Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1847-06-11
ube - arnt.
LETTERS ON THE WOOL TRADE.
BY ]. b. MOTT, Esq,
Secretary Of the ". Y. S. Agricul Society.
To WOOl.Growers-.NO. I.


To wool-Growers-.No. 1.
AGRICULTURAL Rooms,
ALBANY, May 25th.
M. SHERWOOD, Esq, President Of the ". Y.
s. Agricultural Society:
NV attention has been drawn to the letter of
UAMlLToy GAY, Esq, of New York, addressed
to the Editors of the Journal OF Commerce, and
published by them on the 2lst.
To the Wool.Growers of New York this let.
Ter is one of deep interest, and should be extern
sively circulated. Mr.. Gay, at great personal
and pecuniary sacrifices, has rendered manifest
those obstacles which stand in the way of
profitable expectation of American wool. Onr
obligations to him are by no means trivial, for
giving notorety to facts, which show most con-
clusvely that it is in the power of the American
woo.grower SO to extend the market Tor nus
staplc, as to give it healthy and reasonable
activity, thus securing to present prices
steadiness and permanency, which they are not
otherwise likely to receive.
It has been more than intmatcd by the man.
ufacturer, that he is DESTROYS of reducing the
prices for the incoming clip some four or I'VE
cents per b. below the prices OF last year. Inc
announcement has produced anxiety and alarm;
but it would seem probable from Mr.. Gays let
ter, that if this is So the exporter will cause the
manufacturer ultimately to regret his selfis',
temeritv. The causes which have chiefly marred
the success of Mr.. Gays experiment. are, IN his
estimation, the uncean condition OF the iceccs,
as they come from the hand of the shepherd. and
the Heterogeneous character of the lots of wool,
as they come from the lofts of the wool collect
or. There is no doubt that he is perfectly cor
rect ia his estimate, and it is equally undonbted
that he might have said. that these same causes
operate inuriously upon the interests OF the
American grower of fine wool, even in his own
market: and unless removed, this department of
agricultural industry will receive a blow rom
which it will with difficulty recover.
1t is, however, too apparent, that neilher the
letter of Mr.. Gay, nor the remarks of any one
else. will have an efficient agency in correcting
the faults of the unwary or the frauds OF the
dishonest. The evils complained Of, can only
be cured by making a radical change in the
mode of conducting the wool business; they
have sprung almost exclusively from this source,
and If it is amended, a cure is certain to follow.
Nor is the change requisite, environed by in
superabe dtficulties--it will at once be secured
bv a hearty. vigorous ard concerted effort on the
part of those whose interests are most deeply
affected: indeed, it is more than certain that the
change has already commenced. Had not in.
spection laws brcuuc deservcdy obsolete, here
would be legitimate field for their operation.
But as it is unwise to revive the absurdties OF a
by-gone aye, we must carefully inquire if we do
not hold in our own hands remedy more effect
i've than any that can be furnished by Legislative
enactments.
Fleece wool is Of such a nature, and the mole
of transmitting to the manufacturer such, that
neither the faults of the wool, nor the frauds of
the shearer can be detected until il reaches the
hands of the stapler. Were it furnished by each
individual farmer in lots so large, that the ex-
pense and trouble of stapling each lot separately
would not be too onerous, it is apparent that
then each lot could be traced to the particular
spot from whence it cime, and self-interest
would soon apply an efficient corrective both to
faults and frauds.
But wool is now collected in small lots from
an immense multitude in way that it is not
possible to trace each lot The collectors for
the most part are unable to discriminate properly
between their different purchases or if able,
have not the wisdom or lberality TO make that
difference in price, which simple justice and
sound policy demand.
So long as the profits on sheep-husbandry
were SO excessive as TO satisfy the most grasp
ing cupidity, men preferred being careful and
honest, to being mean and careless but, after
the profits have fallen to that level, above which
no agricultural business can long continue, it is
not to be wondered at, if a great and rapid de-
terioration takes place in the quality and condi-
ton of the article, since there is no fair and
value.
This brings me to point, not touched upon
ny Mr.. Gay, but one to which it is apparent the
American manufacturer of bruidcloths canno,
be indifferent; and which should be, at any rate
pressed most forcibly upon the notice of the
growers of fine wool.
The present mode of purchasing wool has al
ready had the effect to deterorate the characte
of the tocks over large sections of the country
l.
that there is no adequate discrimination in price
the evil is most seriously felt, and men are il
hot haste to make changes in the character G
their hocks, which they, well as the manufac
turer, will, ere long, it is to be feared, seriousl
lament. The changes now being rapidly made
would soon be complete and irretrievabc, wer
il not that there are some men, who either froI
the magnitude of their clip-or from bushes
connectons-or popularity of stuation--oI som
other cause, deal directly with the manufacture
and not with his factor, and thus obtain price
which bear some sort of relation to the stapler'
estimate of the value of the wool. II it be i'm
portant TO the manufacturer of fine cloth, to pu
a stop to the degradation Of our flocks, he wi
surely see that it can be done only by putin
an end TO the present manner OF conducting tn
wool-trade, and will at once lend his eiiectiv
aid in bringing about result so desirable to tn
prosperity of the American farmer.
As very large proportion of the wool pur
chased by the woo-lactor is obtained from me
who keep but small ilocks, and who have there
fore no character to sustain as ilock-masters
is very apparent from the laws of trade, tina
however bad may be the condition of their woo
unless it is separated in the market from tina
of others, who are truly lock-rnasters, it wi
more or less, according to its quantity mater
ally affect tho price of the other, thouGh a sun,
rior article. To show clearly that am nc
mistaken in this position, allow me to dire,
your attention to the unwashed and filthy WOO
imported last year, costing under 7 cents n,
pound, and its influence in regulating prices.
was shown imported wool, by manufacture
which cost him in the condition it then was
cents per lb, Yet was equal in appearance