Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1916-03-23
SHOES NEE0 LEATHER
Limited Supply and Rising
Values Make Prices Uncertain.
Marked Advance to Consumers Causc,,
sumption rrcdicted--RIaek Poot-
wear Predorrinates for
Fall,

are very busy, filling orders with a new
season coming along that promises
more. Every indication seems to point
TO continued activities and prosperity.
says the Boston Transcript.
! 40 far very important factor in the
activities and prosperity Of a shoe
I factory has been plentiful supply OF
the required feathers and other raw
materials. but now the situation is
developing that suggests embarrassn,ents
because OF the diminishing supply OF
This necessary stream Of power, as
leather is both scarce in quantity and
high In price.
FOR some time samples OF boots for
me NEXT fall and winter ason have
neon IN preparation. and 1t Ia now time
tnAf the statesmen were showing these
samples to the distributors. But some
have been delayed because it has been
difficult and almost impossible to es-
tablish the price at which these goods
could he produced. That the cost price
to-day Is known is certain enough. but
by the time the buyer has decided
what he wants the values OF raw ma :
terisls may have advanced considerably
over the price when the samples were
made. Just where this upward flight
is to stop is' Impossible to predict.
what goes up must come down. has
been proved true OF almost everything
but the price of leather. which has been
gong up steadily FOR several years; as
Tor example: No. ! Hemlock sole
leather in 1912 was quoted at Is cents a
pound: now, it is 81 cents. Calf leather
in desired colors in 1912 was worth 30
cents: now II is worth 40 cents Other
Instances might be given but these are
enough to show how the values Of de-
s'rHoie feathers nave appreciated in
VaAue even In so short time. Kid
leathers are practically double in value
what they were a short time ago In
1872 1t cost 1854 to make in the factory
shoe to retail at $3.50 The differ
once between the making. and selling
cost being the legitimate profits Of the
handlers. To-day. shoe Of that quail
'V costs S 10 to make, and the same
| profits as before would make the selling
pnce. 1895. which readily accounts for
the increase In retail prices where the
quality OF the shoe has been maintained
MARKED ADvANcEs pprnrcrrD
Under prevailing conditions tanners
ent prices Tor future delivery. Manu-
iacturers f'nd 1t Impossible to calculate
the cost or manufacture OF the goods
10 NE soin later. ana II Is estimated
mat advances OF 81 to H.50 at retail will
! De made Inc SHOES now on the market
are peter and cheaper in value than
they VIII be SIX months hence-unless
nood OF leather Is poured In unless
an production OF inc rindlngs Is less
""e iapo, eases ~ ue""''n
! unless Tho almost .,mnossihle h.nn.n.
Al, this advance /. du. "a m. irc,.o.-
ed demand for leather for var con.un,n-
tion. the stonnine ~ sunnIies or rau
, material and NJ accessoriez tba+ ar. "a
ouired in nroduo1,p tho ver;o,,s MN
| ter1als of shoes The cost ~ lahor 10
| steadily advapcirc and IN. cor,h;ret,o,
NJ conditions result. IN bivhsr nrcss bu.
no greater nrofit.
| Now that rho time FOR nrenartrc for
rho fall season has arrived and dealers
are being shown SAMPLES NJ the mann.
| IA cturers II is evident ,hat tho cond,.
tlons OF the nresent have not dried IN
Tho ideals Of tho designers or limited
the variety Of nov.ltie. which vii, he o..
-ered IN tep,n+ uomen er.ot v.r,a,v
of natterns will he nresented hut which
ones vii, win the annroh.t,on nj tho
! majority and h.con,e tho standard # ia
in,noss,o,e "a cav nj +h;s time In tact
If is equally d,rncult IN nradict how
those nat+err. srb,n,ttad bv tho trad.
| for IN. cop,irv .nr;rg and sun,,sr will
no ,sce,yod II i. ono thing "a wake
stv,.s hut oui,s ,ro,b.r IA "a, thar, ,c.
cant.d ,rd rorn
n, .c,,s ,,,,,,,,> , ,
'0''
IN men INES IL is animated that
otack goods Will lead IN 1ali business
pul as tahs are being offered as well.
the popularity or the two colors Will
depend on local conditions and not on
| the dictation OF any arbiter OF styles.
That black always is more preferred in
the autumn is natural. due to the in
! crease OF social events. In the same
| way, the tans hold their place and are
| sought by those who live in the open,
For street and business wear the brown
| boots are preferred.
1t Ia expected that a new endurance
test will be applied this fall to the sub
stitute material to be used in the soles
| OF mems boots which will be OF fibre
composition. with rubber heels The
high cost Of sole leather. which is now
at unusual levels. and the success
achieved in making material which
has met the tests Of a shoe sole have
conspired TO make the time ripe for In
The material is not exactly synthetic