ax--$.12 to $.30 per pound; loss in cleaning and bleaching about
20 per cent.

Wool--$.15 to $.30 per pound; loss in scouring 20 to 60 per cent.

Raw Silk--$7.00 to $10.00 per pound; loss in "boiling off" about 30
per cent which is made up and much more by "loading."

MODERN METHODS

All the complex processes and machinery of the textile industry are but
developments of the old-time methods of the home. Brief outlines only
will be given here for the processes are most intricate in detail.

SPINNING

The spinning of cotton yarn (thread) is typical of all the fibers. The
stages may be divided into--

1. Opening and picking.
2. Carding.
3. Combing.
4. Drawing.
5. Spinning.

[Sidenote: Picking and Carding]

The picking and carding have for their object the removal of all foreign
substances with as little damage to the fiber as possible. The foreign
substances in cotton are sand, dirt, pieces of leaves, seed, husk, etc.,
which have become mixed with the fiber during the process of growing,
ginning and transportation.

[Sidenote: Cleaning]

The cotton bales are opened and thrown into the automatic feeder which
carries up a layer of cotton on a spiked apron from which it is removed
by a rapidly revolving "doffer" underneath which is a screen which
catches some of the dirt. It is next fed between rolls in front of a
rapidly revolving blunt-edged knife which throws out more of the dirt
through a screen. There is a suction of air through the screen which
helps remove the foreign substances. The cotton passes through several
of such machines, being formed into a soft web or "lap" which is wound
into a roll.

[Sidenote: Carding]

The carding machine further cleans the fibers and lays them in a general
parallel position. From this machine the web is formed into "sliver," a
loose rope of cotton fiber about two inches in diameter. This is
received in circular cans.

[Illustration: COTTON OPENER AND PICKER

The cotton from the bale is thrown into _A_, carried by the spiked
aprons _B_ and _C_, evened by _E_, removed from the apron by _F_ (some
of the dirt falls through the screen into box _G_) is beaten by the
revolving "knife," _N P_, more dirt being removed through screen _N_,
then goes through the flue _C_ to the next machine.]

[Sidenote: Combing]

The combing is omitted for short fiber cotton, but is used in worsted
spinning and with long staple cotton to remove the short