Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1921-01-04
WHY RISK WET FEET?
MAKE SHOES WATERPROOF
Bureau of Chemistry Gives Recipes
for Watcrproofing Footwear That
Will Make il Watcrrcsistant.

Nothing is much more unco1nfort .
able than going about with wet shoes.
yet even the most forehanded are
caught occasionally in storm with
out rubbers and wet feet is their por-
ton, as with those who dislike and
seldom wear overshoes. Although
duhber overshoeS and boots will keep
water out, they also keep the perspi-
ration in. Moreover, they are cold in
winter and hot in summer. For these
reasons, as well as because of their
excessive weight, rubber footwear IS
Objectionable to people; but depend
ence for keeping the feet dry must De
placed on rubber overshoes and boots
or waterproofed leather shoes and
boots. The bureau of chemistry, l..
S. Department Of Agriculture, has re
Gently completed series of expert
ments on the core and use Of leather
and recommends waterproofing the
shoes that are worn in the winter
and spring months.
Not Wholly Water Tight.
Leather shoes and boots, as they
are made nowadays, when treated to
make them water resistant, allow the
entrance Of some water owing prin-
cipally to the difficulty of completely
waterproofing the seams. Such
footwear can not be expected to keep
the feet perfectly dry If worn for a
long time in wet weather, nor will it
take the place of rubber overshoes or
boots for walking in water, slushy
snow, or very soft mud. They are
very satisfactory, however, for pro.
tecting the feet during rain or snow
storms and for use on wet pavements
or wet ground. They also keep the
perspiration in, but are not as OBJ
jectionable as rubber in this respect.
The application of oil or grease to
light-colored or russell darkens it,
more or less, and also makes any
leather more difficult to polish
Where this is Objectionable, only the
soles of the shoes should be water.
PROCEED. The uppers can be made
quite water resistant by the frequent
application Of good wax polish.
The occasional use Of castor oil or
shoe uppers will increase their waite,
| resistance. as we'll as their flexibilit,
and durability. without greatly in
terfering with their being polished
If the oil is applied lightly to tn,
clean. dry shoes and rubbed in unit
the leathere is dry, they moy o.
polished Immediately, although it i.
better to wait until the following
day. II the oil is applied too heavily
it will be difficult to polish he shoe.
and the shine will not last very long
In summer the grease used FOL
waterproofing shoes and boots should
| be harder than that used in winter
Since heavily creased shoes have :
tendency to cause the feet to perspir.
| and swell in hot weather, and Their
is elso less need for the water-resist
| ing shoes in summer than n winter
and spring, it is rarely advisable tt
put as much grease on the shoes a
that time of the year. In summer
the quality of grease used should no
exceed the amount that the leather
will take up without leaving its sur
face greasy In winter, especially /
1t is desired % get the greater water
resistance, a mixture of grease ant
oils thot is not hard when cold is re
CURED: more Of this grease than til,
the leather will absorb may be used
An excess will do no harm and will
make the leather more water rests
tant.
For waterproofing boots and shoes
nothing better than the following
simple formulas is known to the De
partment of Agriculture. While the
department believes that these formu
las do not infringe on any existing
patents or pending applications 70,
patents, 1t can assume no response
bility.
Formula 1:S ounces of neutra
wool grease, ounces dark petrola
tumi and 4 ounces paraffin wax.
Formula 2: 1 pound petrolatum, :
ounces beeswaX.
Formula 3: ounces petrolatum
ounces paraflin wax, A ounces WOO
grease, and ounces crude turpep
tine gum (gum thus).
Formula 4 II ounces tallow and 4
ounces cod oil.
In each case the ingredients of the
mixture should be melted together
by warming them carefully and stir
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