The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1847-08-27
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From the Chiraso lem 'crai.
Interesting to Wool-Growers.
BUFFALO WooL DEPor, !
July 18th, lSl7. s
UoN. JONI WENTWORTH,

uoN. JONI WENTWORTH,
Dear Sir Having been some
what of a Wool-grower, | have felt,
in common with any man engaged IN
the business, the Importance OF a
system that would enable us TO get
fair price for our wool
The first successful attempt was
made three yeare ago by Mr.. Blanch-
ard at Undertook, at the sugges-
ton and under the patronage OF DR..
Beekman, the then President OF the
New York State Agricultural Socie-
ty. 49,.
The plan of the establishment is,
TO receive the wool from the farmers,
sort it into S kinds, TO enable the
manufacturer to get Just the grade
hcawants. BY SO doing the farmer
gets the fall market value for all
Ills wool Together with some OF
our neighbors, we sent our wool to
him last fall. During the winter
| visited the establishment. From
what saw and hear from the manu-
factuers whom Imet there, | became
satisfied that this was the true way
to sell wool. then made arrange
mcnts to have one opened here to be
conducted upon the same principles.
! opened this depot the first Of June,
as auxiliary to Mr.. Blanchard's and
have been, and am now daily receiv-
ing wool, which is properly sorted
by competent sorter, and as fast as
it accumulates is taken by the manu-
facturer. The charges ale one cent
per pound for receiving, sorting and
selling. The insurance, which is
about 25 cents per 800, for three
months, and interest where advan-
ces are made.
have thus far been enabled to
get from 5 to l0c. more per pound
than could be otherwise obtained,
and, ono reason is, that the manufac-
turcr gets only the particular sort
which he wants, and is not compell-
ed to buy that which he does not
want.
In receiving western wool some
facts have come TO my knowledge
which are important to be known
by all wool-growers in your region.
| received lot of wool from Wis
consin which had been shorn from
flock of sheep driven from Genesee
county in this State some two or
three years since. The flock had
been divided and a part reserved in
the county. The wool from both
branches was brought together at
my depot the other day. The wcs-
tern was dark and had a dirty, bad
appearance the other was as white
as snow. But in sorting | noticed
that the western wool of the same
quality appeared lighter. direct
ed the sorter to select fleeces of
equal quality and weigh them. We
found that the western ranged from
four to seven ounces lighter than the
others averaging about five ounces.
The western sheep were better
kept and the unwashed Accces Of the
same grade were nearly one pound
and half heavier than the unwash-
ed heeces of the sheep here.
This led to further Investigation,
and the result was that the western
wool ofthe same grade, in like con-
dition is actually worth one cent
per Id. more than eastern wool.
| account for it as follows.
The annual burning of the prairie
causes the black dirt which accumu-
lates upon the wool during the sea-
son, and this dust is of an alkaline
nature and becomes minutely blend
ed with the grease and yolk of the
wool. On washing the sheep it forms
"a soap which puriiies the wool TO a
much greater extent than can be
done here, and hence its lightness,
and consequently its increased value.
Several manufacturers who have eX-
amincd the wool side by side, come
to the same conclusion, as to cause,
and real value of the wool.
II is urged against your wool that
it is in bad condition. | think, that
ifwcll washed and put up, 1t should
not bring a less price because of its
color, but rather an increased one
At any rate | would advise growers
TO make no sacrifice on that account.
Very sincerely yoms,
II. &. PETERS.
Prod"ctions Of Tie United States