The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1838-10-09

sen for discussion the present occasion, IS
somewhat different, and perhaps not so immedi-
ately connected with the object OF this society,
as that Of rearing large cattle, fine sheep, slick
horses, and fat swine, that of ploughingssew-
J ing and harvesting However, the subject which
/ am about to discuss, is of the utmost mpor-
lance, and one Immediately connected with the
Agricultural interest of our State and county.
l hope you will manifest as much patience as
practicable. For few weeks past, have ell
deavored as far as possible, in connection with
my ordinary business, to ascertain the quantity
OF wool produced in Vermont; the quantity me-
cessary for domestic consumption, and the cost
OF wooens necessary for the inhabitants of this
State per annum. aGl
Ipropose to show the amount of wool and
| wooen goods, imported from Foreign countries
into the United States for the year ending Sept.
Both 1886;
To show the probable amount of woollen
goods of foreign production and manufacture,
consumed by the inhabitants of this State;
That if all the wool which shorn from
!, l66,234 Sheep the number stated by the gener-
al list in 1887, would have been sold for all it
would then have sold for at onr dwellings,
1t would but aboutpay for that portion ofimpcrt-
ed wooen goods consumed the past year by the
inhabitants of this State. That if the present
quantity of wool shorn in this State, could be
sold for fifty-cents per pound in cash, further
sum of 100000, would he necessary to furnish
The inhabitants with the necessary woollens for
the year 10 come;
That the present quantity of wool in Vermont
will but about supply the inhabitants for the
coming year;
That capital for manufacturing and mechani-
| cal purposes can be vested in the interior of II
| country with a greater prospect of success than
on the seaboad;
That it is necessary that Vermont should
pursue such policy in relation to her manufac
! turing and mechanical interest as to render her
independent of the sister States is proper for
the United States 20 render themselves ndepen-
dent of foreign governments.
Itappears from the Secretary of the Treas,ir-
| er's annual report of the commence and nav ga-
ton OF the United States for the year ending
Sept. 30th 1886, that there were imported into
the United States from foreign countries, wool
and woollen manufactures to the amount of S24,-
579, 1856, which is the cost Of the goods at The
place from whence imported. To this sum
add sixty five per cent for duties, insurance,
freight tonnage, importers and retailers profits,
which would amount to 15,976925. This sum
added TO the original cost makes DO, $50 681.-
| This is what the wool and wooen goods, flor
| eign growth and manufacture, cost the inhabi-
tants of the United States during the past year.
| Suppose there are Is, 100000 inhabitants in the
United States the cost of woollen goods, OF for
! eign manufactures would amount to more tran
1910 for every individual admitting there 80OO,-
900 ia this State, and that used more than
our proportion of foreign wooens, then the inn
ported woolaen goods cost the inhabitants of this
State $Sf00OO. Gentlemen, be cool, be consid-
crate, ask how are we to pay this enormous
sum, which we must pay this fall '-we have
| had long credit, the importer must have his
pay. Nick Biddle has said that every
farthing of this foreign debt must be paid.
| propose that the farmers Of Vermont agree to
sell our wool at our dwellings TO whonisoever
this debt is due at 33 cents i,er pound. BY the
general list Of inis State for 1887, we then had
/ I,l66,2N sheep, allowing each sheep 10 produce
on average two and hall pounds. we should
I have had 2,9l5 ,5S5 pounds of wool, this at 33cts
per pound amount to 1862, 49, which on this cal
culation would pay the cost of the foreign wool
len goods consumed in this State the past year,
and there would remain 1852, l43, to divide a.
rnong our inhabitants; or shall we adopt another
! plan to pay this great debt due FOR foreign wool
| len goods? IL you of an opinion that wool is
| too low at 33cts per pound, at home, and would
rather keep it for your own use, propose that
we let these creditors have one fifth of our neat
cattle Of two years old and older. BY the gen.
| eral list of 1887, we had 2l9,O21 cattle of two
or more years olds admitting that one fifth Of
them are good beef and fit for Market we should
have for sale 43S04 cattle. This number at
! $50 100 a head at home. would come to $S760SO,
which would pay debt to the mer-
( chants all importers of woollen goods consumed
| the past year and leave balance of $60,0S0.--
Gentlemen, with these facts before us, again
ask what shall be done? ltbeng very hard case
! suppose we dSA IOF a CTSul lOT part ny way VI
compromise, and offer the merchants or i'm
porrers Of Wooen Goods all our horses which
are entered in the list, as worth less than $3.50
10000 horses at $40 piece would pay $780,
600, and the balance we can pay at a future day
when the surplus revenue under the new law
: becomes due this State, which will nearly pay
The balance $4,000. The latter would proba-
bly, be the best bargain, and by it we could
save our wool, beef, pork and butter for other
purposes, or our own use. BY the general list
OF 1886, we then had in this State 900, 900 sheep.
BY the list of 1897 we have y 1867 34 sheep as
| have before stated, produced 2,915 ,585 pounds
of wool. This quantity will be about 2l5585
pounds more than what is absolutely necessary
for the consumption Of The inhabitants of this
State. Now it is my opinion that nine pounds
of wool for each person is ms little as we can do
with--l mean for all purposes for which wool is
used from the mop to the broad cloth coat. If 1
am wrong, gentlemen who have raised up faini-
lies will please correct me. There being 3O0,-