Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1852-09-09
Is Production of Wool on the Increase ?


This is an important question to the far
mers aud manufacturers. and very impor-
tant to the great mass of people who dwell
IN cities and large towns. Il Is impor-
tant to the farmer as enabling him to make
his calculation for future operations on his
farm-whether he shall plough more or
NOW more-whether be shall produce less
grain, and more grass 10 manufactur-
ers it is Of very great Importance, as It
will determine them whether to continue
business with moderate profits, or shut
down their gates
For six years took the utmost pains
to make myself thoroughly acquainted
with the subject of wool glowing over the
whole globe It is but little after all that
one can learn, even in that time, so scant
everywhere are agricultural statistics
Yet a safe result may be approximated
from the little that is known
There has been no increase in the pro-
duction of wool during the last six wears;
nor will there be for as many wears to
come. If we look to Europe we find that
the imports Of wool into the great nations
of France Great Britain, and Germany,
have steadily increased and we find that
in each. wool growing has reached its ut
most limit The imports Of wool from
Australia for the same t;sle. show but a
very moderate Increase From South
America and the countries bordering upun
the Mediterranean there has been increas-
ed imports, but they have been more the
exhaustion of old stocks than any increase
Of production in those regions. The very
condition of the inhabitants precludes the
possibility of any large increase of focks
or herds In the United States there has
been a very moderate increase. Still
nothing to what we had right to expect
from the natural increase of sheep where
properly cared for was disappointed
in the result of the last census. for it did
seem TO me that upon the most moderate
calculations. we ought to have full thirty
millions Of sheep. and an annual prodUc-
tion of wool to the amount of at least sew
enty-f millions. The annual quantity
of wool, grown is only about iftyfiye mil
lions. The annual consumption Of Sleeps
wool, in the Union, is now about one hun
dred and fifty millions Of pounds, of which
we grow ffty-fve millions, or trihe over
one third. We import in tie staple. about
twenty-five millions, and the balance,
amounting to about sixty millions, is sup
piled 10 Us by the foreign manufacturer Of
cloth The annual increase in demand,
in this country, IS equal to three millions
Of pounds We find one strong evidence
of the over demand for wool, IN the fact
that cloth. both in this cOuutry and abroad
has not Increased in price. while wool has
everywhere advanced. and in this country
there has been established a permanent
rise, equal to ten cents per pound Things
will remain in this State until the profits
to the manufacturer become SO small that
he cannot afford to keep his mill in cper-
alton when he vii stop or put up his pri-
ces The price Of wool carnot materially
decrease. for. as has been shown this year
the competition among bpyers las kept
up prices in the face of a discrimination
Of dealers to keep them down.
The production Of wool cannot matcri-
ally increase for many years 10 come The
great conquest which labor Is rapidly
achieving everywhere over capital, as es-
peclally IN Australia, and fhis country,
operates in two ways against the increase
of wool growing First by creating a
greater demand for better living requir-
ing an additional amount Of animal food
'4-A 2Ss--'+ttAA bT tiEi lil itf1 dLttIlttgA bl
innumerable small sheep E-eeders t7 a
more profitable business thaa raising wool
has heretofore been. The Increase in the
Of animal food In this couu-
try Is immense. and the efforts arc very
sensiblyfeIt throughout the country. Pork
and beef have nearly doubled in value,
which bas led 10 such consumption Of
mutton as to preclude the idea Of any
large increase of sheep for reaching the
great markets are 50 great now. that eve.
ry point Of the union can be easily reach
ed in a short time, so that prices cannot
be very high at one point aud very low at
another for any length of time.
The demand for wool must increase
constantly, while the supply viii as con
stantly decrease. until poiat is reached
that viii set everybody to growing sheep.
We DO not believe there is So profitable
business for the farmers everywhere, at
this time. as wool growing, or one tLat
viii be as permanently profitable
Wool Grower