Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1863-01-13
She and Wool Reports.

In conversation yesterday with Joseph
Horsfall, Esqr, ofMillyille, who has owned
and for some ten years carried on VOL
len mandatory on small scale al that
place, with machinery for carding, spin
ming, dyeing, weaving, fulling, &c. We
learned several things worth remembering
as well as communicating to the public.
There are but FIVE establishments Of the
kind in the county, an Of which are run
ming on custom work, making yarns and
cloths upon the shares or by the pound
and yard. He estimates that about 80
900 pounds of wool are thus manufactured
within the county each year, and that, so
far as bis factory is concerned, the business
increases steadily each year. MIR. Horsfal
has been tho longest established, and his
factory probably does much the largest
business, though he does not claim this nor
that he does the best work. The assertion
is made upon our own responsibility that
he does a great deal of work with which
people seem well pleased. His capital was
small at first, but by saving the annual ac-
foundations or profits and investing the
same in new and better machinery, he has
at length quite fine establishment for
m anufacturng the substantial goods worn
by all classes. And considering the pres
cut profits of the business, which he as
sures US are better than at any rhine,
and his practice Of saving money and ap-
plying every dollar in the extension of ma
chinery, his factory will very soon grow
into some thing of importance to a wide
range of producers and consumers in Grant
County.
His opportunities for Judging Of the in
crease and present extent Of wool growing
in the county are better than those Of any
man we know of. He estimates that ten
years ago but little wool was marketed out
Of the county. Now and then farmer
had surplus lot which he aent of, but
such instances were rare. Most of it was
taken to the machine for carding and then
spua or Woye on the shares OF taken home
70 spin and weave or for knitting into
stockings. The great complaint was that
sheep were in such great danger Of des-
truction by dogs and wolves tdat it would
not do to keep more than could be con-
stantr watched in the lot near by the
house. In the next six years, sheep had
increased considerably, the rate Of increase
being % per cent. each year; at the end Of
that time the surplus was considerable, 50
that buying wool got to be something Of a
bust .ess. In the past -four years he esti-
mates the increase ofsheep each year at
so per cent, or third each year, by nat
ural increase and the purchase and bring
inc of sheep from abroad. lie thinks the
present high price rather tends to increase
the ratio of sheep .han diminish it, or that
the demqnd is stronger than the supply
aud high price. Perhaps this ought not
to be so, as when the price comes down as
il NAV, probably will, then people will feel
disappointed and lose confidence in the
business, and thus scatter their sheep
abroad instead of extending their numbers a
they should. Such is the substance Of Mr..
Horsfars views Of the sheep and wool bus
mess. 1t is from such men that the most
information can be had, and not from those
who experiment with single flock, or
whose information reaches net beyond
their neighborhood
Nearly third Of Grant County is only
fit for sheep, and for this purpose more
valuable than the best Of farm land. The
present rate Of so per cent, per annnm in
crease may 90 on for many years before
this large territory is fully settled with
sheep and herdsmen Of the sheep fold.
Next year the sheep enumeration Of Grant
may count up to hundreds of thousands,
and then to millions; still there will be
room upon lands fitted Ivy natural form and
deformity for nothing else but sheep, and
these the most profitable stock for which
Tho land country and climate are adaDted,