No. 133.] 117 



ladies' boots and shoes. 



The exhibition consisted of six cases from different manufactu- 

 rers, all very creditable, surpassing any imported. One case of 

 white satin lair-stitched gaiters, and one case of ladies' fancy boots 

 and slippers, from Benjamin Shaw, 73 Canal street, were returned 

 by the judges as very superior, for which a gold medal was award- 

 ed. N. Cantrell, 336 Bowery, exhibited a case of imitation French 

 shoes and boots, very superior. 



Our committee, on the representation of the judges, awarded 

 the gold medal of the Institute to George JN'icholls, a journeyman, 

 for the very superior workmanship displayed by him on white 

 satin gaiter boots. a. c. 



MEN'S BOOTS AND SHOES. 



The Immense capital and product of the labor employed annu- 

 ally in this branch of manufactures, is almost incredible. In the 

 absence of any official statistical returns, we are compelled to 

 seek for information from those most conversant with the trade. 

 The information which we have been in quest of not being com- 

 plete, we shall defer making any statement at the present time, in 

 hopes of being able to illustrate the subject more fully in a subse- 

 quent part of this volume. 



At our late exhibition the display was below that of other 

 years ; the trade did not by any means come out in its best man- 

 ner. John Ready, No. 127 Nassau street, exhibited the best pa- 

 tent leather and calf-skin dress boots. a. c. 



LEATHER. 



We stand in an independent position in relation to this article 

 of prime necessity, the demand for which seems to be constantly 

 increasing. Our statistics furnish us with no data upon which to 

 found a satisfactory estimate of its annual consumption or value ; 

 nevertheless, we know that it is immense, and it is gratifyiiig also 



