Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 38, Number 17, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 October 1905 — BOOT TRADE SUPREMACY. [ARTICLE]

BOOT TRADE SUPREMACY.

.Labor-Saving Machinery’s Effect in America. Why American boots and shoes find so large a place in British and other markets abroad is explained by* the British consul at Philadelphia, Mr. Powell, itrliis annual trade report for .1904, just issued by the foreign otlice. It is owing to cheaper production, due to the use of labor-saving appliances, of which, by the way, British manufacturers were slow to take note. Although only 197,000 workers are employed in the shoe industry in the United States, as against 290,000 in the United Kingdom, the United States makes more shoes than any other country in the world. This condition of affairs, says Mr. Powell, arises from the fact that practically all shoes are factory-made in the United States, and the use of the most improved machinery enables the workmen there to turn out a much greater number of shoes per head than is accomplished in the United Kingdom. It is stated that twenty-eight linns alone in the United States make an average total output of 200.1M.0 pairs a day. Two examples are given of the saving effected by the introduction of machinery. Thus, l(»0 pairs of men's tine grade, calf, welt, laced shoes, single soles, soft boxed toes, mude by hand in 1865, required 2.225 hours to make, at an average cost per pair of £1 2s 3d; the same number of the same kind of shoes were made by machinery in 1893 in 296 hours, nt an average cost of 3 s per pair. Then 100 pairs of women's tine grade, kid, welt, buttoned shoes, single soles, patent leather tips, soft boxed toes, made by hand in 1875, required 1,995 hours to make, at an average cost per pair of £1; the same number of the same kind of shoes were made by machinery in 1895 in 175 hours, at an average cost of 2s 2d. —London Chronicle. Every married man has the fact thrown up to him frequently.