The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-08-18
ADVANCE IN PRICE
OF SHOES FOR FALL
Porter Explains Reasons for
Situation-Lack of Hide
Importations Trouble

The most serious situation in the shoe
and leather industries in the history OF
the country exists at this time. according
to H. J. Porter, prominent local merchant
and shoe dealer. The scarcity of mate
rails and the unusual demands caused
by the war are forcing the price or shoes
to a. high level never before reached. Mr.
Porter points out that the retailers are
powerless in the matter and that they
have been slower in advancing the prices
to meet the changed conditions than nave
the wholesalers and the manufacturers.
The blame for the high prices rests on
no one, but is simply the result of con-
dition which confronts the whole world
and especially the United States.
Every shoe store in the country VIII
be forced to advance its prices on fall
shoes, and it might be well now TO let
the public know just what the situation
is" said Mr.. Porter yesterday. AS
matter of fact, the wholesale cost Oh SHOES
has advanced more RAPIDLY in many cases
than the retail prices, the average shoe
store putting off as long as possible these
raises. But the prices which we have
been forced to pay for our fall stocks
and which we will have to pay for our
stocks for next spring force an advance
all along the line
HIDES CUT OFF
"I have recently read an article by a
prominent shoe man, in which he went
into this subject very fully. He pointed
out that in the past the United States
al of %
the leather for the higher grades of shoes
from Europe. principally from france
and Belgium, with small part Oh tnis
from Russia. Due to the war. none OF
this is now being received.
1.-THE greater part of the horse hides,
COW hides and calf skins used for MAX
ing heavier shoes in this country has
come from Russia, but secently that coun-
try, on account of the need for all these
hides at home, prohibited the expectation
Due to the lack of transportation facili-
ties and the inhibitions placed on exporta-
lions, the large supply of goat skins we
formerly received from India has also
been practically done away with.
"a careful consideration of all these
facts should be enough 70 show any man
the reasons for the advances. In the ar
ticle to which l referred which set forth
these conditions, E. L. Landrum of the
Hutchinson Shoe company concluded as
follows:
RETAILER NOT TO BLAME
g For sometime there has been general
raise in the price of shoes, and when the
fall goods arrive they will see smart
advance over the summer styles Wher-
ever the quality is maintained the price
must go higher, and where there is no
advance in price, the quality must be
lower. This applies to standard lines, and
must not be applied to odds and ends
job lots, or perhaps isolated individual
purchases. There will always be cheap
shoes. but in time the cheapest kind will
advance in price proportionately with
the higher-priced makes.
The public must not blame the re-
taller for these conditions, nor yet the
wholesaler, Jobber or manufacturer.
Neither of these is responsible.
" The best advice of shoe buyers is to
study we'll their needs. Don't buy patent
leather shoes for work in the woods or on
the farm. Don't ignore the shoe sales
mans wider knowledge of the goods he
is selling. Get the shoe that is best suited
for the work it must do, and insist on get
ting as good a shoe as can be afforded.
There will be no more standards in
price on shoes. The prices have been
disrupted. and new standards will have