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Show The work of the staff of officers appointed by the superintendent of the census to collect statistics relating to the industrice and manufactures of New York City is, says the Evening Post, now approaching completion, and will show in the opinion of Mr. Charles E. Hill, the gentleman in charge of it, a very satisfactory growth since 1870. In the course of the investigation by Mr. Hill's deputies, some singular industries were brought to light. It was found, for instance, that some use was made of old shoes, but exactly what use was hard to find out. Large numbers of old shoes were sold by rag-pickers to certain men who disposed of them at a good price. It is well known that bits of old leather make the commercial article known as Prussian Blue, but only a few firms manufacture it, and the new call for old shoes was evidently for some other purpose. In New York City and Brooklyn about three million pairs of old shoes are thrown away every year. Formerly old shoes were plentiful in the gutters of certain neighborhoods; now it appears that they are sought after as rare prizes in the rag-picker's line, ??? persevering inquiry it was discovered that the old shoes were used for three purposes. First, all shoes not completely worn out are patched, greased and after being otherwise regenerated, sold to men who deal in such wares. Some persons wear one shoe much more than the other; these dealers had mates for shoes where original mates are past hope. Secondly, the shoes not worth patching up are cut into pieces, the good bits are used for patching other shoes, and the worthless bits, the soles and cracked "uppers," are converted into Jamaica rum by a process known only to the manufacturers. It is said that they are boiled in pure spirits and allowed to stand for a few weeks, the product far surpassing the Jamaica rum made with essences, burnt sugar and spirits. A gentleman who doubted the truth of this story stopped recently at a low grog shop in the neighborhood of the factory spoke of, and inquired if they had any rum from old shoes. "No," said the barkeeper, "we don't keep it much now, the druggists who want a pure article, all sell it and the price has gone up. But we have had it, and we can get you some if you want it." How many old shoes go to a gallon of rum could not be ascertained. |