Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1904-09-20

MORE USES FOR COTTON.
It Is Gradually DispIaeins All Other
Textiles,

It Is Gradually DispIacins All Other
Textiles.
Cotton today stands at the head of
the worlds textile products. Not only
has 1t won an ever growing, place for
itself, but in numerous lines where 1t
competes with wool and linen, it has
displaced both. The consumption of
cotton Is more than twice as great as
these two products combined. Primari-
ly this was brought about by the cheap
ness of the staple. OF late years the
most important element has been the
improvement in manufacture. better
machinery and more highly skilled la
Dor. Experts cannot tell the difference
between goods of cotton mixed with
wool and those made all Of wool. Chem
ical tests are not infallible in aiding
detection.
The linen shirt, which not so many
years ago was regarded as an absol-
ute essential Of the masculine ward
robe, is now a thing Of the past, owing
to the encroachment Of cotton, and
linen bosoms and cuffs are considered
sufficient concessions to flax, even for
the most expensive garments. The
term household linen" today Is large
ly a misnomer, simply because this
material has been supplanted by cotton
for sheetings, table cloths, napkins, etc.
Even silk has not escaped, owing to
the excellent and growing popularity
Of merceriZed goods.
So much for generalitles. Much mas
been said Of curtailment Of consump-
ton, not only by the mills, but by the
consumer-the public. It might be well
to point out certain factors In consump-
ton that would not be greatly affected
by such curtailment, as they constitute
fixed demands on the output Of manu-
factured goods. Some Of these items
are new and have sprung into exist
ence in the last few years. for new needs
are being discovered for cotton every
day. At the present it enters into the
manufacture Of more articles Of COM
merce than any other known agricul-
tural product.
Not on,-- have new avenues been op-
ened up. but the old items have grown
largely. This Is not only because cot
ton is cheaper than any other textile
products, but because in many respects
it Is better. Some Of these items are
large. some are small, but. in the ag-
gregate they foot up to an enormous
total and constitute steady drain
on supplies that Is little subject to
fluctuations in the price Of raw mater
ial.
Armies Now Wear Cotton.
Five years ago the armies Of the
world, with the exception Of those In
tropical countries, were clothed in
woolen uniforms. Today large pro-
portion Of the worlds troops are cloth
ed in cotton. The United States alone,
which maintains small standing force
comparatively. has within the last four
years taken 100000 yards Of eight
ounce khaki cloth. Great Britain uses
an amount even larger not even in
cluding the inferior khaki duck that
is employed for the uniforms Of the
native troops in India. The utility Of
khaki was triumphantly demonstrated
during the Boer war, not only on ac-
count Of it's color, which rendered
hostile force indistinct at a moderate
distance, but its lightness and general
serviceability made it far more avail
able for an extended campaign. The
Russian service uniform in the far
East is Of cotton and Japan also laid
in large supplies of khaki duck and
has been making inquiries in this city
for more.
The navy uses an immense amount
of khaki duck running from eight to
eighteen ounces a yard. A manufac-
turer who supplies large portion Of
this material for our navy says more
cotton duck is used by our navy to-
day than in the days when sailing ves-
sells constituted our men-of war. In
this connection it may be stated on the
same authority that the decline of the
sailing vessels has not produced any
decrease in the use Of cotton duck for
ships. Although sails have been dis
placed by steam cotton duck Is used
so extensively for awnings, coverings
for launches, ETC., that the amount of
material used remains the same as 1t
did in the height of the old clipper
trade.
As Covering For Tobacco.
Another demand that has sprung up
has been caused by the increasing use
of cotton cloth for growing tobacco
under shade. Seven hundred acres Of
tobacco land in Connecticut are COW
cred in this manner. The Continental
Tobacco company uses 100000 yards
of cloth for it's shade culture in Flor
ida and Cuba. AS an illustration OF
the fact that expansion Of trade In
various lines brings increased demand
for cotton it may be stated that this
same company uses 100000 yards OF
cotton cloth annually merely for the
purpose of making bags for two
brands of smoking tobacco.
Cotton is extensively used in fam
machinery. One company in Its
threshers and reapers finds use an
nually for 100000 yards Of cotton
duck weighing from two to three
pounds to the yard. Paper mills llso
are enormous consumers Of cotton
duck, which they use for driers. The
material frequently runs twelve inches