Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-01-08
WAR AFFECTS AMERICAN RUG MARKET
D.
ny FREDERIC ). HASH

NSliINtiTON. January 7.-Among
o'hcr necessities that have been showed
up into the class OF Iuxurics recently
81 rugs WOODEN rugs. cotton rugs
even the lowly linolcum OF the kitchen
are all commanding cAorbitnnt prices
ana as a consequent many Americun
homes arc exhibiting bare floors this
season. II is the war again of course
Russ which formerly came to US I'm
abundance from Europe and Asia are
now being turned into blankets and
uniforms for the soldiers. while our
own American factories arc being be-
s,cEed with orders from Canada and
South America
The demand FOR American rugs is
tremendous. and American rug manu-
facturcrs arc waxing PROSPEROUS
They arc also irritutcd. Foi tho mar
which has brought dcarth in rugs
has also brought a dearth In rug ma
,ter'als. Wool Is extremely scarce
worsted wool being practically unat-
tainabi": cotton * higher priced than
II ever has been before and dyestuIs
OF course. are both scarce and un-
reliable. Precisely as in the case of
foodstuns. the low supply of materials
and the sudden accelerated demand
nave sent tho price Of rugs and carpets
soaring. but there is one other similar
clement Many manufacturers. il is
reported. arc holding on to their
products To sec what thr future may
bring forth in the way OF advanced
prices.
Tho customer who orders a rug from
these children may furnish his own ma
t"rials. or specify those that lie desires
10 be used. In New York city thcr.
is an institution known as Lighthouse
No. !. where tho blind arc taught tho
art Of rug weaving. They also make
porticrcs. curtains. table scnrfs. squares
and cushions. and everything is done
with an expert cXactncss achieved only
by the superior touch Of the blind.
thlnehc Rugs Are Popular.
The public has also recently been
h"urishine another weapon They
have in many cases hoycotted Ain.ri-
van manufacturers and have trans +.
tered their patronage to the Chinese
Chinese rugs have become very popuiat
during tho past year. As soon as Il,
Was evident that the rug-weaving IN.
dustrt"S OF Persia aud Asia Minor
were crippled BY the general chaos re.
sul,in2 from the war. our almond ycd
brothers Immediately began 10 filter
into New York. bringing with them
gay carpets bearing fierce dragons and
resigned little Bhuddas and weird af-
fairs rcs.mblin. trees Now tn.
Chimes" rug is a familiar sight IN al
most every American household. along
with few nca, little pots OF Chinese
inc"ns" and Z chimes" tea service Tho
curious fact Is. however. that . !ars,
Pi'p'' '''4 ~ 'h'St ' HIu'Sc rugs arc
made in New England Tho Americas
tnanufa cturcrs welcomed the aerco
dragon and the resigned little Bhuddi.
"nthusia Stically. and have been using
them ever since with skilifui Yanke.
imitation. Persian and Turkish rugs
have been equally we'll initiated and
nov tho only Oriental thing abou,
many oriental rugs il their prices
\, tile sam" tim" that til. Chin. 80
russ began t. appear IN such great
numbers. 4 demand arose for tho In
dian Naval" rugs. made b. the Navajo
Indians On til" government reservation
situated In Ne" MeAi.o and Arizona
No other rug compete with the
Navajo III tho matter 81 durability So