New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-01-02
HIDES AND LEATHER
Supply Smaller, Prices Higher
and Consumption Curtailed.

According TO tables carefully pre-
pared by Hide AID Leather" prices Of
hides in America are about 90 per cent
higher to-day than a year ago, and the
average prices Of hides in 1919 were
about / TO II cent per pound higher
than the average for 1913. Light hides
and calfskins were over 2 cents a pound
higher than the average for 1913. The
Secretary Of Agriculture has called at
tont;on 70 the shortage Of cattle in
America, and this is already reflected IN
prevailing high prices for cattle, hides
AID skins. Ii is prophesied that these
prices will be still higher during the
coming year.
I'm 1914 there was shortage OF about
500 600 cattle In packing house slaugh-
Ter in the United States and a shortage
Of 100000 in South America, as com
pared with previous years. The re-
duced Kill al country points is I'M
known. as there are no statistics avail
able. Against this shortage we re
ceived a total of about 492,OOO,OoO
pounds of foreign hides and SKINS ior
ten months ended October, 1914, which
tAEeeutQ tlsflllal iAll iva - -N- 'N-''N =
Rod the previous year.
The warning nations Of Europe have
forbidden the expectation Of hides.
skins and leather. Large quantities OF
American heavy upper and heavy sole
and strap feathers, harness, saddlery
and other military accoutrements nave
been taken from America for the Euro
mean war. and some shoes, probably
not 10 exceed 100000 pairs, have
been purchased. While there is lull
81 nresent in the demand for American
leather for European armies, Il IS pre-
6icted that before long exports may be
continued on a larger scale than ever
Shoe manufacturers as a whole nave
not had q happy or success1u; year
Wholesalers and retailers have bought
carefully, and the European war re
suited I'm only q few orders, thus 1ar'
for American shoes. Shoe manu!aCluI-
ers who kept bringing out novelties
were able TO make large profits, as such
goods we're easily saleablc. UntOrtu-
uatelv the money made in selling dur
ing the first burst Of success rs haDle
TO be seriously affected by having 10
sacrifice the unsold remainder OF such
stocks owing 10 rapid changes IN styles.
The popularity Of cloth tops for SHOES
for men and women, has been prom
rent this year. Unfortunately for tan
ners, many Of the cloth top shoes for
women have only half vamp Of patent
leather, while the balance Of the shoe
consists of cloth. In other words,
about Q 70 10 feet Of leather would sui
fec for d dozen pairs Of these shoes Tor
women. This has curtailed the con-
sumption Of leather.
We are still faced by cattle shortage,
and il would not be surprising if the
Id-wide shortage in hides and skins
resulted in forcing the price Of raw
material still higher. It may be diff
cult for the finished materials, TO fol-
low suit. but higher levels Of values
Gem inevitable. The time is ripe for
;,,nroved demand for leather and the
Goods made therefrOm, even though the
fYture Is still checked by doubt and un-
certainty. and our manufacturers,
SUrJb,o,ieesiers and retailers OF leather
and its products who sJ rSpien msS 5 sap
plies without further delay may may f nTro
. -fUlf