The Lubbock avalanche. (Lubbock, Tex.) 1909-1922, 1920-02-05


war this same grade was selling at
from 10 cents TO | 3 cents a pound.
With the wool clipped and baled
canes the next factor in the game, TO
push the ball along for further ac"
emulation of expense. ms ~ the
dealer or his representative, who mas
his place of business in 81. LOUIS
Kansas City, Chicago or some otner
primary Western market He pius
for the raiser's wool and II success
ful in acquiring it, ships Il to ms
HEADQUARTERS, TO hold for the Eastern
broker or mill buyer 10 purchase.
Expenses of this first dealer are hrs
travelling costs, freight TO the pri-
mary market, overhead and business
outlay. and finally he adds 10 the
cost Of the wool by the Margin OF
profit he can secure in passing "
along to the next hand. This second
handling will add anywhere from z
cents to 8 cents TO the cost per
pound
The third stage Of the movement
from farm 10 consumer IS in the form
Of very suave and alert person,
versed TO the minute IN crop and mar
ket conditions, who represents an
Eastern mill or wool broker or deal
.er He drives a shrewd bargain. less
shrewd in these days Of limitless de-
mand than in former times OF com
petition. but invariably gets the wool
and starts il on its way to Boston or
some other center Of the wooden m
dustry in New England. Through his
activities the SNOWFALL has grown stiil
larger. through added expense OF
freight. commissions. shrlnkage N
transit. drayage and the inevitable
and unavoidable overhead, word
covering a multitude and represent
ing the cost of doing business not
specifically described IN other items
Of expense.
Bv this time the pound Of Western
fleece has reached the point where
il viii be converted 60 useful pur-
noses. and It's strands still closer APP
prorimate in value the golden fleece
Of mythology. II i rs IN possession
Of dealer or broker, IL remains N
storage until passing TO The mil, pu'
II the purchase IN the West has been
bv mill representative. Il Is consign-
ed direct 20 the company's plant
/ Just at this point the greatest
single push in the direction Of cost
accumulation Is given. for three
pounds are cut TO one pound m tht
nrocess Of cleaning. carding and
curing. So that the original pound
costing so cents. now represents
lSlbO, with all the cost Of handling
/ lacked on besides Small wonder
then. that the wearer Of suits ane
overcoats has cause 10 groan. Bu'
save some breath TO groan later on
for the worst is yet to come.
INHALED from its rural wrapplngs
the wool passes into the hands OF ex
merit graders and sorters Qualit,
depends on fluences and the Length
of staples. The greater the length
Of the staple the greater value foi
weaeving prime cloths. This rs eN
pensive labor, and its employment
augments still further the volume o.
cost surrounding the pound OF wool
! Following the sorter come the scour
er and the dryer, workmen perform
ing an important, but costly task
as they are to blame for the great
est loss of weight suffered in tn
entire process.
Need of haste in getting on
goods has resulted in present prac
tees in the washing and drying de
partment. Methods now in use rol
the wool Of valuable and strength
giving natural oils, leaving more o
less brittle fiber, which yields undo
hard wear. In olden days woolel
garments lasted years, for the reasol
| that the wool was cured with care
time and sunshine, instead OF chemi
Gals, artificial heat and haste. IN
Navajo blankets, noted for their m
destructible qualities. are made tror
wool sheared by the Indians and cur
ed so as to leave intact the oils an
ingredients which nature provides
and which are sluiced out in the bath
Of modern milling institutions.
Next comes the carder, who comb
the wool into a white mist OF fluf'
ready 10 run through the great spin
ming machines, descendants OF IN
spinning wheels and hand splndles Q
our ancestors Tribute IA paid N IN
form Of pay for service 20 each
these sets OF laborers a. also 10 thos
In the colossal rooms where are u
Gated the complicated weaving 81
glnes, capable ~ turning out thou
ands ~ yards 81 finished cloth dsil'
And a i not only the lahofru W
actually touch the wool that must D
counted In the reckoning. There an
staffs ~ hlgh.psId designers who a
|flnala he muliliudlnos< pattern
maehlalsls. mechanics. waishmsn an