IMPROVED COTTON AIRPLANE FABRIC. 7 
MILL TESTS. 
It was to improve upon the quality of the fabric produced by using 
the above specifications as guides and to determine the most suitable 
cotton for airplane purposes that the Bureau of Markets made the 
tests herein described. Inspection trips were made to various air- 
plane factories by experts of the Bureau of Markets and the Bureau 
of Standards to obtain first-hand information as to the requirements 
of airplane fabrics. 
VARIETIES OF COTTON TESTED. 
Meanwhile representatives of the Bureau of Markets selected for 
the manufacturing tests 3 5 bales of American Egyptian cotton of the 
Pima variety No. 1 or fancy in grade, If -inch staple ; 5 bales of Sea 
Island cotton of l T Vinch staple — 1 bale No. 1 or fancy, 2 bales No. 
2 or extra choice, and 2 bales No. 3 or choice, in grade ; and 4 bales of 
Sakellaridis Egyptian cotton — 2 bales of high grade and 2 bales of a 
lower grade, l T %-inch staple. 
These tests were made with the view of obtaining immediate re- 
sults that could be made available during the war, consequently com- 
plete tests on all three varieties of cotton were not attempted, such 
tests only being made as appeared to promise immediate and im- 
portant results. 
MECHANICAL CONDITIONS AT THE MILL. 
Throughout the tests, particular care was taken to keep the differ- 
ent lots separate each from the other and to prevent any mixture of 
the experimental stock with the mill stock. Certain machines were 
assigned to the testing force, and these machines were used in all the 
tests so that no mechanical differences could affe"ct the final results. 
The organization, speeds, and settings used remained practically con- 
stant throughout these tests, except for slight changes in the roll 
settings in the various machines made necessary by the length of 
staple of the American Egyptian cotton, which was one-eighth inch 
longer than" that of the other cottons. A readjustment of the comber 
settings was made in order to equalize the amount of waste discarded 
from the American-Egyptian, Sea Island, and the high grade Sakel- 
3 These tests were conducted at mills in New Bedford, Mass., through the courtesy of 
Mr. William Whitman, president of the mills. .111 possible assistance was given to facili- 
tate the work by Mr. J. L. Burton, agent ; Mr. J. T. Kirk, superintendent ; and Mr. Nield, 
assistant superintendent of the mills, and the splendid cooperation which was given is 
acknowledged and appreciated. The actual tests were conducted by Messrs. W. S. Dean, 
C. E. Coburn, G. H. Anderson. R. V. Hellams, C. E. Killingsworth, and H. B. Richardson, 
under the general direction of Mr. Fred Taylor, of the Bureau of Markets, Department of 
Agriculture. 
