Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1914-08-14
TRADE
DOOMED BY
WAR IN EUROPE

One Of the first appfeciabie trade ben
ciits that will accrne 20 the United States
on account II the WAR will come 10 the
boot and shoc trade. The first rumor to
this eject wa~ circulated Yesterday. fol-
lowing the announcement OF the eSrab-
liShmcni by the French government.
through Morgan ~Ilarjrs 4 CO.. the Paris
house off,. 4. Morgan X Co. of n credit
IF ~ UUU. tHU for the French ambassador
NJ Washington. II was said that the
money would b. used chiefly for supplies
for the French army in the field. and tha
4 large share Of The cash would likely L..
expended Tor Sho~S.
The Eagle today established definitely
that almost a week ago an agent Of the
Austrian government made inquiries in
New York As TO the chief manufacturers
OF the rOnehcr grades OF shoes. This
agent told IN authority in the boot and
leather trade hat he wanted the nai..e.
81 ~ many manufacturers ~ h. e Il
get in 4 hurr, lie said he intc,
iclcgraphing them for estimates Il. ID
priccS aud minimum time required ID
ship large cunSignmcnt> Of boots and
shoes for the Austrian army.
The report l. current Ia the whole.
sale boot and shoe trade. ccntcring about
Duane street. Manhattan. today that the
French government is likewise making IN.
uuiries as 10 how large 4 consignment IL
bnolS aud shoes IL can ship from his
%country FOR the use ~ lis armies in the
shortest possible time.
Big dealers ia the trade said today that
they also expected Inquiries would be-
made soon ON behalf Of the English army.
which likewise viii be- dcpcn.lrnt on the
American shoe manufacturers during the
war. IN case the great English factories
irc unable 20 cope with the sudden DC
rlandS that are likely to b. made on them
a. the result or the placing " y large
army III the field.
The latest reports are that ViScomt
Kitchener. nov the British Minister of
War. l. calculating on Il basis or .5a0.O0O
men in the Gcll. III this figure i correct
Il may bc said with an assurance little
short Of certainty. tina; the British man.
lfacturcrs will not he able TO supply the
demand.
Up to the present no reports as to in
~auiries in the trade by representatives of
he Seryian. Belgian or Italian govern
ments have been heard.
BROOKLYN manufacturers declared today
hat The quality of the goods turned out
here i so fine that Brooklyn could not
y" rrcknned as in the running for con
tracts for the supply ~ m army.
The manufacturers that would bcnc-
lit BY such contracts would w. such ~
arc located IL Brockton. Lynn aud Ros
.on. Mass. Milwaukee, Cincinnati. II.
Louis and Chicago.
Advances ia the price Of leather have
marked the recent market. but owing 10
he uncertainty Of supply. rs n result of
the wars interference with the merchant
men. the boot and leather journals have
now ceased printing leather quotations.
\ leather expert said today that the
price Of leather had been kept NJ. owing
= the scarcity Of the supply Of hides. AMI
also - = result % the high price. due 10.
limited supply. 81 the chemicals required
for tanning.
The United States gets half ~ it, lea
her supply from Europe IN the form ~
hides. said this expert. The war has
- drmoralizeTl that 10 cnnSirn-
mcntS Of hides or leather are known ~ hp
on the way 40 American ports The hides
supplied bv the American packers are -
mall in proportion 10 our needs n TO
be- regarded rs q negligible quantity.
If the United States is 10 b. called
on 10 supply the armies Of Europe with
boots and shoes. We must get leather from
Europe. ! am afraid. before we can lie
liver the goods. We ret some hides for
leather purposes from South America.
too. but the quantity j. Likewise insight
iirant."