Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 232, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 October 1917 — Simple Tests of Value in Telling Whether Goods Is “All Wool and Yard Wide.” [ARTICLE]

Simple Tests of Value in Telling Whether Goods Is “All Wool and Yard Wide.”

The laws of the country at present offer no protection to the purchaser of textile materials. If the price of “all wool, a yard wide” goods Is paid and later it 4s found that the material is half cotton, there is nothing left for the purchaser to do but to enter It as “loss” in her profit and loss account. To be sure there are any number of stores where the dealers are truthful about the textile niaterlals handled, but nevertheless a knowledge of a few simple tests may not come amiss, writes Beryl Dixon of the Colorado Agricultural college. Sometimes sleazy, thin cotton material is made to look quite firm and attractive by the use of sizing or dressing. By rubbing a corner between the thumb and finger, the sizing is removed and the real quality of the material is apparent. In very thin materials the sizing may be detected by holding the cloth to the light. The starch will show between the threads. An examination of the raveled warp and woof threads will often appear fuzzy. Linen fibers are long, and consequently broken ends of linen threads are more pointed than those of cotton. Cotton material feels warmer than linen. Somewoolen materials are “made" over” that is, old woolen rags and short, broken fibers, and the clippings from broadcloth are used in its manufacture. Sometimes this can be detected by unraveling the end. The short fibers are loosened and fall out.