Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1914-12-03
Something About Cotton.

and is the master and the servant OF all
the people. Without cotton not a mod
ern gun could be fired. Cotton is the
basis OF high explosives and ofsmokeless
powder, and the warship carries relatively
more cotton than was used by the frigate
of a century ago with all its sails. The
Hottentot spreads film of cotton cloth
across few poles TO keep out the suns
heat. The arctic explorer pads his duck
suit with cotton and finds il warmer and
lighter than fur.
Ii is evident, therefore, that cotton
touches all the world, and its uses are
manifold. Clothing is only one OF the
many points OF contact Did you ever
comb your hair with cotton comb !?
Yes, you did, for celluloid is nothing but
cotton treated with acids. All those use
full celluloid things would be unheard OF
if it were not for cotton.
Cotton even has it uses in the automo5,
bile. Some OF those soft cushions are
cotton felt covered with more cottolthat
looks like leather. Without cotton there
could be no great office buildings, for
fireproofing would be impracticable.
Besides, il would be too expensive to
get the cement 10 the spot without the
bags that consume 1S0,0O0,00O yards Of
cotton cloth every year. c. T. Revere,
the cotton expert, has drawn up some
interesting figures regarding the use OF
cotton which are referred to here.
Light your pipe and think them over,
but as the smoke rolls up to the enam-
eled ceiling remember that the foundation
of that enamel is cotton and that one SIN
gle company requires million yards OF
cotton cloth to shade tobacco plants grow
ing in Cuba and Florida, and 1900, 600
yards for the little bags in which that
same tobacco goes to the consumer.
The ordinary citizen thinks only Of
sheets and pillow cases and dress goods
when one speaks Of cotton, but such
things are relatively unimportant COM
pared with the vast consumption OF cot
ton for other purposes. The railroads
and trolley lines OF the United States use
more than 250,000 bales OF cotton year
for enameled ceilings, plush chairs. leather
seats and airbrake hose. The automo-
bile consumes about 400,0 900 bales year.
Most of it goes into the cotton duck basis,
which is the essential feature OF the tires,
and the rest goes largely for cushions and
seats.
The largest individual contract for cot
ton goods in the world is the one placed
annually by the greatest Of the harvester
machine companies. 1t calls for millions
of yards OF cotton ducks, the conSump-
ton for ME entire harvesting machine
industry being estimated at above .50,-
10000 yards of duck yearly. In normal
times the New York market alone con-
Sumes 100000 pounds OF yarn weekly for
the electrical industry. II is necessary
for insulation.
Cotton bags have displaced barrels to
a great extent. and few days ago one
ofthe greatest sugar companies announced
that in the future cotton bags would be
used exclusively. With cotton at Is
cents a pound, bags are cheaper than
barrels. II takes about 100000 yards
Of cotton duck annually for coal bags fol-
delivering the coal where chute cannot
be employed Cotton duck is used ex-
tenSively for ventilating chuteS in coal
mines. TarpaulinS have replaced other
covers for flat cars, vans and wagons. In
| South Africa the cotton blanket has driven
out the woolen one.
Fully 100000 yards annually Of cot
ton duck are consumed in the Canadian
northwest for overcoatS, replacing fur.
With padding OF cotton between layers
of duck, these garments are lighter and
warmer than fur Cotton cloth has taken
the place OF wall paper in thousands 81
modern houses. Buckram, made of cot
ton, covers books. Pottery establish
ments use millions OF yards Of army duck
annually for squeezing water out of clay
The government uses 4,000, 900 yards oil
cotton duck per year for coin bags. II
takes 100000 yards OF cotton duck an
nually TO make feed bags TO hang over
the noses OF horses. Duck is used fol-
filtering oils-millions OF yards OF it every
year.
1t takes more than 100000 yards
every year of cotton ducking for rubber
, betting and rubber hose. The same SUBJ
stance is used for stiffening the gauntlets
OF gloves and leggins, tennis and gym
nasium shoes, canopies for shower baths,
where rubber formerly was used, and the
covering oftru7ks and telescopes. About
| 4,000,000 yards annually are used for
draining mines.
Wood pulp paper mills and other paper
mills use cotton duck for drierS. Cotton
drills and duck TO the extent OF millions
OF yards annually are used for wagon
tops, cushions and waterproof coats
Mattresses OF cotton felt rival hair mat
tresses.
This is the age Of cotton. The world
has achieved IFS greatest progress since
Eli Whitney invented the cotton gin.
Eliminate cotton and the mere stoppage
OF spindleS and looms would be but a
trifle compared with the paralysis that
would visit countless other industries.