the Prices of Hemlock Sole Leather in the New-York Market, 1873, 1874 and 1875. The figures here given represent the rates at which sales have been made varying in amounts from 100 sides to 10,000 sides, and are based on actual transactions constituting nine-tenths of the business of the New-York Swamp. The total amount of sales of hemlock sole leather will, it is estimated, reach from $12,000,000 to $14,000,000 per year. Mercier, 30 lbs. to doz. per lb. Oak Calf, 30 Hemlock Calf, Leven, 30 lbs. lbs. to doz. per 30 lbs. per doz. to doz. per lb. lb. per lb. Prices of French and American Calfskins and Finished Upper Leather in the New-York Market, 1873, 1874 and 1875. ANNUAL REVIEW OF THE BOOT AND SHOE TRADE OF NEW-YORK, FOR THE YEAR 1875. THE boot and shoe manufacturers, on the whole, had a very satisfactory business during the year 1875. The decline in the prices of raw material and labor worked steadily in their favor. The orders they accepted were, of course, based on the rates prevailing when the negotiations were made, and the subsequent recession of them gave the sellers a handsome margin for profit. Consequently, however closely they may have figured on the spur of sharp competition, the cost of leather and the scale of wages turned so much in their favor, that they were enabled to reap a substantial advantage. And then, while in almost every other line of business the losses by bad debts have been exceptionally large, in ours they have been comparatively trifling. There have been no heavy failures in the shoe trade, and such as have occurred have affected the jobbers chiefly, leaving the manufacturers almost untouched. The goods made in New-York City, and all along the line of the Central Rail-Road, are mostly of a fine class, and for ladies', misses' and children's wear. These are usually sold to the best retail trade, as far west as California, and south to New-Orleans. The tendency toward cheap goods has interfered somewhat with sales, but much caution has been observed in giving credits, and losses have been few. The high prices paid for labor in New-York City have operated to prevent any enlargement of the manufacturing interest, but the goods retain the position they have for many years held, of being the best, in both material and workmanship, of any factory-made goods produced in this country, and probably in the world. All the manufacturers in the business had a fair and very evenly distributed trade throughout the year, and prices showed no marked change from those of the preceding year. EXPORTS OF BOOTS AND SHOES FROM NEW-YORK DURING THE YEAR 1875. Total exports, 2,647 cases, 38 boxes and 26 packages, at a valuation of $188,362 Total exports, 87 pkgs. and 19 cases, at a valuation of... $3,424 Total exports, 1,181 cases, 1,354 boxes and 10 pkgs., at a valuation of $35,169 MANUFACTURE OF BOOTS AND SHOES. In the manufacture of boots and shoes, as given in the last census, we find 14,318,529 pairs of boots were made, of the value of $50,231,470, and 66,308,715 pairs of shoes, valued at $93,846,206. To this is added the value of "repairing," $2,611,000, which certainly shows that economy had begun to be practiced in that year. The sole leather used in making these boots and shoes was 4,932,403 sides; upper leather, 7,614,712 sides; and other leather and material, 13,784,443 pounds. The value of all material used is given at $80,502,718. The number of factories of boots and shoes in the United States, for wholesale work, was given at 3,151, employing 70,688 males, 18,208 females, and 2,806 children. The wages paid these operatives was $42,504,444, and capital employed, $37,519,019. There were 901 pegging, and 12,394 sewing machines of all kinds in use. The number of factories run by steam power was 266, and of these 209 were in Massachusetts. |