The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-07-11
SHOES SENT TO FRANCE
 EACH MONTH

According to the Government Hide and Leather Control Board, the prin- cipal use to which leather is being put at the present moment is for the Per shing trench shoe. Beginning on Au- gust 1, there will be delivered one and one half million pairs of the Per shing trench shoes every month. Each pair of these shoes weighs five and half pounds. The shoes are heavier than those used by the armies of Great Britain or France. They are composed of a sole about three-quar- ters of an inch thick, made of four soles, or four thicknesses of leather. The sole and heel are completely stud ded with iron nails. Affixed to each heel and sole are iron plates so that the soldier is wearing out the metal all the time instead of leather. Af- ter these metal nails and plates wear out, the shoes are exchanged for new ones, while the old are being restud- ied and replated to be worn again. The uppers of these shoes are the fin est and heaviest that can be made.
 Therefore, the Pershing trench shoe in construction and quality represents the most durable and most modern in all respects that the men in this branch of the leather industry have ever been able to turn out. The shoe was made after the most careful an- alysis of the wearing qualities of ar my shoes turned out by the Allies since the war began. The manufac- turer of the Pershing trench shoe has 4IoN at Washington to conserve all leather and not allow the sale of any thick CT than "S iron" or about an eighth of an inch No tanner will sell sole leather any thicker than that.
 The largest use of leather outside of that set aside for the Pershing trench shoe, or possibly larger, is for harness, for which there is a tremen- dous demand. It is stated that the Government expects, within the next sixty days, to have all the black har- ness leather it requires; as for russet harness leather, large quantities are still required. The tanners of the United States are endeavoring to sup ply this demand for russet harness leather, which unquestionab1y will be IIlSL llIIl0. AiLIly OI1SCAS al pay ing special attention to the manufac- ture and quality of stirrup straps for cavalry and artillery horses. They are making the most minute inspec- ton of every .stirrup strap, because if one breaks it means almost certain death to the rider. The strap is made of russet leather; it has got to be of the very finest quality and as strong as it is possible to turn it out.
 There has been a great foreign de- mand for American sole leather, as a result of the war and vast amount of it has been exported. This condi- tion is the result of the almost com plete cessation of operation by the manufacturers of sole leather in the countries involved in the war. When the big conflict ends, there will be a natural fallnig off in American sole leather. exports. As to upper leath- CT, the foreign trade. especially that of South America will continue to buy Ht in great quantities because the peo- pie like it for it's looks, neatness, and adaptability to style. There will al- ways be a great market for it. The export trade of belting will be very large. Europe alone will call for practically all we can produce, and the demand will last for some months before normal conditions prevail.