The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1884-03-20
UNCLE SAM S RAG-BAG.
An Interesting SAFE of Sunrternaas-
trr's Condemned stores in New
York.

TITS SOnuFmheu StOceS An new
York.
New York Tmes.1
A red flag waved lstlessly in the mist
over the iron gate which guards the en-
trance to the state arsenal at Seventh
avenue and Thirty. fifth street vester.
day morning, The stone floor of the
basement OF the building was in an I'M
usual state of disorder. There were
piles of gray army overcoats in various
stages of decomposition, some we'll
worn and much soiled and others nearly
new but badly moth-eaten; heaps of
military hats, with dilapidated gilt
bands, dingv military dress coats, trous-
ers and blouses and dry goods boxes
filled with empty metallic shells, some
bright and brassy and others as green
as several coats of verdigris could make
them. They were condemned quarter
masters stores which were to be sold at
public auction. Around the equipments
there were score or more junk dealers
and secondhand clothing merchants,
who examined the goods with critical
care, digging their canes into the heaps
and drawing out garments which were
looked over with great interest and
commented upon with rare Judgment
and experience. At IL o'clock the auc-
tioneer mounted box of pompons, an
absurd little article of military orna-
mentation which resembles an ampu-
tated lambs tail, mounted on a brass
wire handle and the sale was begun.
There were lib dress coats. which
were offered by the pound The bids
were started at cent, and after brief
but spirited competition the lot was
sold to Andrew Mcmahon, a Junk
dealer, for cents. The military hats.
of which there were ISL, were bought
for " cents each, and were sold to w.
S. Kirk. of Philadelphia, who also pur-
chased the entire lot of 953 pompons
for 50. J. w. Frasier, of this city,
bought 1000 blouses for Is cents each,
1000 pounds of shells for IA cents q
pound, and 1,Sl1 overcoats for 94t cents
each.
What will you do with the goods
You have bought was asked Mr.. Fra
sier, the heaviest buyer.
81 will sell the overcoats and shells
to foreign governments, such as Hayti
and Liberia. They are in great
demand for such purposes. The shells
will be cleaned and reloaded. Those
that are too badly rusted to be used
will be sold for old brass. The blouses
will probably have to self old rags,
as they are almost worthless. l may
sell some OF the coats to local military
companies in the south composed Of
colored troops. They want goods that
are cheap and make a good display.
They are not as particular as the
northern troops are"
Il will sell the dress trousers" said
Mr.. Kane, ito military companies or
to theatrical companies for military
pieces The hats and coats will also be
used for that purpose. There is big
demand for such goods, and they find
ready sale"
There isn't much money in this sale,
remarked veteran dealer. who took
no active part in the bidding, but l
have seen dealers make very handsome
amounts out of these purchases. A
the Philadelphia arsenal 10000 am
bulance flags made of the brightest
yellow cloth. They brought cents each.
The buyer dyed them green and red
and sold them to the Pennsylvania rail-
road company for cents each. 1t only
cost him | cent apiece to have them
colored. But sometimes money is lost.
Not long ago dealer bought large
lot of army overcoats for about $1.5O
each. They are now on sale in this
city for so cents apiece. Mr.. Frasier
would lose on his purchases if he didn't
know place out of the country where
he can put them"
The original cost of the goods to the
government was over $4,000, and the
amount realized was less than $4,000.