The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-05-16
TO FAVOR HOME INDUSTRY
Police Commissioners Agree
With the Manufacturers
Association.
SATISFACTORY MEETING.
If Cloth Can Be Manufactured Here
Suitable for Uniforms 1t Will
Be Used.

The Police Commissioners will encour-
age and support local industries whenever
they are worthy of such encouragement
and support.
Last night the communication sent to
them by the Manufacturers and Produc-
ers' Association, which has been published
in the CALL, was considered by them at
their regular meeting. President Tobin,
Commissioner Alvord and Chief Crowley
were present.
S. ii. Lacy was present in behalf of the
Manufacturers Association. He said the
association had received a communication
from one of its members to the effect that
the police force was to be supplied with
new uniforms, and that it had been ordered
that all the uniforms should be of French
OK Beaver. The members asked the as
sistance of the association to get the Com
missioners to support local industry by
having the uniforms made of cloth manu-
featured in this City. Hence the commu-
nication from the association to the board.
1.-THE member referred to-" continued
Mr.. Lacy, sis the Golden Gate Wool Manu-
featuring Company, 535 Market street.
With your permission I shall read letter
which the association received to-day from
the company" ~.
The letter is as follows:
We have received sample of cloth, said to be
French beaver, about thirty-two-ounce weight,
such as is used for uniforms by the policemen
yard. We desire to say that at our woolen-
mills, situated in this City, where we employ
about $50 men, we have the facilities for
making cloth such as the aforementioned
sample, suitable for pollcemen's uniforms,
which we will guarantee in quality and SER
viceable value to be equal to the sample shown
us and which we can supply at about So SO per
goods.
We have quite recently completed contract
with the United States Government for over
$40, 600 worth of cloth for uniforms, and our
looms to-day are busy making cloth of the
same kind for the United States Government.
AS all said cloth is required to stand a severe
and critical examination before acceptance,
we feel warranted in our claim that we can
supply cloth which will be in every way sat
isfactory for the uniforms of policemen of this
City.
In sympathy with the objects of your asso-
citation, and desiring to prove that it is unnec-
essary to go outside of the State of California
for many articles that are largely imported, we
propose to make up roll Of cloth, which we
can let you have not later than June 10, which
we would be pleased to have your association
submit to the Police Commissioners of this City
for examination and test. If found satisfac-
tory we will agree to supply it in any guam
tity, at price considerably less than can be
bought outside of this State.
President Tobin said it was mistake to
assume that new uniforms had been
ordered for the police force. The only
new uniforms were for the captains, SER
geants, corporals and officers on office
duty. A few of the men whose uniforms
were old and shabby and not of the regu-
lation color and quality had also ordered
new uniforms, but that was all. Coming
to the question of the cloth the president
said if the local manufacturers could make
cloth as serviceable as the French beaver
the board would do all in its power to sup
port the industry.
Commissioner Alvord concurred, but
upon the distinct understanding that the
goods must be of the finest quality and not
shoddy. The interests of the men had also
to be protected and it would not do to
have them buying new uniform every
few months.
Chief Crowley referred to the unfortunate
experience the department had with the
cloth manufactured at the Mission Wooden
Mills. It was found that suit of French
beaver costing $50 or $40 would outlast four
suits made of the Mission Wooden Mills
cloth, each of which cost $50. The princi-
pal fault was in the dyeing. During rain
the colors of the Mission cloth ran in
white streaks and the cloth itself shrank.
1t would not do to have a similar expert
ence.
Mr. Lacy said the Golden Gate COMPANY
was willing to donate enough cloth to
make two suits as a test, and if not found
satisfactory that would end the matter.
After further discussion the Commits
sioners suggested that the Golden Gate
Company should manufacture bolt of the
cloth, and if it was of the necessary quality.
and durability they would patronize it. It
was expected that ere long the force would
be increased, and the new men would re.
quire uniforms. By that time the cloth
could be tested. The success or failure of
the experiment lay with the manufacture
ers themselves.
Mr.. Lacy thanked the, Com missioners
for the courteous reception accorded him
and the satisfactory result of the discus