Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1855-03-02
Duties on Wool, Mr.. Edmands' Letter.

Soon after a vote on IIoustons Tariff bill,
Mr. Edmands of Boston, wrote a letter to the
Boston Atlas, Of which we give below so
much as bears directly on the subject of ia
king off the wool duties.
WAsnNGroN, Feb. 70 1855
MEssRs. EDrroRs Il notice in the Aims Of
the 10th, statement of the vote Of the Mas
sachusetts Delegation, on Mr. TIoustons
tarln blll, which is not entirely correct
was not absent, nor did fail to vote You
VIII ind my name recorded among the ayes.
| and regret that it had not moro suprort
from our side of the House Dickenson and
DeNl lit were out OF the city, hut would have
! voted in the Affirmative, had they leon here
! do not know Of a single interest Of New
England which would have been materially
injured by the bill, and nearly all would have
been greatly benefited. whether it he called
a Tree trade or a protectionist measure. The
| present extreme depression of the WOODEN
| manufacture would he efirctuallv relieved hv
! the proposed reduction Of duty on raw ma
terials-dyestuffs being assessed at 4 rcr
cent, and part of them, with nut and palm
oils, made free-woo at : per cent. The
broadcloth. carpet, and blanket concerns
would be especially benefited Inc wool
grower would bc better or vita this than he
| Is likely to be under the suspended opera
tions of so many woolen mills. The broad
| cloth looms have all been stopped. and that
business surrendered as hopeless under the
present tariff Foreigners now supply the
entire consumption ofthis country, not mere
| ly because the price of American wool is too
| high-ior foreign wools at the reduced duty
cannot be laid down here now. lower than
| present prices of American wool-but also on
account OF the fluctuations in price, and
mainly because certain descriptions of foreign
wool are absolutely required to make cloths
that are salcable. The broadcloth manufac-
ture Will be resuscitatcd by the introduction
OF foreign wool at moderate duty, and an
additional demand for American wool will be
created. A pound of native wool will be
taken with pound of foreign, the one being
necessary for filling, the other bic
for warp. Every advance made by foreigners
! III crOwdlng out our own manufacture, is a
movement against the wool grower, and what
ever is done towards supplying our market
| with American cloth, is lust so much acains It
the introduction of foreign wool in the fabric
The European manu- faeturers now send to
tins country, annually, twice as much wool
as is grown here, as appears by the reports of
the secretary of the Treasury. The effect of
such importatiOns of wool in the fabric. is
now felt by the farmer, through the inability
OF our manufacturers to purchase his wool.
in the consequent low prices of wool As
the American wool is superior to that of any
other country for its spinning properties. it
will be preferred by the majority ofmanuilc-
turers, and doubt if the opening ofour ports
to foreign wool, at per cent duty would re-
duce American wool much below the average
Of our wool for the past Is years. which may
be stated, as received by the growers, at 81
cents. 1t will prevent those fluctuations SC
disastrous to the manufacturers, and which
have not been beneficial to the farmers. " 90
which sold for 30 cents in lS49, brought 81
cents in 1888, and is now down again, with
out demand at the same price, with another
season 5 clip soon to be in market. Thest
fluctuations have continued under the opera
tinn of the high duties of the act of lS4G
and have had an untavorabc effect on the in.
crease Of wool. While our population has in
creased one-third, the growth of wool has re
mIincd nearly stationary, and the imports o
woolen goods into the country have almos
trehled. lhe market is to be supplied b,
foreign manufacturers. or by our own Tn,
~"rily from the foreign source has been OK
tending greatly from year to year, and viii
continue SO long AS the present relation o
duties on wool and wOolcns exists. | heliey,
it to be for the interest Of the wool grower
that the relation should be changed.