The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1917-09-04
DEALERSHERE
REAPHARVEST
AS OFFICERS
BUY FOR WAR
City Now One of Nations Prin-
cipaI Markets for Army and
Navy Uniforms-Business In
creased by Half Million.
By BILL PRICE.

D1 DILL Il NUE.
Washington has become one Of
the principal markets of the nation
for army and navy uniforms and
the extensive equipment which each
officer of the fighting departments
of the Government must have.
Mems furnishing houses dealing
in these lines, tailors, leather mer-
chants, and kindred concerns have
never been so busy in the history
Of their existence in this city. For
several months the rush has been
similar to that preceding the
Christmas holidays, with extra
statesmen and workers employed in
large numbers.
House Doubles Business.
One large furnishing house, which
handles practically all the equipment
army officers need. has doubled its
business over that OF last August
and the normal business Is one of the
largest in Washington This is true
OF a number Of Washington houses.
The army and navy equipment
business is centering toward WASH
tngton for many reasons, business
men said today. To begin with.
Washington. 80 long the center OF
army and navy activities, understands
what pleases the officers OF the Diff
ferent branches OF the armed service.
It has long catered TO them and given
thorough Subtraction Army and navy
officers almost uniformly assert that
they obtain here more satisfactory
results than in any other city of the
ooun.ry-In price. Mt, style, and the
true Boldierly appearance of the
Foods obtained. Because OF this
wanted, Washington IL developing .
businsss extending IN many direc-
lions, receiving orders from all parts
q The country.
Haf MIIIiOR Increase.
~ has bean estimated In one
U1resF mat more than half = mill
6oa dollars has gone into Washing
e1a 6usinSss houses In the last three
q four months from business done
Wech army and navy officers above
ne usual, and this does not include
money spent In hotels, boarding
AooSea, and In general lines of mer.
OAntils Life.
TnS equipment Of an army officer
runs IN cost anywhere from $50 to
$500, depending upon how much he
wishes to spend He must have two
service uniforms and one dress uni
FORM two service hats and a dress
AA+ two pairs Of shoes and a pair
q boots puttees, service shirts, In
dsnta OF rank, sword, binoculars and
services revolver. He IS able TO OBJ
tain his revolver through the army,
but everything else he must buy like
any ordinary citizen. It Is an expen-
ave thing to become an army officer.
He can buy most OF his equipment
ready made or he can increase the
expense Of uniforms by having them
made by tailors. Friends often pre-
sent him with binoculars or sword.
Leather leggings, or puttees, cost
from so to SIS a pair. and II is esti-
mated that the scarce leather supply
OF the country will be greatly les
sened by the use OF puttees. Army
OFFICIALS have been giving serious
thought to some substitute for leath-
er puttees, but have made no prog
ress in that direction.
Washington Laundries Criticized.
Navy officers who are required to
wear white duck uniforms are ind
ing fault with the prices charged by
Washington laundries for laundering
these uniforms. They say that their