El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-03-08
Facts About Thread
MANUFACTURED ON ENORMOUS SCALE

New York is the greatest port, with the
sole exception of Shanghai, for raw
silk in the world. Paterson. New Jersey,
is the principal silk manufacturing CEN
ter in the United States and makes
about one-half of all the products used
in this country.
Silk culture Is carried on extensively
in China and Japan. and from there we
get the most of our raw material OF
the cocoons used, only the perfect spec
linens are converted into the raw ma
terial. the others being put aside to be
later converted into floss silk.
Lace Making.
Thread, both cotton and linen, is
used extensively for lace making, the
former also having a large demand for
use as fish lines. fish nets and for sew
ing shoes Lace making forms an i'm
portant industry in many of the towns
of Europe, and its manufacture is
taught as part Of the school curriculum
Nottingham makes wonderful lace Gus
tains. single pair having cost as high
as $4,000. Hand made lace is always
highly valued, but the demand Tor this
article has increased to such an extent
that a large percent is now turned ont
by machinery. The best Honiton lace,
in the time of president jefferson, was
SO expensive that a veil of finest '.ua.-
ity sometimes brought as much as $4,000
Today similar machine made goods are
so chedI that one can be had fo- two
dollars
A new -nread for weaving purposes
is being 4. ade in Oregon and Cali. mia
"hIs IS 1sGe from "tUII' DC yc.'o~
pine needles, and is used for making
blankets, arctic boots and mattresses
This tree is not a timber" product
in the western sense. and the United
States forest service has encouraged
the industry believing il to be bene-
fetal TO the trees.
The needles are picked in the spring,
and % cents is paid for Zoe pounds
An average days work is about 500
pounds The process of preparing the
needles is somewhat similar to the
manner in which flax is done.
Thread for Weaving
Another thread for weaving has re-
Gently received serious consideration
in Ramie. This is a nettle grass which
grows principally in China where ii is
extensively used for clothing. 1t also
grows in Porto Rico and the Philippine
Islands. This is not only good for
thread, fishing lines and nets, but for
CLOTH It does not rot. 1t will grow
where cotton will, and in places where
even that plant does not thrive 1t is
equally as cheap to produce The most
verting it into thread was degumming
the fiber. but a method has now been
discovered by which it takes but 10
minutes.
The making of thread is considered
to be both easy and pleasant work.
Some OF the manufacturers are trying
TO make the life of their employees as
happy as possible. The work is such
that young girls and boys can readily
10 nd Of h. H110
siderable percent is young people.
In Scotland a school has been erected
where the girls can receive a training
which will enable them TO get ahead in
their work The same has been done
for the boys. A home has also been |
built for girls living at too great a |
distance from the factory Here they !
can board at the lowest possible rate |
under the care of a suitable matron. |
Tennis courts. cricket and football |
grounds are set up for the benefit of |
the young people, and during the year
several excursions are given.
The Making OF Needles.
As a close companion to thread comes |
the needle This is another small ar
ticle which does considerable to in
crease the list OF manufactures in this |
country. Connecticut produces the |
greatest number of these, making about |
200, 100000 each year, their value be- !
ing estimated at approximately over |
one million dollars.
To make a needle requires % pro- |
cesses. Sewing machine needles are /
made in this country. but the ordinary
sewing and darning needles are al |
most entirely made abroad, this country |
receiving about $500 900 worth eacn |
year.
The needle was in use in prehistoric |
times in all places where man clothed !
himself in the skins OF animals or I
woven materials The original variety |
was made Of bone and ivory. and are /
still in use in the present time among /
uncivilized people
TOmO r-OM-I hasa the Harr,nit CT