Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-11-08
LEATHER INDUSTRY
HERE ALMOST IDLE
Those Concerns That Arc Working
Have Reduced Forces
and Wages.

Conditions in the leather industry
throughout the city have taken serious
turn during the past few days, when
has not only been the cause Of what almost
amounts to Suspension of business but
TO those who are only operating part time
the wage has been reduced from rs to 33 l-3
per cent Out Of the approximate 5000
leather workers engaged and working full
time since last January, u is estimated
that only 500 are now employed by the
various industries throughout the city
and unless n sudden change for the better,
comes many Of the plants now operating
will shut down entirely nj tho end OF this
weck.
At the Amalgamated Leather Co, Front
an Adams street. only as people are
employed at present and this force con
stitutes only the overhead working
forces. In January this concern employed
n total of 1000 mon and girls. With the
present existing high prices and with no
standing orders, the force has gradually
becn cut and which will probably mean
the entire closing down of the plant next
Saturday. An official of this company
stated today that not single skin was
sold in Wilmington during last week
Al the New Castle Leather Co, Eleventh
and Poplar streets. the force haa not only
been reduced from $500 10 600, but 20
Der cent decrease an wages was put INTO
effect last Thursday This plant also faces
a practical Suspension of buslness. ne
Standard Glazed Kid Co, Fourth and
Monroe streets, in order to compete with
present conditions, will reduce the wage
Of tho workers on next Thursday and this
reduction will be- rated at 33 i-3 per cent.
Other concerns are similarly affected
SLUMP rs GENERAL
Lack of proper understanding OF busI-
ness conditions and an attempt 20 do the
impossible is pointed out as the direct
| cause for present conditions, which exist
throughout the entire country on'
! leather company official this mornins
! claimed that some people still failed 70
J realize that the war was over and ina
/ sooner or later shoe manufacturers wh'
1 also hae no leather stocks, Will begin 10 81
IN and wonder where they are goini
| 10 get the leather they are bound TO neet
when the aituation changes for the better
II Is not a very long step from the sh"'
manufacturer to the shoe retailer. ant
from the shoe retailer to the public. II n
perfectlv sound to contemplate situation
which must he reached sooner or later
and that will develop a buying powe
because of the desire Of manufacturers Z
pick up the kind Of leather they require
one CO thew are aware of the fact tina
tanners have stopped production and wiI
not carry the burden any longer
1t was further pointed out that dunn
the past few Years every ono assumed ina
an increase in the cost 81 materials was
natural one. This time has now passet
il is claimed. and manufacturer. are face
with considerable reductions IN sellln
prices of their finished products R'
ductions have been noticed in all commf
dities However many are still above IN
average
The manufacturers are taking the
losses on the supply Of raw matters
, bought six. and eight months ago In vie
Of this fact, the same prices cannot posss
bly, he paid for material TO be used N q
manufacturing during the next year. Lab
will unquestionnbly do its share wlulngl
the manufacturers believe and all COS
entering into the total on finished prod-c
must come down in proportion