, 1866-02-02
The Dnfy on Wool.
W1HoxA, Minn., Jan. 25. 1866.

Editors Chicago Tr1bunc:
/ Throwing out Of the account those farm
;ers who raise few sheep more or less, the
number Of wool growers in this country Ia
1860 could not hare exceeded 1900 to 4, 500,
If indeed the number wus 20 great, and that
number is not much exceeded at ths present
time. The consumers Of wool may be num-
hered blythe population In the whole coun-
try. All have to wear woollen clothes. The
item Of wool has received legislative protee~
'tion under every tariff passed In this conn-
try. {at present It amounts to 10 and 15c per
pound} and 1t Ia pertinent to inquire, list.
Wherein is the justice Of taxing Ms t0ao's
;7,eo,1< at this rate on IN article Of absolute
NECESSITY, for the benefit Of fen wool grow
ers? I'd. How is it, that wool growers, pro-
tected ever since the formation Of the Gov
crnment, have been able to Increase the pro-
ductfon Of taw wool from 45, coz. COO pounds
in 1910, only TO- 81, $50 900 pounds In 1850, and
to G., SIC, ,oW pounds IN 1902 and I'd. Is there
any experience showing that wool growers
prosper better without than with Legislative
protection
The answer to the first question I will
leave to the stcnllghtened selfshness" Of
every consumer of wool. Think Of 1t grow
crs Of cotton, OF corn and wheat, and you
men who work for wages, ought you to be
taxed for the benefit Of these 1900 or $, 600
wool growers: -.r..,. :.
The answer to the second question Is fully
contained In the statement Of the results
OF the. wool growers work. Sure
IL, say tsplaiu people, there Is something
wrong In The system, if In all this time the
business does not increase more rapidly. II
seventeen mi:l.ons Of people in 1910 produced
| FORTY five millions Of pounds oil wool, twenty
! three millions IN 1850 should hare produced
! sixty-two millions Of pounds, and thirty y,one
millions in 1860 should have produced eighty
creased nearly saH per cent from 1910 to 1s69,
the quantity Of wool produced only about
s4A per cent. Thus It Is seen that wool
growing under the stimulus Of legislative
protection, has advanced backward: bnt
let us look further into the matter Most OF
thc woods imported into the United sia,sa ;aMs,
arc of 4 low, conrse quality, and In partially
washed condition: the Reminder, say one
quarter to one-third. being of fner grade
and unwashcI, {s she grade which Wheu
cleaned may compare IN quality With thai
| grown by part If onr wool growers. ing
average ioss:in weight on tue m"nsned =, nre one
barring and securing for manufacture
Is over so per cent, Or .ln other "ofds
every tW pfpounds imported yields less than ON
pound Of wool, 1t Is ascertalued, that In the
countries whence VIC import tai" WOODS
the transportation expenses from tho inter1o
to the seaboard, which necessarily enter tnl<
the dutiabIc cost, ayerng ~ to 4 cents pc
| round. In its lnwashed condition. equal 10 !
md 6 cents on each pound of clean Wool
Now, Il to this be added the necessary sh'p
4 pipw charges and expenses to bring It mere
amounting over and above the Import dnty
TO about Is per cent on It's cost at port Q
; Shipment, 1t looks Is If our wool growers
home had so wide magln Of protection, q
to render any legislative protection On I'M
article offirstnecesslty and universal consunl
lion entirely supert1uons. Not eonten
with ten to fifteen cents pound protecueon1 9 7
ihey osk continually for more Of whom II =
every man who wears woollen clothes. lna
is to say, We arc asked to lax our entire poppG1 ~
. ,lution atthIs rate TO support 4,oo 70 o,vv ~,
wool growers, who do not appear no:e ~ "a
ceed With the MD OF the tax: But, latmer IT, =
who succeeds In raising cotton ana TIs1 ,is1
l. without legislative protectlon, N sns - ~ ~
ness OF his nature, gives Wnlns %. 1a.afs-4 :
|; complaint Of his neighbor B, "h9 p1Thi; m hsi;cs
rsise wool for a living, and Is Hade e oeno ~
Il tuat IL this tux Is removed his ne19 49,. ~.
he ruined. Indeed, the poor WOOL Rto"s @
himself has been made to bcleFe " e1u iul
hing and he hos been going on 1os tao 1ea: -:
twenty years, without being ape 10 ias.s,ss o, =
+ lis business, relying upon 1tgtsla1ve psoss' s
+ lion, instead of Ills own- energy, tni1!t ~
4 skill. THIS brings me to cons'oesa''oa
Every farmer who takes care 81 his shee
and cattle fnteniseatly, know9 that 70 81
Z ~eed he must diversity 4nd mix Al5 1eeos AL