Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1864-05-20
New Duties on Wool.

tt New Duties on Wool,
at Ills quite evident that the action of tn
d Wool Growers Convention at Columbu
&c last January, together with other move
e ments to the same end, in various por
IS tons Of the New England and Western
t. States, have at length SO attracted the at
5. tention of Congress as soon to brin
- about some change in this highly impor-
o tant subject.
- There is now demand for wool sucb a
h has never existed in this country before
u and this demand will be likely to continue
a to its full extent for several years tc
i. come, even if the war closes and cottor
comes freely to our manufacturers Sud
den and extensive changes can only
z rarely take place in an interest so vast
as that which the manufacture of cotton
} and woollen goods has now reached in
this country,
I This great branch of industry directly
affects the interests of the farmer all over
our land, north, Yves: and south, and
these interests demand the most careful
consideration of those whose duty it is
to legislate for the best good of all.
Under existing circumstances, it would
be idle for the farmers Of the north and
west to enter largely into sheep hus-
bandry, without a protection more ade-
quate than any which at present exists.
1t would be a competition, with advantage
so decidedly on one side, that loss or ruin
would certainly ensue to those who en-
gagged in it. 1t would be a competition
with long and severe winters, hard and
rocky soil, and high wages and taxes on
one side, with low wages, mere nominal
taxes, and mild climate, and reverend
ing pastursge, on the other, spontaneous
ly producing through the entire year all
the heritage that millions of sheep could
cansume. Nearly the whole cost, indeed
Of wool, under the latter circumstances,
would Be the capital originally invested
in the stock, shcaring and portation
Under the low wages of the countries
where these woods are produced, the
transportation to any of the Atlantic
cities would be as low as it now is from
our wool-producjng towns. The water
transportation would be very low, SO that
liz the land carriage were considerable,
jt probably would be no higher than it
now is among ourselves.
There is not, then, in any sensible
point Of view, any such thing as compe-
.ution by our people with those who sup.
ply foreign woods. We must have pro-
lection through the interference aud Just
ice Of the general government, or we
must yield that branch of industry into
the hands Of foreign people. This we
ought not to do, because certain large
portions Of our country are admirably
adapted to wool and mutton growing and
wou.d be Of little value for other agricul-
lmaI purposes, unless it were for grazing
cattle
We have noticed with some appreheu-
sion that, in certain quarters, an antag-
onistic feeling is growing up between the
producer ana the manufacturers At the
Convention at Columbus, the action Of
the wool-grower5 was watched with eagle
eyes by agents Of the manufacturer, and
The bearings Of every proposition criti.
,ised with all that shreNdness which dis.
inguishes that class of our citizens
Tnis should not be so. There is really
)ut one interest in this matter, and while
ne farmer strives to produce just the ar
icle the manufacturer wants,-whether
be long wool Or short, coarse or fine
he latter should yield to him a fair share (
+ Che accruing profits.
The subject of sheep husbandry, in
Il its bearings, is one of importance, and 1
re invite our friends to give Us their y
Jews upon it, whether they relate espeoi.
lily to rearing sheep, the best breeds, or -
e qualities and value of wool. It is
sential to farmers that they unite in 4
me well-defned course of action, make IN
cir wants known to the general gov or
nment, and then press them until they =
c granted. Let US have, then, the 4
ews of our friends from every quarter y
'on this important branch Of rural ia nit
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