Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1857-06-12
The Price of Wool.

usual excitement in regard to the proba-
bic price of this years clip Of Wool
The opinion is generally prevalent among
the farmers that the price viii be serious
ly affected by the operation of the new
tariff, which makes all wool free that costs
twenty cents or under at the port of en-
barkation. IF invoices are honestly
made, this alteration viii not materially
affect the finer woods that have heretofore
formed the bulk of the production in the
United States. The competing woods
are the Australian, and part of the South
American, which correspond to our me-
rinoes. Those woods are now compare
lively higher in London than in New
York; so much so, indeed, that it will
be an object for manufacturers to pur-
chase our woods at prices in advance of
last year.
The change which has been going on
in the farming of the older States since
1910 has been more marked in sheep
husbandry than any other branch. From
1910 to 1850 the total increase in the
number of sheep was not far from five
millions, while the decrease was about
three millions, leaving the actual in
crease at only some two millions in the
ten years, whereas by the natural law of
increase the entire stock should have
been at least doubled. The decrease was
in the older States, most of it in New
England and New York, and almost en-
tirely in ine-wooled sheep. In the State
of New York alone, since 1910, decrease
exceeds four millions, and there were not
as many sheep in this State in 1856 as
in 1921. Since 1850 there has been no
sensible increase in any State, while
there has been during the last three
years decrease in Ohio and Michigan.
Bnt the lowest point has probably been
reached in the older States. The fine
wooded sheep have been exterminated,
and the coarse-wooled mutton sheep are
now fast taking their place. We may
henceforth look for gradual increase in
numbers, and large increase in the
amount of meat brought to market. 1t
| is this kind of wool that will be most af-
fected in price by the introduction of free
wool. The quantity, however, at pres
ent is not large, and cannot be materially
affected this year, nor until foreign wool
markets show a decline from present
prices.
The clip this year will not be equal to
that of the last, so that no surplus can
be accumulated and held over to bear
down prices, nor is there now any sur
plus for dealers or manufacturers to fall
back upon. The only means they have
to frighten farmers into low prices will
be to make them believe that large stocks
of foreign wool are to be brought in al
low prices under the new tariff. We
hope that no farmer will be duped by
any such story, for. if told, it will be 6
sheer fabrication. The present price o
wool in all the foreign wool market:
renders the whole thing morally impos
sible.
The price of the finer grades of WOO
has advanced from 10 to 20 per cent, il
all the German markets, over last year
prices. The German woods are so higl
that the English find it difficult to get
supply there and are thrown upon tn
better grades of colonial, and have there
by exchanged the value of all grades @
Cape and Australian woods, as we'll a
the better grades of South American
If it were not for the unsatisfactory con
dition of the market for wooden good.
the price of wool, owing to the decreas
ed production, would rule higher in thi
market than for many years past. S
precariouS and unsatisfactory has bee
the market for some two or three yeal
that the manufacturing has not.increasec
, for, while our own clip has not increases
: the importations of foreign wool for IL
o past year have fallen off nearly five mi
lions of pounds as compared with th
: three past years.
a There is no good reason why the ia
4 mers should dispose of their wool at ar
% less price than they obtained last yea
"a The rates at which it would be safe
= sell should be, for
d Saxony, so 75c
- Merino, AZ SOC
: Fine grades, SO 45c
Low do. and COM, 80 a SIC
- 1t must be understood, however, th
Il these prices are only for wool in prin
!; condition, clean, well put up, and light
- ". z Tribune