Arizona republican., 1919-02-20

connection with the use of this Ameri can Egyptian cotton of the Pima va riety, in the manufacture of balloon, airplane and gas mask cloth in which yarn running from No. 50 to no have been used, have resulted in the pro- duction of fabrics which have exceeded the specified requirements, and have equalled in every respect, fabrics made from Sea Island and nearly equalled those made from Sakellaridis Egyptian cotton.
 Believing that a brief description of the development of this remarkable type of cotton will be of practical value to you in your industry, we are suD- hitting herewith a condensed state ment There is also given a brief state ment showing results of spinning and weaving tests which have been made by both the bureau of markets and the war department these tests showing in practical terms the relative value of the American Egyptian cotton. and should you desire additional informa ton we shall be pleased to furnish same upon request.
 Very truly yours.
 CHARLES J. BRAND.
 Chief of Bureau.
 Accompanying the letter is a brief history of the development of Ameri- can Egyptian cotton and a statement regarding the tests which have been carried on with this new variety of cot ton.
 These tests were earned on with America n Egyptian cotton at different times throughout the last two years l with a view toward making the Arizona product better known to the trade world. and they proved conclusively | that the American-E Egyptian cotton of | the Pima strain is a very desirable and practical substitute for Sea Island and | SakelGridis- Egyptian. It is now being used more and more in all fine cotton goods and knitted fabrics requiring the maximum wearing qualities. The prin- | cipal uses in which it has proven its value are automobile tire fabrics, sew | ing thread, fine quality dress goods | knitted fabrics, and, since the war, il has been considerably used in the man. ufacture of airplane, balloon and gas mask cloth.
 During the summer and fall of 191' comparative spinning tests of Ameri- | can Egyptian, Sea Island and Sakellar- idis- s-Egyptina cotton were made at ths ! New btulOTu l ltAllle StuOOi- NtW btu- ford Massachusetts. A series of yarT numbers ranging rom 10 to 100's were made from each variety of cotton. Re suits indicate that the tensile strengtf and other properties were practicall. the same. Bleaching. dvoir7~ and mer cerization tests were also made whicf show that these properties were alst practically equal.
 During the fall of 1917 and spring O 1918, the department of agricultur' made comparative tests of the thre' varieties previously tested. These test were made at the Nashawena Mills New Bedford Massachusetts. primar ily to develop a satisfactory cotton air plane fabric. All of these lots wer' treated practically under the same con ditions in making these tests. Tw' standard fabrics. weighing about fou ounces per square yard. were made, on from 2-60's yarn containing so threat per inch in both warp and filling, ant one from 3.S0's yarn containing 6 thread to the inch in both warp ant filling All of the fabrics made cam within the required specifications is sued by the bureau of aircraft pfoduc ton board, which required a fabric t