The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-05-18
STRETCHING TIE SKINS PRELIMINARY TO ,,,o.
TANNING THEM By A RECENTLY AWS
DEVELOPED PROCESS WHICH MAKES THEM 1909
GRADES OF LEATHER

ners tell US, is the scarcity OF leather
stock. Normally the United States de-
ponds upon the outside world for quite
IS per cent. OF its cattle hides. substan-
TALLY all of its goatskins and a very
considerable part OF the sheepskins
consumed here. The latest authorita-
tive figures available show that we i'm
ported 100000. 900 pounds of hides and
skins in 1917. which were valued at the
ports OF entry at $216. 100000. During
nine months of the fiscal year 1917-1S
ended with March of last year there
was a falling of in the amount OF the
imports Of nearly 200.000.000 pounds.
and this in the face of a worldwide in
creased demand for shoes.
U. s. Leads I'm Shoe Industry.
J As most of us know or should know
the United States is the leading boot
and shoe manufacturing nation. With
the advent of peace our factories are
going to be speeded up as they have
not been heretofore, and these plants
will not only have to supply all of our
domestic requirements but play a
prime part in providing footwear for
the peoples of other countries. No
wonder, then, that the price of shoes is
likely TO climb in view OF an unavoid-
able lack of leather from the usual re-
sources. Indeed. there are reasons TO
believe that a vast number Of us face
an added levy Of SO a pair for such
shoes as we may buy next fall and
winter.
The cloth topped shoe. composition
soles and fabric Innings and other fin
ishings have sufficed in a measure ia
make up for the shortage OF leather
stock here, but very few of us have
been satisfied with these substitutes
As a rule We shoes have not worn as
we'll as those with which we have been
familiar in the past. But our situa-
ton has been one OF comparative lux
ury II We bear in mind what people
abroad have had to put up with
Wooden shoes have been fairly COM
mon I'm England during the last two
years. and on the Continent conditions
have been worse still. In Germany the
citizens that could not buy footwear
fashioned of a paper fabric had to Do
content with any sort of makeshif'
wrapping or go barefoot.
And now comes the good news thai
there really is no reason why there
should be a scarcity of leather in thin
country-leather made from domestic
resources. Therefore why should We
pay more for our shoes when there
are at hand potential supplies or va
rious kinds of leather which would
make it practicable to manufacture
and TO sell excellent shoes at a prof
FOR $3.50 a pair? True, this could no
be done II we were to depend, a
heretofore. upon goatskins. calfsllins
sheepskins and the hides Of beef cat
tie. In fact. relief lies in turning t,
the sea instead OF to the land for tn,
primary raw product.
A couple of years ago the Unite,
States Bureau OF Fisheries started al
active campaign having for its pur
pose the bringing about OF closer CO
operation among fishermen, tanner
and manufacturers in promoting tn
use of skins OF aquatic animals in tn
production OF leather. Among the SCI
creatures singled out especially 10
recovery for the tanning OF their skin
were sharks and porpoises. Up to
point results OF a promising characte
were obtained. but the very nature O
the skins called for distinctive treat
ment and the products have varie
widely in their capacity 10 compel
with the ordinary feathers OF com