Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-10-03

10 great when placed against the back
ground Of the ordinary boot and shoe
industry OF the United States
IS
II the war should be prolonged the
buying of army supplies will undoubt-
eddy stimulate
Likely to Benefit the American
American Industry. the element OF
speculation win enter into the prices!
and the home as we'll as the foreign
trade will have to stand for heavy ad-
vances. Nevertheless. the United States
is practically the only neutral country
able to furnish shoe leather supplies
for the European armies.
Soldiers in the field may get along
well enough with ragged and torn uni
forms. but they cannot be efficient I'm
WORKOUT shoes. This fact is suficient
to guarantee that as soon the
money market Is eased up American
manufacturers will take steps to ac-
cept some Of the numerous orders now
onerfng and our export trade Will
thereby be greatly enhanced.
As to saddles, much the same situa-
ton obtains. Saddles are not worn
out quickly as are shoes. but the equip
ment OF new armies to take the place
Of those captured and destroyed neces-
dies and harness.
One st. Louis house, it is said. has
just accepted rush order for 10. 600
saddles and 10000 sets of heavy team
American concern. but there seems to
be little doubt that the goods are in
tended to be sent to one Of the bellig-
erent European counties.
The same conditions affect the sad
dlery business as are felt in the shoe
Industry. Increasing prices for leather
and the difficulty Of obtaining Cheap
money make the manufacturers very
reluctant to take any orders that are
not guaranteed with gold credit and
that are not placed at q substantial
advance over ordinary margins of
profit.
Aside from the foreign business the
leather goods industry IL inclined to
be optimistic about the
promotes future. Orders for do
nr&;,,;sr nestle supplies OF shoes
in the last two months
have been much better than any Of the
manufacturers expected. Just why
this should be SO does not appear One
manufacturer decided not to send out
travelling men in certain territory
that was supposed to be hard hit by
the war. Later he reversed this deci-
sion, and when the salesman went out
he was surprised to write orders in ex-
cess OF anything ever done In that sec
ton before. This was partly due. Of
course. to the fact that fewer sales
men were soliciting orders, but at the
same time it showed that the dema nd
was keeping I'D. ~
The boot and shoe industry has not
neglected to look into the possibilities
of extending our trade to South Amerf-
ca. The Latin American states have
been heavy purchasers of both British
and German footwear. The English
industry has been seriously crippled,
while the German factories have al
most completely suspended France
has not been an exporter in shoes ex-
cept in fancy styles. but in these lines
has had a heavy trade in South Ameri-
ca: American manufacturers believe
throughout this hemisphere. but they
know that matters of long credits and
facile exchange must first be arranged
The superiority of American shoes
over those produced in any other coun-
try has long been
u. 5. Products ack n wledged. In
eno fact. England and
VI oesS ufaoe' Germany have been
able to hold their trade only by adopt.
ing American models and American
processes. In these circumstances .
prolonged war should give the Ameri-
can industry control Of the business in
on-European countries. Our exports
of leather and leather goods already
amount to nearly $60,000,000 annually,
and there is every reason to believe
that this total will be maintained, even
IL it is not materially increased. -.