Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1862-10-03
Armn oonsnmntian a wnol,

The call for 100000 additional volunteers
hes an important bearing on the wool trade
.of tho country. When The new quota has
beeu raised, there win be $4,000 troops
requiring q regular supply Of army cloth
ing. Each one Of these carries, in the shape
of his complete outfit, wooden manufactures
representing about twenty-five pounds Of
raw or unmenufactured wool.
In times of war, the excessive tear and
wear, the irregularities and losses from
various causes, will make the consumption
average nearly three outfits year per man,
At safe average, It may be reckoned that
the yearly consumption Of each soldier will
amount 10 GO pounds Of manufactured
wool. This amount multiplied by $4,000,
would give, as the total consumption of wool
| by tile army for the next twelve months, the
enormous amount Of 100000 of pounds.
The aggregate seems immense, but care
ful inspection of the estimate will show that
it is not exaggerated. How this enormous
consumption must bear on the trade in wool
and woolens, deserves the prompt attention
OF those interested.
The whole product of wool in the Uni
ted States in 1850, according to the returns
Of the census, was only about 100000
pounds. The statement is probably far be-
low the truth, as are nearly all the figures
representing the produce of the country
and it, therefore, gives imperfect data from
which to estimate the present wool crop
We have, as yet, seen no statement from
the census of 1860, as to the present wool
product of the country; and can, therefore,
merely make loose estimate as to the
amount.
We should, however, represent the most
general estimate Of the wool trade in sup
posing the present crop, in the now loyal
States, to reach about l20,000,000 lbs
According to this estimate the army de-
mand will take up about Az per cent. of
our whole wool crop. 1t is unnecessary to
indicate the effect of this extraordinary de-
mand on the value of the staple. The de-
mand will be mostly for the lower grades
of wool which, as last year, may be expect
ed to realize fabulous prices, and out of all
to the value of the finer grades.
1t may perhaps be questioned, however,
whether we shall this year witness such a
depreciation in the value of fine grades as
was experienced last year. The largeness
of the demand may be reasonably expected
to give an enhanced value to all qualities
though, as the finer grades have no prefer
ence for army purposes over the coarser,
they may not be expected to range so much
higher than common woods, as is the case
in ordinary times.
1t is not improbable, under these circum-
stances, that we may witness an unusual
importation of foreign woods. Although |
both the tariff and exchange are against its
mportotion, yet prices may range SO high /
as to render these considerations secondary.
The effect Of this extraordinary conspmp-
ion Of army weolens must DO to initiate and
ierange the ordinary business in wooden
fabrics. Probably, the machinery employ
I'd last year in manufacturing military
goods be sufficient, if running extra time,
10 meet this demand. But that proportion
of our wooden machinery leaves but little
for meeting the demand for ordinary goods.
The esult will probably be that fabrics for
civilians wear, will be in light supply and
realize high prices.-Ecoaomist