy thereby edu-
eating ourselves to patiently accept
the rough and smooth tides of for
.une, remembering that he existence
of an indetinable law whereby all
who continue bravely and patiently
at their tasks reap fair harvest of
success Shoe and Leather Report.
Designers of footwear and leather
must be people of original ideas and
students of human nature. They
are greatly dependent upon the tail
ors and milliners in fashionable
centers for information as to what
women will wear the coming season,
The public is always looking for
something new and as eager to drop
a new style when it becomes COM
mon to adopt it. Women demand
shoe that will be in harmony with
the color of the gown whether it be
for street or evening wear. Makers
of high grade shoesfor womenrecog-
nize this fact and anticipate months
ahead what should be the class of
leather. color and style of shoe
wanted. The past few years the
trade has been offered many new
creations in leather fabrics and nu-
merous extreme styles that have met
with disfavor The latest product
ion Of the tanner is white leather
and tho this is the second season of
white leather and fabrics still the
demand for footwear made from this
class of goods shows DO abatement.
Calf skin tanDers are booked for
substantial orders in velour and gun
metal finish for late delivery. This
indicates, according to authorities,
that black shoes will retain their
popularity. Tanners of patent sides
and colt also feel that their product
will receive more attention. More
progress perhaps has been accom-
plished in late years in shiny leath-
err than perhaps any other branch of
industry. The wearing qualities are
now equal to many other feathers.
1t is difficult to see why the pres
ent year should not be fairly pros
porous for manufacturers, wholesal-
ers and retailers of shoes and leather.
One principal cause for this hopeful
outlook is the long cold winter &C
companied by deep snow. The dry
soil in the wheat and corn belts last
autumn absorbed the heavy rains
like sponge; and the intense cold,
by freezing the ground so deep, was
natures method of conserving this
moisture for the coming crops. and
the SHOWS have materially added to
the supply. For this reason the peo-
pie of the Northwest, where about
20, 100000 acres of spring wheat and
practically all the flax are raised,
are sanguine of good crops. The
steady cold and deep SHOWS also
served to protect the 100000 &C
res of winter wheat and rye from
winter killing, besides providing
moisture. Here is reasonable foun-
dations of expanded consumption of
shoes and leather at profitable prices
to producers.