326 GEORGE HOUGHTON 



and the steel shank inserted. Next, the bottom is coated 

 with cement, and the outsole pressed on it by a machine. 

 Thence it is sent through the rounding machine, which trims 

 it and channels the sole for stitching. From there it goes 

 again to the sewing machine, which stitches through the welt 

 outside of the upper. The next step is that of leveling, then 

 heeling, both of which processes are accomplished by ma- 

 chinery. The heels are nailed on in the rough and after- 

 wards trimmed into shape by a machine operating revolving 

 knives; a breasting machine shaping the front of the heel. 

 Still another machine drives in the brass nails and cuts them 

 off flush with the top pieces. The edging machine is next 

 used, which trims the edges of both sole and heel. The sole 

 bottom is then sandpapered, blacked, and burnished by ma- 

 chinery, after which the shoe is cleaned, treed, and packed. 



The total floor space occupied by the shoe factories of 

 the United States is practically 24,000,000 square feet, or 

 about 550 acres. 



The statistics of boot and shoe manufacture furnish an 

 interesting commentary upon American enterprise, showing, 

 as they do, the evolution of an industry from the smallest 

 beginning and with the crudest appKances to a position that 

 up to recent years equaled in importance that of any of the 

 great industries of the country. 



