Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-04-02
/. C..L. HAMMERS SPORTS
MATERIALS FOR ALL LINES
BECOME SCARCE AND COSTLY
'ut Those Who Seek Recreation In
'reht Outdoors Consider Cost AN
slight While Seeking IIcnIth

slight While Seeking IIcnIth.
That tho high cost OF living is not
by amy means confined to food, cloth
ing. paper or gasoline is known only
l" the millions who are active partici-
pants in various outdoor Dustimcs.
with everything on-or nnar--thc
market hitchcd to airships, we must
expect to pay more for our spOrt--and
W" WILL The fellows who keep Il close
TAB on statistics tell us that 81 to-day
goes no farther than Go cents did three
years ago In the purchase Of food
clothing. and il potatoes and onions
'"ht'hu" 10 soar. s. viii look like 30
cents
There have been increases in the cost
OF All articles used in the various
branches Of sport--.xccpting smok"icss
powder and everything that goes with
powder has advanced.
II makes no difference whether YOU
ar" trapshoOtcr. fisherman. golfer,
Hachtsnan. poloist or a tcnnis. squash.
handball. racket or baseball player. you
will hav" To help foot The bill.
IN" Increase in the price of all goods.
as "a rule. has been from 10 to 30 per
cent TIL" reason given for the in
"r"hs" in cost is the scarcity of raw
material and tht cvcr-incrcasing cost
Of labor.
Prices have been mounting up for
NOR" tian a year. and every spor, has
more followers to-day than ii had a
year ago. with the possible exception
81 baseball. While tn" 25-cent scat
has been taboocd in polite baseball so
'letN. this has not injured the sport.
IN" magnatcs aud players by their con-
inucd wrangling and their willingness
!" wash their dirty linen in the news
papers. have caused many persons TO
turn I" other avenues for recreation.
That more persons actively en-
eased in sports than ono year ago is
PROOF that Americans are not only
"p"rt-l"NHne, but ar" willing to pay for
thoir sport. cost appears 10 be :,
secondary consideration.
Materials that enter into the mann
iacture of hascballs have Increased 90
7" 100 per cent. and the balls have ad-
Nanccd from 10 TO 90 per cent. Tennis
balls hay. advanced 70 per cent and
Iolf balls about 80 per cent. Baseball
uniforms have advanced about 80 per
cent. because Of the scarcity Of good
iy" and the high cost Of cloth. Shoes
AIDE especially for use in sporting
events arc high and going higher. and
gloves are almost out Of sight. as far
hs price ls concerned
The fisherman pays about - per cent
inor" for lead sinkers and steel hooks
ana about per cen; more for the
A'n"ll"r incidcntals that he needs.
BiE N-nr for TrnpshootiuE.
y" hunter ana 'rhpShoOtcr pay
about % per cent more for their shells
which isn't very much Increase when
ono bears In mind that copper. brass
Sp"lter, mercury and lead have al
Tanc"d from 900 /" io0 PER cent during
N" past two years y box OF twenty
I've shells that formerly cost 60 cents
now r"tails ~ 90 cents Firearms have
advanced. too rifles bring 80 per cent
more and shotguns - p"r cent more
than they did IA Year or SO ago. Trap
shooting had it's best year in 1916. do
spite tho increase in its cost, and gives
every indication OF doing even better
n 1911.
Football players viii have their inn
ny n"X, rall They viii b. compelled
10 pay more FOR leather head harness.
shoulder pads and for shoes than ever
before.
The increase in tn. cost of articles
~ leather. of course. is directly as
crlb"d TO the war; the tremendous cx
port trade IN shoes. leather and raw
and canned beef. which has cut down
'he supply Of cattle To- an almost alarm
my degree
However. it Us not Tho war that ha /
brought about the increased cost Of
SHAFTS FOR golf clubs--thnt is the type
known as extra selected" always used
for the best clubs The scarcity Of
the best grade "f second growth
hickory has brought about this con
dttion.
In selecting club shafts an average
u' seventy IN every 100 :irst-grade
sticks will b" discarded As OF poor
grain. too "whippy" or not "whippy"
enough The shafts go through three
inspections by EXPERTS bcfor. being
passed This and the increasing scar-
city OF good materials hnv" brough,
about an Increased cost 81 so per cent
for tn" rough unfinished shafts
Persmmon and dogwood are also he.
coming scarcer. and as the ma iority OF
drivers. brassies. spoon and bulldog
heads arc adc from these woods. tho
clubs ar" - per cent higher than
year ago.
The listing" cloth used under the
leather grip ON a club shaft has IN
creased 100 per cent: the glue used IN
setting shafts and in many other
ways In golf club construction has IN
creased nearly 20 per cent: the brass
soles for hrassies cost 90 per cent more
while the pitched" string with which
'hc whipping on the shaft is don. has
increased 81 per cent.
Americans who live in the great out
doors do not consider the cost Of their
recreation They go into il because
they feel that no matter what the pas
time. II induces hcalth-nnd having