The Washington herald., 1909-07-14

Secretary OF War Dickinson has in
sructed Brig. Gen. Aleshire. Quartermas-
ter General OF the army. TO send a gen
eral letter to all manufacturers OF cotton
cloth in the country asking them II they
can manufacture a new style OF olive
crab cotton cloth, which will probably be
adopted by the government as a substi-
tute for the khaki cloth now used
The purpose Of the communications IS to
ascertain whether or not, II the cloth IS
adopted. the department can procure suit
able competition in future contracts for
the new cloth.
Color Washes Out.
There has always been considerable
complaint regarding the present khaki
cloth used by the army. In tropical coun-
tries, especially IN the Philippines, where
there are frequent rains. IL has been
found that the dye washes out aud the
color gradually fades. In addition 70
this defect. Il IS heavy and hot 4 ma
jority OF the officers OF the army and
navy enlisted men have preferred 70 use
British KHAKI In their uniforms because Of
its superiority over the American cloth
About year ago a howl was raised by
American manufacturers OF khaki. who
protested against the use OF the British
khaki
The khaki now used Is dyed after weav-
ing. and II is soaked in a chemical solu-
ton 20 set the dye. Experience has
proved. however, that the dye IS not fast
enough for the requirements OF the army.
and some time ago the officers OF the
Quartermaster' department suggested 20
the manufacturers Of khaki cloth that
they experiment in dyeing the cloth IN
the fiber before weaving. Several manu-
facturers adopted this suggestion. and one
Of them. the Massachusetts Cotton Mills.
OF Lowell Mass, has succeeded in manu-
featuring a quality Of cloth which Is far
superior to the one now IN use.
Several other manufacturers. however,
have failed. although they have spent
thousands of dollars. The diflculty IN the
manufacture OF the new cloth Il IN com
biring blue, yellow, and olive dves in the
proper proportion 10 produce the exact
color desired by the department. These
dyes are patented by a German concern.
and the War Department has made ar
rangements with the owners Of the pat
ents by which the successful bidders fOr
future contracts for the new khaki cloth
VIII have the right % buy the dyes from
the company az the prices az which they
are sold 10 other consumers
Only One Bidder.
There Is pending before the department
a contract for S25.000 yards OF the new
cloth. which VIII not be awarded until
Secretary Dickinson has received replies
70 hFc letters - eLa ,-.-s-.-.- --.+--- -.
facturers. When bids were opened sew
eral weeks ago for furnishing this amount
OF the new cloth there was only one bid
der, the Massachusetts, Cotton NILS.
which offered 10 suppy the khaki az .
cents a yard
One 0f the manufacturers OF the cloth
now used protested against an award OF
the contract on the ground that only one
company could manufacture the cloth
The replies 70 the Qusrtermaster Generals
letter VIII demonstrate whether or not the
Massachusetts Cotton Mills can maintain
a monopoly in the manufacture Of the
new khaki
There is no reason. IN the opinion OF
officers Of the Quartermaster Cenersl's
Office. why other cotton manufacturers
cannot make the new cloth as advantage
oUSIy as the Massachusetts Cotton Mills
The new khaki has several important
advantages over the cloth now used Il
Is several shades darker IN color, Il IS
slightly cheaper, its color does not fade,
and u IS ten ounces per uniform lighter
IN weight IN addition. the process OF
dyeing the fiber before weaving. produces
a garment much cooler than the oId-style
khaki The fixing bath was composed Of /
silicste OF iron. which filled the inter-
stces between the threads and made the /
cloth heavier