Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1897-12-20


Missed in New York, But n Factor in
the Country-sources of Rag Supplies.
The passing of the ragman from
New York streets is the result of
municipal legislation. Ten years ago
the rag -gatherer, with hook and bag,
was familiar sight, and his shrill cry
OF rags, old iron, bottles" disturbed
the peace of quiet neighborhoods.
The enactment of laws and the COM
ing of Colonel Waring, with the fa-
miliar '"T. p. r." signs have put an
end practically to the rag-picker as
type in New York. The ash barrels
and refuse heaps no longer supply him
with living, and many of the men
who maintained themselves by this
means formerly, have forsaken the
city for smaller towns, where restrio-
tions are less severe.
Householders everywhere are still
familiar with the genus. In many in
stances he is small merchant in his
way, and goes from house to house
bartering tin pans, pots and small no.
tions for rags, glass and old iron.'
Few persons have any conception
of the extent to which the woolen rag
business has grown. Its history
dates back many years, and it is every
where an industry of large proper
tlons. One of the principal uses of
woolen rags is in the manufacture of
shoddy. This is product of wooden
rags brought about by the use of intri-
cate processes. 1t is we'll known that
burning does not destroy the fibre of
raw wools. An inventive genius dis
covered method by means of which,
although the fleece of the sheep had
been spun and woven into cloth, it
could be undone and the tibres used
again. The method is to open the
threads and card out the fibres.
The articles which enter into the
composition of shoddy are almost end
less IN number. Cast-off wearing ap.
parel, old carpets, elastic shoe uppers
and the innumerable items of the rag
bag all supply their quota of wool.
The jute backing of carpets is destroyed
by chemicals, leaving the wool intact.
All material classed as shoddy is not
necessarily of low nature. Compe-
tition in the manufacture of wooden
goods has increased the demand for
high priced woods to such an extent
that the abilities of manufacturers
have been taxed severely. The manu-
facture of good fabrics, by the use of
wool in connection with shoddy, is
consequence. The demand has per-
meated the entire system of the trade
from the small gatherers to the dispen-
sers on large scale, and has resulted
IN asserting and grading requirements.
The asserting is begun by the Junk
dealers, to whom the rag gatherer sells
his stock. Many divisions are made.
In the junk shops ON side streets men
and women, seated amid heaps ofrags.
labor necessarily, and their aspect is
one of picturesque activity. italian
women with pendant eardrops and
highly colored shawls, are the central
notes of color amid surrounding
wilderness of blue and green and vel
low rags. The first assortments are
placed in bales ana sold to the rag
packers and dealers on large scale.
Then the rags are again divided and
subdivided. The various grades are
assorted with great care.
One of the largest sources of the
wool rag supply is represented by
tailors' and clothiers' clippings, which
amount to many millions of pounds
annually. The prices paid for this
kind of stock seem high to the unin-
itiated. As high as twenty cents per
pound has been paid for some grades.
From one to one and half cents per
pound represents the value of the
lowest grades, and the range of values
covers almost limitless grades. The
price of clippings has more than dou-
bled within the past few months.
A large amount of waste wool is
gathered from knitting and woolen
mills. Consumers generally are in
Ignorance of the extent to which shod-
dy enters into their clothing. 1t is
present not only in ow-priced goods,
but also in goods which are high
priced. Efforts were made recently
by Congressional committee to as
certain the number of persons engaged
IN the industry. 1t was found that
every town, hamlet and city was rep
resented in it, and the figures were SO
vast as to be unobtainable. This fact
was considered convincing enough for
the purpose in hand.
A use to which woolen rags is put
is IN the manufacture of flock, for wall
paper. The flock is a fine powder used
on the surface of the papers to give
them velvety appearance. 1t is
made from the rags, in many shades.
New York Post.