Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1856-12-11

of each State, in exchange for the produc-
| tions of others, would constitute an abun-
dant supply for most of our wants at cheap
er rates than other nations could afford them
and make resort to other L,odes of raising
revenue question Of necessity; but that,
for many years 10 come, our nati1nal treas
ury would be supplied from a tariff on i'm
ports, and that in the modification and re
duction row called for. We should make it
as equal and just as possible TO our own PEG
pie, and take away the discrimination now
existing against US, principally arising out
of the Legislation of their countries. in con-
travention c. the industry of our people.
Here the report gives the responses 70
various resolutions of Congress calling for
information on tine tariff and kindred sub
jects. Then follows variety Of statistics
in relation to hesproduc.ion and imports-
tion Of wool, after which the report con-
tinues as follows:
The climate of the United States is such
that manufactures of wool are used iwinter
and summer in some of the States, and in
the winter months in all, and the finer "a
| brics are used in all. II is an article for
clothing and other uses that our climate and
our habits do not permit us to dispen.e with
and which our people can and will manu-
| facture for themselves, if cur tariff laws are
arranged so as not to discriminate against
them and in favor of other manufacturing
nations.
When we first imposed tax oo fore ign
wool, Great Britain and other manu- factur-
ing nations taxed It also, and as high as we
taxed it. We Disseminated in the tax upon
;he manufactures of wool, imposing high
er tax upon the finer fabrics; whereupon
Great Britain and other manufacturing ma
tions repealed their tax on wool. and secur-
ed to their manufacturers the advantage oil
obtaining the raw material free of duty
This advantage owe. US they will continue
TO enjoy as long as our tax e continued
The reasons why they admit wool free are
to be found in the fact, that they manufact-
ure more than they produce. and it is neces-
sary they should be able to sell cheap. in
order to enter advantageouslv the markets
Of the world, and il may be also. TO secure
the market of the United States. to the sup
preston Of manufacturing IN this country.
We also manufacture more wool than we
! produce, and consume more manufactures oi
ool than we manufacture, end continue our
tax on wool. The duty on wool was i'm
posed to promote its introduction in the
| United States, and was expected to enhance
the price, 1t has failed to secure the object
for which it was imposed The production
has not kept pace 18th our population and
consumption of woolen manufactures. and
although the prices have been fair, they
have not been such as to make wooi-grow-
ing as profitable pursuit as many Others
| in the country. In :he trial of ten years
under the tariff of 1876, there is no greater
production of wool, i'll pro portion to the po-
| pulation, than there was prior to that time.
| 1t is said we do not produce the inferior
priced woods, costing twenty cents per pound
or less; nor the higher priced woods costing
fifty cents or more to the pound, and that it
is the lower and higher priced woo!s that
we import for our manufactures, and that
the duty has no effect, and does not enhance
the price Of the wool that we produce. In
| consequence of which, we are undersold in
our own markets in both the finer and Co.
arser fabrics. and that the repeal of the
tariff on low and THE higher priced woos,
| would not effect the price of the wool we
produce, and would enable our manufactures
to use more Of our wool, by judicious mixture
with foreign wool, and give them a fairer
competition for the home market, and in.
duce the manu- facture of the finer fabrics in
this country. There would be difficulty in
the execution of such :ariff, because il
would be the interest of the importer, to
put the foreign value Of his wool above the
| fifty or below the twenty cents, to obtain
free entry.
1t is believed these causes would render
the tax uncertain and unpopular. and make
free trade in wool more desirable and more
beneficial; to the woolgrower as well as
the manufacturer. In Great Britain, the
tax on foreign wool, when it was much as
sixpence pound, did not enhance the price
to the English woo-grower, although it had
been imposed and continued as well to en-
| courage the growth of wool at home, as for
revenue. The English prices current and
statistics show that the price of wool rang
ed higher, the very first year after the duty
was repealed, than it had for years be lore,
and has continued to range higher ever since
| 1t is confidently believed that such would be
the case in this country, if the duty on the
importation Of wool was repealed, thereby
giving our manufacturers wool, on the same
terms the foreign manufacturers obtain
theirs, viz; by purchase in the open markets
of the world, and that they woulo be en-
couraged 10 increase and extend tlieif busi-
ness, in order to enjoy tine benefit of home
market for their goods, the consequence OF
which would be constart and greater home
demand, at higher and better prices.
The ratio at which our population is in
creasing will render necessary continued
increase in the manufacturers of wool re-
quired for consumption. The Importance
Of a home supply of this useful and indis-
pensdbie article of clothing calls for the
most careful investigation Of the effects
of our laws, and a prompt remedy by their
repeal wherever they shall be found pre-
judicial 10 constant and cheap supply from
the capital and labor of our own people.
! In 1890 but little manufacturing was done
in the country as distinct business. Nearly
all that was in private families, for domestic
use. Now manufacturing is separate pur.
suit, and immense capital is employed in its
various branches. In lsi0 the value Of our
manufactures was returned in the census OF
that year at S4SS ,27S ,2l5, and 1850 they
were returned in the census Of that year al
Sl,O55 $685. .s9s. The ratio OF increase
makes our manufactures for 1855 SI,39I,-
OBI 1893. In this result we recognize the
fact that we have become a great manufact-
uring people, and the tables accompanying
this report prove we are likewise a great
agricultural and commercial people
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