Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1845-08-28
THE WOOL GROWER AND THE
MANUFACTURER.

A highly esteemed resIden, of another
country, a wool grower, addresses US the
subjoined letter; which although net writ
ten for publication is nevertheless worthy
the attention Of all interested in this sub
iect.
In abiding to this subject, we have no
desire to discriminate unreasonably be-
tween great practical interests. 1t is be-
cause existing statutes do discriminate to
TO the prejr dice Of the American WOOL
grower, that we urge this question upon
the public consideration. We assume
the letter of President Polk to Mr.
Kane, and desire equal protection Cor all
the great American interests.
The samples alluded to in the letter.
and the difference between the finest wool
of American growth and the South Amer
lean wool that comes in at per cent. duty,
is less obvious to unpracticed eyes than
one would think--may be seen by any one
interested in the subject, at our counting
room.
II am much pleased to sec yon doing
such good battle upon the Wool question.
The manufacturers and their agents, the
whig papers, have so steaely maintained
that the wool imported under the five per
cent, duty, did not compete with the
growth of this country, that they have
nearly succeeded in making the people
believe 1t is so. Indeed, | scarcely meet
a whig, who breads and depends on paper
cr his own party, who does not contend
that il dose not come in competition. When
! show him sample of South American
wool, which was obtained at factory
near by, he will hardly believe me. en-
close YOU a sample Of the wool alluded to.
1t came into the country under the five per
cent duty, and was taken from lot
bought by the manufacturer for fourteen
cents. BY examining 1t, yoa will readily
see that quality is far alb we the average of
the wool grown in this state or Vermont.
This factory works about 100000 lbs of
imported wool, yearly, bnylng no domestic
wool except what they can exchange
cloths for; and yet we have no louder stick
Iers for the tariff as 1t is to protect amw-
icm Industry! No one can doubt their
patriotism or the kind protection they al
ford the farmer. Take care of the man
ufacturers and they will take care of the
wool-grower,' is cant phrose. which has
been used for many years to gull the
wool.grower and the truth orthese prom
Uses is fully eAempIifed in this case The
Expectations Of this year, | am told, al
ready exceed 20,000,0O0 lbs. This we
have from gentleman connected with
the New York Custom House; and in Or
der to introduce the wool under the 5 per
cent dn,y, it is invoiced at its cost on the
mountains, and not at the port from
whence shipped. BY the Census docu-
ment, 1t is shown that in 1919 there was
grown in this country $500, IA lbs. of
wool; and allowing for reasonable in
crease up TO this time, must not the i'm
porta,on of 0,000,000 result in produc-
ing an overstock, consequently depress
the pricel If the manufacturers were to
combine and import 90, 900, 900 yearly, a,
loss of five cents a pound, and thereby
produce an overstock sufficient to re-
dlce the price of the domestic wool to
ten cents pound, they would still gain in
the aggregate from 2 to S4,0O0,0 900
81 see but one course left for the WOOL
grower. They must urge upon Congress
the necessity of placing all wool at the
one rate of duty, or the tariff upon all
goods manufactured of corresponding
quality Of wool to the same ratio. As it is,
the prices Of the farmers wool is reduced
ruinousIy low, while the goods they wear
daily are protected by 40 per cent. du-
ty.