Sullivan republican. [volume] (Laporte, Pa.) 1883-1896, 1896-01-03


der a nemocf ttic FREQ Wool Tar
iff-s fucl'' Of the Cheapest Glass
Most IN Demand.
BRADvoRD, November, 20, 1895.
"Good morning, Mr.. -, sharp
and crisp; such like mornings as these
make one quicken his steps to keep
abreast OF the frost and cold" This
was my greeting as entered o we'll
known rag merchants shop in Leeds
the other day.
was standing on the second floor
of his warehouse, and all around me
were huge piles Of old dusty, sup
posed to be cast away forever and
worn-out, garments and rags. of every
imaginable shade, color, quality and
condition. Around tie windows were
stonding dozen women, both young
and middle-aged, single and married,
oil engaged in sorting these rags into
distinct and separate colors and quail
ties. These are what are called rag
sorters, and of all the nasty, dirty,
filthy, Objectionable jobs human ma
ture is put to, this, I think, comes out
''on top"
"Well, and how are things in the
rag trade to-day" I asked.
$50 far as the demand is con-
cerned, it's of considerable dimen-
sions."
Considerable is that all? Surely
with this great trade in Leeds, Bat
ley, Dewsbury, Morley and Hudders-
field, the rag and shoddy trade must
have received good flip"
$50 it has. All through the year
there has been a good deal more DO
ing than for long time back, but we
can only reckon since last June as be-.
ing busy time. Although, as you
know, opr low goods manufacturers
began to be busy last January, yet the
stocks of pulled mungo and shoddy in
merchants and dealers hands were
somewhat heavy, hence it took few
months time to absorb and clean them
out, but to-day, on certain descrip-
tions Of rags and mungo, the supply
does not near equal the demand"
''rhen if there is this great call for
mungo, what has been the effect on the
price of rags?"
swell, on all things in general
there has been some slight advance,
but on special descriptions rise ol
100 PEI cent. has taken place."
"And what are the special descrip-
tions on which this great rise has
been Effected
"Linseye," he said. 'Six months
ago or a little over any quantity
could be readily bought at FROM
2s Sd. to 2s. Sd. (66c.) per cwt., but
to-day the price is 5s., or $1.20 pei
cwt."
''Linseys: that's q very vague ex'
preston. What are Linseys?"
"Linseys are simply rags having
all cotton one way of the fabric. which
is always the warp and wooden the
other, which comprises the 'weft.
This, as you will know from the de
scription thus given, that such rags
are of the lowest quality it is possible
to secure, and produce, of course, @
shoddy destitute of any wool fibers,
These rags come from such descrip
tions Of old cast-off garments as cotton
warp serges, presidents, beavers, mel
tons, in fact everything having a cot
ton warp and low wooden weit fol
filing"
Continuing, he eaid: "To me it i.
remarkable that is-the very worst
description OF shoddy-should have
shown the greatest advance; but, oi
course, that goes to show distinctly
what manufacturers are making. Price
with them is certainly an object, and
no doubt through their having to de-
liver their goods at low figure they
must have cheap mungo.'
Gas seller of such like rags, will
you tell me into what district you are
sending themp'
"Undoubtedly. The heavy woolen
district around Bailey. Bailey Carr
and Dewsbury, and even parties in
Leeds and district are using them
but. in and around Bailey a
great weight is being consumed. To
oil these parties am supplying this
cheap class Of rags"
"But can you tell mo what descrip'
tion OF goods this muck is being
made into?" asked.
"Yes, this shoddy is taken, pul
down on the 'willey.house' floor. few
stones OF cotton is blended with it,,
ane then spun into very thick weft for
backing purposes. This character OF
weft yarn Is very extensively used ia
backing these low, cheap worsted
coatings, presidents. curls, etc. and
the welt being thrown on to the back
OF the woven fabric, and then raised
in tho art OF finishing. all this coarse
ness is hidden, and to tho inexpe.
rienced in cloth, because no thinks it
looks nice on the face aud handles
full 10 the hard, il is therefore a good
piece OF cloth, while in reality it il
nothing else but the vilest OF stuff i'm
aginable put together, and 60 up tC
| Hind tha puhlio" YANKEE