Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1865-06-23
AGRICULTURAL

Wo0l-The SUPPLYING Oemano-Ahe Frles.
From an article in the Ohio Farmer,
written by one apparently thoroughly
conversant with the subject, we condense
the following in regard to the demand
for and the probable price of Wool. AT
ter stating that during the war there has
been a great demand for wool, and that
waste to a greater or less degree, has ta-
ken the place of economy, the writer say
that prices now must be controlled by
those laws of trade-demand and supply
which are superior to all e~naetments,
except for short periods, and that legis-
lation can increase or depress but for a
short time only.
War created an unusual demand as re-
CARDS amout or quality, but Peace, which
has returned, will restore to us form or
wants and former means of procuring
those wants. The average consumption
will be about, and perhaps exactly the
same.
In 1860 we had, as shown by the cen
sus of that year, 21,723,220 sheep and a
weight of wool exceeding 81, 5000, 900 lbs
@(returns 52,516,959 lbs,) and in 1860
the number Of sheep was only 23,317, 756,
and the weight of wool reported 60,511,
343 lbs, the weight of fleece in 1850 being
less than D lbs, and in 1860 only a little
less than 2 6-10, and increasing on AN
average in the ten years less thar 2 o.
Our sheep increased between 1910 and
1850 only 124 per cent, and between 1850
and 1860 only 5 per cent, while the pop
ulAtion increased 80 and a fraction in the
first ten years, and "a 1910 in the latter.
Our population in 1865 is 36,492, 137,
not allowing for losses by the war, and
allowing the same consumption of wool,
we would require 52-100 lbs each, 1872
400, 685, or with former sprinkling of cot
ton, say 160,000,000 the wool, allowing
for compromising, 22,460,685 lbs of the
article. Although we evidently wantand
absolutely need 160.000,000 lbs wool, we
have notathe machinery to work more
han 10000 900, being the produce of
1000 sets of machinery at 100 lbs per
day each. This is the estimate of sever
al leading brokers of the eastern cities,
and of the United States Economist,
which is deemed good authority, and will
have the sanction of manufacturers. We
must therefore, import the 40, 000, 600 we
cannot manufacture in goods instead of
wool.
The returns in Ohio show nearly 100
per cent. increase in sheep in Ohio since
1860; and in Michigan largely over 100
gained 80 per cent. in numbers, with an
increase weight of fleece of 10, we have
now 41,971,960 sheep, with 81 lbs. per
fleece, a weight of 136,408,870 lbs. of
wool, being 16,408,S70 lbs. more than the
manufacturing capacity of the country.
The average price of wool in Boston,
from 1926 to 1860, was Gin currency gen
orally, within one per cent. in conn., for
fine woods, 503-10; for medium, 42-S-1O;
and for coarse, 353c.
No year between 1910 and 1860 did we
have more than three-quarters as many
sheep as inhabitants, and these rated only
about q lbs. each, while now W. have
at least n n one-eigth, shearing GER
tainly thirty per cent. greater weights
than former estimates, as appears by the
census of 1910, 1850 and 1860.
From the fact that never until now did
we have a supply, and now we have a sur
plus of fine. and medium; we might argue
low prices. On the other hand, the
scarcity Of goods now on the market, and
the probable Southern demand for goods,
may create and keep a lively market.
If 40 cents had been the average price
for thirty-fve years, while we were in a
state of peace, and with a short supply,
why should we expect that 40 cents
would not now buy, while at peace and
with a supply fully commensurate with,
or in excess of our means to manufac-
ture. The wool clip of Ohio last year
may have averaged So cents in currency,
but this was an outside average and lost
money to operators.
With gold at $50, and this is below
the average last year IN wool season, wool
would be "a cents cein value, at 2.6O the
price would be 90 cents in coin, and this
extremely low price compared with all
former years and with other property,
was evidence of at least a sufficient guam
tity and contrary to any supposed %scarci-
ty, and this year we surely have a still
greater abundance of domestic, and more
han equal to our wants.
The question is still an open one-what
will be the price of wool? AS a matter
of opinion, we may venture to say that
the clip of 1865 will reach the manufac-
turers on a basis of 40 cents in gold,
though early sales may be some higher
State Journal