Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1914-04-03

not possess the same qualities of new
wool The fibers are very much
shorter and injured in many ways,
therefore producing an inferior cloth.
While it is unjust that the consumer
should have to pay new wool prices
for shoddy, it is not to be condemned.
With reference to this class of material
the English authority, McLaren, says:
There are few more unreasonable
and foolish prejudices than that
against shoddy, and so far from it be-
ing a term of reproach it should really
be one of praise; for the man who first
brought shoddy into use has conferred
an incalcuable benefit on the world
and enabled millions of persons to be
warmly and cheaply clothed who must
otherwise be suffering with the cold
1t would be as unreasonable to de-
spise paper makers because they use
up linen rags or despise dyers who
use up colors made from coal tar, as
to despise manufacturers who use up
waste wooden rags as shoddy. 1t is
said that 125000 900 pounds of shoddy,
mungo, etc, are manufactured into
cloth every year in England alone. If
this immense quantity were wasted it
is difficult to estimate the increase
which would take place in price of
wool and the consequent dearness of
cloth, but the result would be that
countless persons would be unable to
afford proper clothing"
Flocks are another kind of waste
wool fiber which may be ranked with
shoddy. They are short fibers, gen
orally gigged or sheared from cloth in
finishing rooms, or wooden rags ground
i'll flock cutter. Flocks are an adul-
terant. They are used largely in the
manufacture of low-grade goods.
I. By use Of cheap dye stuffs and in
ferior methods of dyeing and printing
Investment in materials produced by
these methods is one of the greatest
avenues Of waste in textile consump-
ton. AS a rule the cheap prints are
extremely fugitive to light and wash
ing, especially the former. After
couple of weeks of exposure to light
and air the fabrics have lost their at
Effectiveness. Where strict economy
must be observed there is an alterna-
tive in the selection of draperies--
either buy the best prints and pay
from sixty-five cents to one dollar and
twenty-five cents for twenty-four or
twenty-seven inch goods, or buy white
Swiss or neutral colored voille, scrim
or net and pay from fifteen cents to
fifty cents per yard The former is
produced by superior method Of print
ing and with tested dyes. With rare
exception the colors of these prints are
fast to light, they wash satisfactorily
and give the desired color and cheer
fulness to the room, while the latter
class of materials are durable and
please the eye as long as they last. The
time and labor spent in making up
draperies and housefurnishings must
be considered as we'll as the actual cost
in dollars and cents
Importance of Textile Industry.
Though women are the chief con-
sumers, few realize the significance of
the textile industry and the influence
of fashion upon textile production.
In some respects, considered as
whole, the textile industry is the most
important branch of manufactures in
this country. The United States cen
sus report of 1906 ranks the industries
in the order of their Importance, as
follows:
l. Food and kindred products.
2. Iron and steel and products.
3. Textiles and allied industries.
The test of Importance of an indus
try is based upon
l. Extent of employment.
2. Amount paid in wages.
In the number of wage earners en-
ployed the textile and allied industries
is but little below the combined nuro