Evening star., 1927-10-21
LEATHER INDUSTRY
IS FIRM FOOTING
Stock Growers Determined to
Strengthen Position of Their
Breeding Animals.
BY j. C. ROYLE.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch TO The Star.
NEW YORK, October 21.-The
leather industry after long, slow pro-
gress has turned the corner. That
fact was vouched for today by George
T.. Roberts, vice president of the Ma
tional City Bank. Mr.. Roberts is re-
garded as an authority on industrial
economics, and is in position to keep
in close touch with conditions within
the leather in duStry.
THE leather industry has stabil-
lied itself materially" he stated.
'"The reduction in the country's ex-
cessive stocks of hides and leather
is a healthy thing and is having its
effect on the general good of the
country.
81 should say that leather is out of
the moraSS into which so many indus
tries We're sunk by the war and post
war conditions and may now be said
to be pretty well beyond the reach OF
artificial conditions, except those aris-
ing out of the fact that the tanning
industry cannot control the volume of
it's supply of hides. That supply will,
1 suppose, always depend largely upon
the country's meat production.
Adjustment Has Arrived.
Inc Industry IdS pe6u d IUHSS IlIIlS
adjusting itself, but the job appears
to have been done. This is healthy,
not alone for leather, but also for the
various industrial activities depending
upon leather, such as the manufac-
ture Of shoes, betting, harness, lug
gage, upholstery and certain items
Of women's apparel"
Frazer NJ. Moffat, president Of the
Tanners Council, which represents
the entire leather industry of the
United States, confirmed the conclu-
sions reached by Mr.. Roberts.
During the last five years." he
said, 'the adjective excessive which
Mr.. Roberts applies to the stocks of
hides and feathers, has been quite
proper. Five years ago we had enough
sole leather on hand to last nearly a
year at the normal rate Of consump-
ton. Today the supplies of leather
are equal to about a month and a
half's consumption.
"The world supply Of hides is deli.
cately adjusted to the worlds demand
for leather and so sensitive is it that
the producer of hides and skins. which
are the raw materials of the leather
industry, now is benefiting from this
technical situation by an increased
value for his product. Such situa.
ton is good for everybody and should
work for the good of the country as
whole. Farmer, tanner, shoe manu-
facturer and consumer are all happier
than when conditions were abnormal"
In 1922 there were visible stocks
of sole leather alone, tanned and
ready for use, equal to the hides of
6.250,000 animals, or 12,500,000 sides.
These figures as of October 1, 1927,
when completely compiled will show
the visible stock to consist Of the
hides Of less than 100000 animals,
probably about 100000, or 10000
sides. This amount is by far the
lowest on record, but it is still suffl-
cient for the country's need.
Healthy Development Keynote.
All the products of cattle hides
have shown this sound progress as
well as calf skins and great skins,
which form the raw materials for a
very large proportion of the worlds
supply Of upper feathers. The tan
ming industry today is more than
ever Influenced by world conditions
and the latest cables from abroad
indicate that continental Europe as
well as the United Kingdom finds
itself in about the same position as
this country. Healthy development
is the universal keynote.
From the Midwest and the range
States came word over the wires to-
day that cattle liquidation has run
its course. The high price for cattle
and sheep has not caused heavy
shipments or sales. In fact It has
determined growers rather to
strengthen the position Of their
breeding stock and replace many of
those animals which have gone to
the slaughter pens. This will tend
to prevent the stocks Of green hides
from becoming excessive.
About 165.000,000 pairs Of shoes