Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1864-06-24

II
/ 1872 O66
1850 O9.
iS5S is
And in 1868 the major part Of II was from
sixteen to seventeen cents per pound. From
this it would seem that coarse wools might
be obtained at twelve cents or under, and l
am informed that even last year when the
United States proved 80 large purchaser
they were bought at eleven cents OF under.
| do not think they are likely to rise, for il all
the American wools are purchased, there
must be less competition abroad. Three
cents per pound duty on these wools has been
proposed, and the duties on coarse carpets
and blankets have been increased correspond =
ingly. If they have not, so far as am con-
cerned am willing they shall be. On wools
above twelve ard not over twenty-f four cents,
six cents per pound is proposed. This will
include most Of the woods now brought from
abroad, and il reckoned as an ad paloren upon
sixteen cents per pound would be very high
II is said that it requires four pounds Of this
wool to make pound Of cloth, or nearly
twice as much as it does Of washed American
woods. Iftlat be so, then the duty is equal
to twelve cents per pound in specie on Amer
lean woods, or in currency, about twenty cents
per pound. And with two pounds Of Ameri-
can wool or four pounds Of foreign wool for
pound Of cloth it would indicate specific
on cloth of tweuty-four cents per pound. To
cover this it becomes necessary to place high
er duties on woolens, and twenty cents per
pound is proposed, with thirty-fve per cent
dd Udlorern for revenue purposes, and IN COW
or internal taxation on American manufac-
lures when sold. This is payable in specie
I Il We tv-tp INT fo snI
for the reason that it is not supposed all for
eign woods will shrink so much as 10 require
more than three and quarter to three and
half pounds for pound Of cloth may be
mistaken, and il so, then the duty per pound
should be twenty-iour cents, or the duty on
wool should be reduced one cent per pound.
IL must be remembered that we tax Amer
ican manufacturers FIVE per cent. on their
sales. II prices advance the Government get
so much the more. For instance, carpet
that sold for s so per yard in s6l now sells
Tor 81 so, and OF course pays tax of twelve
and half cents per yard. Besides this, the
duty now proposed on wool and that existing
on the linen yarn for the backs OF carpets is
at least twenty cents more, while carpets have
advanced abroad but very little. American
manufacturers labor under another disadvan-
I
the same dyes, and work with equal skill,
some purchasers give an insane preference
for foreign goods to the extent often Of ten or
fifteen per cent. In 1862 there we're import
ed $50 92S yards Of carpetng, and probably
more in 1868. Such importations are not
I likely to cease. AS fine or high priced wool
en goods are generally light, it is proposed
to add five per cent. more upon goods weigh
u -, ~
and upon those costing over two dollars per
square yard. This is needed for protection,
and it is also needed in order that we may
tax fine goods more than we do coarse. The
protection now afforded to wool will increase
its price, bu, it may be only for short time.
The main purposei revenue but its result
will be protection. Protection was never de-
Tended on any other ground than that in the
end the consumer obtained his supplies more
chesply. The inevitable effect must be to
stimulate production, and as wool can be
grown in every State Of the Union, it will be
increased most where it can be raised cheap
est. 1t may be raised in western States land
especially in California, where the sheep breed
twice a year. for one half what it costs in
Vermont, New York, or Ohio and such
States the latter will in the end abandon
the business, or cling to it only as Virginia
clings to slavery, in order to supply stock for
richer soils. If these rates continue but a
few years the production of wool ought to
exceed the consumption of the country, and
then 1t will again come into competition with
the woods from abroad
know that sound policy dictates that for
proper encouragement Of manufacturers all
raw materials should be free, and where ma.
tions manufacture for expectation no other
policy can be maintained. Thie accounts for
the course Of France and England upon this
subject. They export largely, we do not
Many excellent legislators and even wool
growers (as the late consul Jarvis of Ver-
mont) have argued that the only way to pro-
tect wool was by encouraging American man
ufscturers. But until we reach the point Of
supply for our own country, do not see why
encouragement may not be given TO the WOOL
grower as well as the manufacturer.