The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1846-06-20
Agricultural.
The Wool Market.

The Boston Courier anticipates some re.
duction in the price ofthe new wool clip. In
other quarters we have seen similar iudica-
tons, and the grounds for this anticipation
we will state. The first is, the great increase
in the amount ofwool produced. The report
of the Commissioner of Patents shows that IN
1886 the total amount OF wool in the country
was 81 millions of pound, and estimates that
the increase otflocks lat Is per cent per uii-
NUM- will this year give l23 l-2 millions OF
pounds, exclusive OF foreign wool. The sec
ond ground is, the fear of manufacturers that
the Gnrftwill be modified; and the third is,
the tghtness oi'the money market, accustomed
mainly by tire policy of the Polk Administru-
ton in reference to the Tariff, the Sub Treas
ury, and the relations Of the United States
with Great Britain and Mexico. The first,
cause-to wit the large increase of produc-
tion-is met by the fact that under the Tariff
OF ~, and by the increased demand for wool
ems by our rapidly increasing population, the
manufactures of wool have been largely ex-
tended 1t is ON this ground that we can ac-
count for the fact that wool has so well main
tuined its price down to this time, in the face
OF vastly Increased production at home and
large lmportutions from abroad. That the
time may come when the production of wool
VIII exceed the quantity required for con-
sumption, is true enoueh--but we cannot be-
lleve, without strong evidence, that this era is
to be introduced simultaneously with the
wool clip otlSi6. The buyers may be ready
to preach this new faith which so well ac-
cords with their interest; hut we do not vet
see good grounds for It. The other causes
mentioned are Ubviously true: every body I'M
derstands that the Tariffs threatened-that
a. II
Great Britain is not impossible aud that CAPT
talists are timd and give new twist TO their
purse strings as each unfavorable rumor
that meets their ears.
Such are the fruits of Folks policy-of Lo-
cotocosm; and it is not TO he disguised that
they may, and in all probability will, work to
the injury ofth wool growers, unless the
Government shall seasonably relax its war
upon the Tariff, and its other mischievous
measures. We have hopes that it will do so.
The vast military expenditures (say Hiiriy mil
lionS!9 required this year, would seem to leave
no excuse for touching the Tariff; and we al
most fiatter ourselves that the Locos will not
dare either to repeal the Tariff or pass the
Sub-Treasury.
Then as to Great Britain: all at once the ar-
dor for The ,choie of Oregon has been strange
ly cooled, and even the Locoioco committees
VI IDOth VI OOHSTtSS nave TeCOUlTleU-
ded the postponement ofthe bill for the occu-
patton of Oregon, until the next session! 1t
is astonishing to see how suddenly the in
tense zeal and valor ofthese immediate occu-
pationists yielded, when it was found that war
had really come-even war with one of the
weakest ofthe nations of the earth. What
would these fellows do, if England were to
take them at their word, so loudly and boldly
given three months ago, and now so sudden
ly and quietly Withdrawn? A
On the whole, we advise the wool growers
not to be too easily disheartened, nor to yield
very readily to any serious reduction ofprices.
The times appear somewhat unfavorable now
yet we have named some signs of amend
ment. If however, Congress comes boldly
up to the work of carrying out the policy of
the President, as indicated in the winter, the
wool growers must expect to suffer-Hatch-