11. HIDES AND LEATHER IN LATIN AMERICA. During war conditions, the price of -hides and leather became unprecedented. But aside from war, the natural world demand is increasing faster than the production. During the decade, 1890-99, inclusive, the average price of hemlock tanned sole leather was $0.1939 per pound. At the beginning of 1916 it sold for $0:3250, an advance of 67 per cent. Oak tanned sole leather in the "same period advanced 57.6 per cent; calf-skin, 58.8 per cent, and oak tanned harness, 49.9 per cent. During 1916 and 1917 a more than appreciable advance was made, and leather manufacturers protested their inability to secure the raw stock of hides. This upward movement was reflected strongly in the great cattle states of Latin America and in some it was the temporary financial salvation during the early commercial depression follow ing the outbreak of the European War- as be ing a staple of immediate and cash demand.
Despite increasing production, little attempt has been made to use hides industrially in their respective countries. The great bulk is ex ported in its raw state, despite the fact of the vast quantities of tanning materials available throughout Latin America - quebracho, man grove, divi divi and innumerable others. These tanning materials are, in their turn, particularly during the past decade, an important export item, many shipments abroad being carried by the same bottoms that transport the hides for which they are intended.
As the greatest cattle country of South America, Argentina is the greatest producer of hides. Exports in 1885 amounted to $12. 040,113; 1890, $10,931,216; 1885, $15,273,154; 1900, '$13,436,361; 1905, $19,076,544; 1910, $30, 711,408; 1911, $34,440,015; 1912, $42,129,576; 1913, $38,532,700; 1914, 124,552,518 pounds, and 1915, 182,879,061 pounds. Of this number 46.5 per cent was wet and 53.5 per cent dry. In this connection it may be stated that all pack ing-houses and most of the metropolitan' butchers' hides are wet, while the hides of beeves killed for individual consumption are usually dry, the former commanding a uni formly higher price, as their texture is devoid of the unevenness caused by unequal drying, as is frequently the case with the dry hides, these latter also frequently showing the marks of the unpracticed skinner's knife. Exports to
the United States during the fiscal year ending 30 June 1912, amounted to $15,220,904, and 1916, $32,754,929, in addition to goat, sheep and other' skins. The United States is the greatest buyer.
Bolivia has many cattle, the greater number on ranches, but many running wild. The ex ports of hides in 1913 amounted to 465 metric tons (2,204.6 pounds), valued at $143,916; 1914, 374 metric tons, valued at $104,666, and 1915, 613 metric tons, value not stated. Only a small part was consigned to the United States.
Brazil, according to the report of the United States consul at Rio de Janeiro (Commerce Reports, 26 May 1917), concerning the market for shoes, states that local industry in the man ufacture of this article is increasing. Other re ports also indicate that leather is being pre pared from domestic hides in increasing quan tities, due to the availability of so many excel lent tanning materials, not, however, on an ex port scale. Cattle hides to the amount of 35,075 metric tons (2,204.6 pounds), were ex ported in 1913; 1914, 31,434 metric tons, and 1915, 37,080 metric tons (see LATIN AMERICA, CATTLE AND MEAT INDUSTRY OF). During the fiscal year ending 30 June 1916 the exports of cattle hides to the United States amounted to 59,729,930 pounds, valued at $12,282,472.
Chile, in 1913, exported hides to the value of $1,537,850; 1914, $918,260, and 1915, $1,670, 750; the export of leather during these last two years being $225,627 and $261,342, respectively. No exports of consequence have been made to the United States until recently, the amount in 1915 (fiscal year ending 30 June) being 802,585 pounds, valued at $122,152, and 1916, 6,887,970 pounds, valued at $1,091,343. Leather to the value of $49 was exported to the United States in 1915 (fiscal year), and $2,555 in 1916.