Omaha daily bee., 1899-07-02
TESTING TEXTILE FABRICS
Simple Method of Determining the Honesty
of Woven Articles.
TEMPTING PROFITS IN SHODDY GOODS
Importance of Maintaining the High
Reputation of American LOOMS
CrOwdinE Foreign Goods in
the Worlds Markets.

1t is the proud boast of the American
weaver that, short as has been the time
allowed him for competition with his for
eign brother, and heavy as has been the
pressure of prejudice against him, he has
made, by reason of honest and astonishing
machinery, the most giant strides In textile
production. Our looms and dye pits today
turn out practically every fabric for modern
need and luxury, and by aid of time and
tariff we are RAPIDLY coming into our own.
The consumer. because American goods are
cheaper and better than the foreign product,
is gradually losing faith in the legend OF
imported superiority, and II all things work
together for good, the time seems approach
ing when the looms Of the United States
will very nearly supply the world
There is, however, one danger that hesets
the manufacturers path, the same which has
so sadly injured the custom OF the foreign
weaver, namely, the temptation to adulter-
ate. This Is Just whore the mission of the
consumer comes In. for 1t lies absolutely
within the hands of him or her to check
at any moment this weakness OF the pro-
ducer. Tests that made clear the frequent
dishonesty of foreign weavers will. IL ap-
piled, preserve our manufacturers from ever
dropping into the same error for with us
the same temptation to adulterate Is sharper
even than in other countries stronger bo-
cause the overwhelming superiority of Amer
ican Ingenuity has perfected machinery that
will give to the most abominably adulterated
goods an appearance OF finish and stability
none but an expert can detect. We have
devices for putting out the handsomest fab
rcs, seemingly of pure wool, tnat In reality
contain 70 per cent Of cotton. On the mar
ket today are socalled silks and linens that
carry not fiber OF either in their woof or
warp, but have been SO skllfully woven and
CLOSED as to perfectly stimulate tho real
thing.
In no other country has positive genius
been expended in concealing adulteration as
in our own, and nowhere else have such
magic results been attained This is not
the consequence of fraudulent intent. but is
a perfectly legitimate manufacturing busi-
ness, carried on to answer the demand for
imitation and cheap goods by the poorer
and bargain hunting element OF retail pug
chasers.
Temptation to AduIterate.
Now, however, when the worlds trade is
slipping into the hands of our manufac-
turers and the consumer is turning to the
American instead of the English, French and
German producer, the temptation to adul-
terate will be, in many cases, irresistible,
and who is to check it? The woman who
shops may be. She is a powerful factor
to be considered by the manufacturer. She
spends in all branches of trade two-thrds
of the money men earn and must be reck-
oned with by the weaveTs of the United
States. She will undoubtedly try to pro-
tect herself as the great consumer. and in
doing 90 she will indirectly fulfill high
mission in behalf of American trade and
honor.
OF course in shops of good standing the
effort always is TO avoid as far as possible
adultered fabrics but in truth. many re-
tailers OF high standing, and their buyers
are ignorant Of how to detect even the COM
monest adulterations of stuffs.
The consumer, or in other words, the aver
age shopper, who demands an all wool. all
silk or all linen goods, and pays good money
for the same. can afford to take time and