Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1855-05-03
farmers Depurmsnt.



the hopes Of the husbandman. and the light that
has lent is cheer, 70 nerve his steps and steady
and guide his course, wAnes and hickers. BE
At times is tempted 70 abandon his long cher
ished plans and hy 10 other occupations. The
American wool grower feels and believes that
be is nov passing one Of those ordeAla which
challenges bis utmost faith. IN the merits and
value Of bis business, over other farm pursuits.
Now the question arisss. ls there any thing
real IA This state Of feeling or Is it imaginau.-
In reply We aver that imagination has much To
do with The wool growers belief. that the
prices offered for wool during the last six
months are unprecedented, and Ear from remu.
nerative-that unless higher price be speed
ily fixed and paid, ruin Is sure 70 oVertake him.
A greater mistake could scarcely occur. Ia
the spring Of '5S, good woods brought ahigher
price than they mad done for ten years. Wool
growers became slaled and cherished the hope
that corresponding prices would continue TO
rule. Our opinion Is, that in modified sense.
this would have been the case had not our
country been speedily visited by severe 6nan-
cial crisis, which makes money dear and diff
cult to be obtained, and greatly tends 10 de-
press prices.
/
cents per pound for WOOL over the previous
year, was easy. TO submit,in in "a, to q reduc.
ton Of 10 and Is cents per pound was hard.
Here is the rub. Had there been no advance
in '53, every wool grower in the Union would
have considered himself fortunate during the
present severe commercial crisis, to have re-
ceived several cents less for bis wool than he
has, or could have taken, during the last six
months. The only wonder with us has been,
that woods have bro't what they have even,
considering that state Of the money market for
the last few months, That they are intrinsi-
cslly worth more than they bring. we verify be-
lieVe. The difficulty is to realize it, under the
money pressure which pervades the country.
The truth %, 6ne woods command now, re-
muneFatiye price. en- d quite equivalent TO the
average price Of the last ten years, which has
not exceeded SO cents.
Why then do we hear so much grumbling
and see manifested so much uneasness, by |
wool growers? Simply because they array in |
their minds the prices Of '53, instead of those
they were fully satisfied TO receive during the
previous half dozen years, with present prices,
and draw false conclusions. The phrase low
price of wool'-whch Is banded from mouth |
to mouth, is indicative then, of comparative
not real evil: Imaginary as it is. however.
it is producing results which are most disastrous
to the increase of American Hocks. In Yer.
mont, where the average weight Of fleece is So |
per cent, over the average weight of all the |
sheep in the United States. and some go per
cent, over Msss. which Is next to her in height, !
IL is believed that It can be pro6tably grown
for 334 cts. per pound. Hence, no fears or
prices are able 70 disturb their course. The
best HOcks will average six pounds per head,
at least, and hence, they feel safe, let the scale
OF prices rule where il may. The opinion that
the present prices for wool are too low, is SO
generally prevalent, that tens Of thousands of
sheep will lose their hearts blood, as a conse-
quence. Thousands OF others, will be mlsera.
bly, cared for or shamefully neglested, and the
result will show fearful diminutiOn in num-
bers before the first of January, SO. While
multitudes are rushing their sheep to the sham
bles, it will indicate wisdom in him, who
throws thought ahead and governs his course
by the philosophy Of facts.
The remote effects of the Eastern war cam {
be otherwise than 10 enhance the prices ofwool
as a consequence, manufactured fabrics must
command higher rates. Just SO soon as the pres
ent rapid consumption overtakes the arms and
hands Of production.
Such is the nature Of meats and breadstuffs.
that IL measurably prevents any considerable
accumulation Of stocks Not so however, with
WOODEN fabrics. Every one.of the loO, 900 A.
merican merchants, keeps constantly (if he |
keeps cloths, q years supply on hand. and |
many OF them two or more. As soon as these
stocks are exhausted. and this is being rapid
Ily brought about --as soon as the finances of
the country become arranged--as soon as We
got Strengthened up from our bent and almost
broken condition, caused by overtrading with
Europe, so soon, will the interest of the wool
grower be promoted and increased prices OBJ.
tanned.
Now let al those who have good Hocks, be
careful not to throw away their improvements,
but continue their efforts in careful and Judi
cious breeding. Let them look across the
slough Of despond, into which thousands have
fallen. and rest assured that the folly of such,
will work out permanent good for them. Let
them know assuredly, that ere long the wheel
will turn up, and those who have bartered of
their locks will find IT, necessary to stock up
again with sheep, and must come TO the Jose
phs' 10 buy. A little waiting. a little patience.
and good time is at hand to oil such as fear.
lessly and faithfully rear up good AOcks, suit
able for stocking farms. The present sitting
and cutting down Of the Aoeks through the
country, viii leave in It. much better class of
sheep, and rssultiu good to the country, while
1t viii lessen the amount OF the coming clip,
and lapd 10 enehsnce the price. In short, we
would urge. With ell the peFsuasveness of
truth. thak good aocks Be kept with all care,
and inayssssd With due rapidity. as upon them
mainly depends the future extension and pros.
perity Of the American Aocks.
s, B, RccKwELL.
Cornwall, w., March, 1855