The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1847-04-13
LETTERS ON THE
WOOL TRADE.
BY J. b. MOTT, ESQ,
Secrttrory ofhe NY.S. AgriculturalSociety.
TO WOOL-GROWERS-NO.
Ely J. b. MOTT, ESQ,

Secretr0ry ofAe " US. AgriculturalSOciety.
TO WOOL.GRoWERS-NO. /.
AGRICULTURAL Rooms,
ALBANY. May 25ih.
J. NJ. SHERWOOD, Esq, President Of The n.
Y S. Agricultural Society:
My attention has been drawn to the letter
OF Hamilton Gay, Esq, OF New York, ad-
dressed 10 the Editors OF The Journal of Com
merce and published by Them ON the 2lsi.
To the Wool-Growcrs of New York this
letter is one Of deep interest, aud should be
extensively circulated. Mr.. Gay, a: great
personal and pecuniary sacrifices, has render
cd manifest those obstacles which stand in
the way Of a profitable expectation Of Ameri-
can wool. Our Obligations to him are by 10
means trivial. for giving nOtOriety TO facts.
winch show most couclusivcly that il is in the
power of the American wool grower so to ex-
tend the market for his staple, as 10 give il -
healthy and reasonable activity.-thus secur
ms TO present prices a steadiness and perma-
nency, which they are not otherwise likely TO
receive.
1t has been more than intimaied by the
manufacturer, that he is DESTROYS Of reducing
the prices for the incoming clip. some four
or five cents per lib. below the prices Of las,
year. The announcement has produced anx-
iety and alarm but it would seem probable
from MIR. Gays that il this is so, the exporter
will cause the manufacturer ultimately 10 re-
greet his selfish temerity. The Causes which
have chiefly married the success of Mr. GAYS
experiment, arc, in his estimation, tho unclean
condition Of the fleeces, as they come from
the hand of the shepherd, and the heterose-
neous character Of the lots of wool, as they
come from the lofts Of the wool collector
There is no doubt that he is perfectly correct
in his estimate. aud it is equally undoubted
that he might have said. that these same
causes operated injuriously upon the interests
of the American grower OF fine wool, even in
his own market; and unless removed this
department of agricultural industry, will re-
ceive blow from which il will with difficulty
recover.
II is. however, too apparent, that neither
the letters of Mr.. Gay, nor the remarks of any
one else. will have an efficient agency in cor
recting the faults Of the unwary or rhe frauds
of the dishonest. The evils complained of,
can only be cured by making radical change
in the mode Of conducting the DOL business;
they have sprung almost exclusively from
lnis sOuICf, duu " u is dineuucu, cure is
certain 10 follow.
Nor is the change requisite, enrironed by
insuperable difficulties-it will q: once be Sc
cured by a hearty, vigorous and 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 inspection laws be-
come deservedly obsolete, here would be
Legitimate field for their operation. But at il
i, unwise 10 revive the absudities of a by gone
age, we must carefully enquire five do not
hold in our own hands remedy more effect
i've than any that can be furnished by legis-
lauve enactments.
Fleece wool is of such nature. and the
mode of transmitting TO the manufacturer
such, that neither the faults Of the wool, nor
the frauds OF the shearer can be detected un-
I'll it reaches the hands of the stapler. Were
II furnished by each individual farmer in lots
SO large, that the expense and trouble Of sIa-
pling each lot separately would not be too
Onerous, it is apparent that then each LOT
could be traced TO the particular spot from
whence il came. 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 IL
is not possible 10 trace each lot. The collec-
tors for the most part are unable 10 diScrimin-
ate properly between their different purchas-
es. or if able, have not the wisdom or liberal
ity 10 make that difference in the price, which
simple justice and sound policy demand.
So long as the profits on sheeP-husbandry
were so excessive as TO satisfy the most
giasping cupidity, men preferred being care
full and honest, TO being mean and careless;
but, after the profits have fallen 10 that level
above which no agricultural business can
long continue, it is not to be wondered at. if
great and rapid deterioration takes place in
the quality and condition of the article, since
there is no fair and equitable discrimination.
made in its market value.
This brings me TO point. not touched up
on by MIR. Gay but one TO which il is appa
rent the American manufacturer of broad
cloths cannot be Indifferent; and which
should be, at any rate, pressed must forcibly
upon the notice of the growers of fine wool.
The present mode of purchasing wool has
already had the effect TO deterorate The CHAR
acter of the focks over large sections Of the
country. There is now an almost universal
complaint. that there is 40 adequate discrim
inauon 10 price, the evil IS most seriously
felt. and men are in hot haste 10 make chang
es IN the character of their fiocks, which
they, as well as the manufactures, will, ere
long, it is to be feared, seriously cement. The
changes now being rapidly made, would soon
be complete and irretrievable, ere il not that
there are some men, who eiIherlrom the mag
ni'ude of their clp-or form business con-
nections-orpecuIarity olsiiuation-or some
other cause, deal directly with the manufac-
tuIer and not with his factor, and thus obtain
prices which bear some sort of relation TO the
StaPler's estimate of the value Of The WOOL
IL oe important to the manufacturer vi fine
c'otn 10 puta stop to the degradations Of our
hooks, he will surely see that it can be done
only ny putting an cnd to the present manner
oil conducting the wool trade, and will at
once lend his effective aid in bringing about
result SO desirable TO the prosperity Of the
American farmer.