Evening journal., 1918-04-03
Shoe Prices DROP
As HIDES NEAKER
Footwear Manufacturers
Shade Quotations TO Meet
Trade Conditions
NO BIG REDUCTIONS
CAN BE PREDICTED

BOSTON. April 3.-The weakness OF
the hide market has been so well ad-
vertlsed that the buyers are expecting
lower prices on shoes. This weakness
has been brought more closely to the
buyer by the cut in prices which some
shoe manufacturers have made In order
TO stimulate business. The prices on
current hides are much lower than the
nuotalions of a few months ago, but the
rualitv of winter hides is such that 1t
Is impossible 60 make good grade leath-
ers OF them For good lali hlue9 tu9
price Is very little lower Than IL was
several months ago. ana WIN ohiy
small stocks available the holders are
! taking a flrmer view OF the siluaVion' n'
/ Packers are talking a cent OF tWo l- au-
vance for April hides and even theu
are not willing 90 take on any large
orders, as they believe that lhe boV'oln
Of the market has been reached
A number of shoe manufacturers nave
made reductions IN prices 10 shoes De
cause they were in need or lmmellale
business 30 keep their plants running
and their help employed. Labor espe-
claly in the large manufacturing cen
iers. Is hard to hold and MANUFACTURED
would rather sell on close margin
than lay off theif help. The shoe Duyel
however. loses confidence in the mar.
ket n prices are shaded and holds OF
from buying In the hopes of still loWel
prices. a..
A western paper, commenting on th'
q 80 per cent drop I'm the hide prices
argues that the price OF So shoe Wi
d. now be only four dollars, as hides ar
third cheaper Such talk as TINS u
J wholly out Of reason, as the matter o
. labor and materials In the tannerles
and labor Innings, thread, etc, IN IN
, shoe factories has not been considered
, The unskllled labOrers ia the tonnerle'
\ formerly worked for $40 week an
\ | arc now difficult to hire at So da,
/ Il is reasonable 10 suppose that II hide
+ continue low fOr any length OF tlm'
there VIII be some reduction In IN
, price of shoes. but this drop cannot b
figured IN ratio with the drop In hide
Another trouble which the shoe ir
dustry must face is the difficulty
o making deliveries. Much leather is no'
/, held I'm transit and hides are from fOu
!. TO six weeks longer in shipment tha
u In normal times. The shoe manufa'
turer or tanner has his money tied u
a for a longer period and must mako u
a the interest on the selling price Of tl
,e goods. Many shoes destined for u
m Easter trade are still on the way to q
D. retailer. and II these buyers were d
pendlng on these shoes they have be-
m sadly dlsappointd Shoes are being Sc
~ by express instead Of by freight, b
~ even this method Is slow. In maj
~ cases it Is taking goods longer TO tray
Ea By express than Il formerly took
M freight.
ad m The leather trade IA therefore in
unsettled condition. Buyers are afr
ma OF the market and do not know whl
~ way it is going to turn. Tho presC
a. demand on upper feathers Is for
nd best grades. These are firm, but
am low grades are easy and in accumu
,s ton. 70 is essentially an individl
fh market on the low grades and ma
~ bargains may be picked up Some
W. these bargains are being taken up
al foreign buyers, especially those fr
ro the neutral European countries.
leather s. being put IN storage In {
country until shipping facilities
available and the tanner receives
money on warehouse receipts. 1t
probable that the leather viii rem
NJ in this country until after the close
" The war. These foreign buyers bell
that leather prices viii take big in
eW when the war is over, as the mllli
ool OF people I'm the central nations are {
ly- titute for leather and shoes The OF
vas European countries are known TO
nal short on leather. Some leather is be
on, shipped TO Italy, but the amounts
ess not large.
The heavy leather trade is asst
because the'army will need large IA
er- titles Of this for shoes and equipm
X. More army orders for shoes are
lrs. pected soon, but the Quartermasi
'nt, Department Will make no estimate
'si- IT'S future requirements. Harr
ers shoes, leather coats and other lea
roll equipment viii be needed in large qI
re- titles for our soldiers.
ier Light offal IS q drug on the maj
riet oak and union heads cropped
. light cows have been sold as low
lara fourteen cents. but these sales do
tent show the true market and have
i've made mostly 10y dealers or puroh
boy them as speculation. Heavy
een' heads have recently sold at twenty
om- cents. but buyers are not now wi
ano, 10 pay this price. A good call is z
ome for medium and heavy oak be
udy Anything OF good quality and w
au- suitable for Goodyear innersolin
race selling readily Iieavies bring tn
seven cents ami mediums a cent les
le Betting butts at nineiy-flvo cents
state n fri0o easy and stable lots coul
held