Arizona republican., 1900-12-22
WATERPROOF CLOTHES.
Evolution of the Modern storm Coat
 That Contains No Rubber.

man with a valise in each hand stepped into a Broadway clothing store one day recently while 1t was raining hard and asked for rubber coat. "I want good one" he said, lone that has a black and white check lining" The clerk told the man i've have none of that kind in stock, but asked him t3 look at his latest style. and sold the man a modern storm coat.
 That man has been a long time away from New York; said ithe sales man. when his customer had departed, "and he must have spent his time in the back woods, for the coat he asked for has been a back number for years" The rain coat and the storm c,at. it was explained, are continually growing in popularity, but other materials have taken the place of rubber, and water proof garments are now made to re- semble the ordinary article so closely that in some instances a careful inspec- tion is necessary to determine their real character
 The original waterproof was a heavy, shiny, all rubber garment, with big black, vulcarized buttons. It was s.iff hsavy and uncomfortable, and could a1- moss stand alona. Then came the light CT coat with the checked lining. That was a great step forward, and the ma terial was considered so neat and com fortable that great quantities of il were made up into garments for wo- men and children. But the shiny sur face was a drawback, and wet weather garments which did not proclaim them selves as such had to be placed on the market before waterproof clothing reached it's greatest popularity. The first mackintozih garments were expen- siVe and not within the reach Of the majority. but the process of manufac- turing has been improved, and cloth surface waterproof coats have become comparatively cheap, varying in price from $3 ito s25. They are sold as walk ing. driving and outing coats, and are made in all styles and shapes for men women and children. But the nature Of the material precluded lightness. and this difficulty was not overcome until waterproof cloth with no rubber lining was placed on the market
 Garments made with this material soon found favor with the public, de- spite the fact that they were more ex- PtiiSlN . lHdn the NdrlOuS other styles and could not be sold for less than $25 The material from which they are made Was imported. and women's skirt, and other garments were made from it The success of the imported water proof cloth and the coats made from it stimulated experiments here in the d. rection of making textile fabrics i'm previous to moisture, and various Wa terproofrg processes were invented Coats made from material which has been treated by these processes are the latest thing in storm garments. This class of goocs is in great demand al present, but only among people who can afford to pay from $25 t1 $40 for coat But the waterproof coat has not crowd ed the mackintosh from the market or caused any falling off in the sale cf that garment, and manufacturers have been compelled to increase their pro- ducinS facilities to keep up With the demand. The old rubber surface coat is sold to outdoor workmen woodsmen and fishermen, but as garment for city wear it has had its day.-N. Y Tribune.