Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1847-06-10

same sheep, and every way q lot oil wool
similar to the wool of last year. lie
has driven from one end of the street to
the other and has been offered only
twenty four cents per pound. The
market is not formed. What will he do
He needs the money; must he submit
TO this sacrifice, or had he not better do
as have done, and employ commits
sion merchant
Will this system give 10 the farmer
the highest market price for his wool ?
Does the old one secure to the farmer
the highest market price? Let the far
mers of Western New-York who refus-
ed thirty-four cents for their wool, and
afterwards took thiity-one, or have their
clip yet on hand, answer this question.
The market price of wool like that of
every other commodity, is constantly
varying. The farmer is the last man,
speaking of them generally, 10 keep him
self well advised of the fluctuations of
the wool market. But allowing that he
does, is his position such and his wool
such commodity that he can with
promptness avail himself of every favora
bic change in the market? In ninety
nine cases out OF hundred certainly not.
But if this wool is lying in the ware
house of a man who knows all about the
fluctuations of the market, and who con-
tributes his full quota Of influence in
fixing prices. and who is daily receiving
orders for wool there it is in position
most favorable for receiving the full ben
eft of any sudden impulse given to pri-
ces. IL farmers have been injured by
the old system-manufacture have not
always been benefited. enquired the
other day of wool slapler when GER
tain factory would buy their wool The
answer was, "they will lay in their stock
whenever they can buy it best" Guild
ed by this very wise sac, factory laid
in two years supply of wool, and by
the shrewd operation lost s 25, 900.
presume they are not alone in their
misery, for, as the wool market has been
generally recediDg one, every factory
that has been equally sharp has met
with similar rebuke. 1t is, therefore,
to the mutual advantage of the farmer
and manufacturer, that the wool should
remain in first hants. The one, that he
may buy only as he wants, the other
that he may be benefited by any in
creased demand.
Neither the farmer nor the manufac-
turer has any right to lay aside their le-
climate business and become specula-
tors.
| do not mean that they have no NOR
al right, but that if they do so, they will
violate laws, which l am sorry to say,
many Of they obey more rigidly than
they do moral laws, the laws of legiti-
mate business, and yet il is done by both.
The one who buys, not TO supply the
actual demand of his factory, but in ODE
dience to the principles of buying when
he can buy best. The other, when he
seeks not merely for fair and remunera-
ting, but exorbtant prices. In small
way it is wise maxim, that he who
buys thing, not because he wants it,
but because it is cheap, is apt to find in
the end that it is dear at any price. fit
does not apply to the large operations of
men of business it must be very strange.
At all events, both farmers and manu-
facturers may be assured that we live in
times when it may be SD fely ayerred that
he will thrive best who best understands
the theory of the nimble nine pence.
The farmer will feel skittish at the
idea of adopting such an arrangement,
so completely at variance with the usual
mode in which he disposes of his other
farm products, but he must remember
that his hay, grain, butter, cheese, &c,
are consumed every where, and by eve
ny body, and therefore, he may well do
his own marketing. But wool is COM
modify used only by the manufacturer,
and both are so situated that they can
not come together at the right time, if
at all; hence, the necessity of third
man between them, whose business it
should be to do for each what neither
can do SO we'll themselves.
Perhaps a sound and searching anaIy-
sis Of this subject would show that it
VIC uld be much for the interest of the
community if all business was carried on
upon this principle; under better state
of security such would be the CASE
The merchant is of necessity a specula-
tor; he runs risks, although in theory
he only regulates the exchanges between
the producer and consumer. This &C.
cupation Is lottery, in which some draw
prizes, few magnificent ones. The
great majority, however, only accumu.
late sorrow and disappointment; al least
such is the melancholy testimony of the
commercial statistics of every metropo-
lis of business.
You may say TO me that YOU deal
directly with the manufacturer, and
therefore the plan proposed will not af-
'eci you. l answer you and other flock
masters who are in the same situation,
the manufacturers with whom YOU deal
are call honorable men :" nevertheless
these men who are consuming their five
or ten hundred thousand pounds of wool
annually, would not be troubled even
with your insignificant clip of eight hun
dred or u thousand pounds. if they were