Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 214, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 September 1918 — Buttons and the War. [ARTICLE]

Buttons and the War.

Buttons are not generally regarded as one of the great articles of commerce, yet a report? issued by the federal tariff commission presents some astonishing figures regarding the magnitude of the button industry and the capital invested therein. There are more than 500 buttonmanufacturing establishments in thia country, representing a capital of approximately $20,000,000 and an annual payroll of $8,000,000. The annual value of the products is more than $20,000,000. New York has almost half the factories, but the middle West supplies most of the fresh-water pearl. The war has put up the price of buttons, owing to the advance in the cost of metals used in button manufacture, and the increased price of celluloid sheets and all subsidiary raw materials, such as dyes, chalk, acids and canvas. It Is interesting to learn that the war has stimulated the business in this country and has led to the manufacture of glass buttons, which former’ ly were imported—another instance qf beating Germany at its own game.