Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1866-12-21

the town that evening, and people were
driving into the village as late as two or
three o'clock A. M, they may have been
frightened away.-Reene Sentinel.
Westminster Farmers Club.
THE TARIFF QUESTION AS AFFECTING THE
VERMONT wooL-GRowERs.
Mr.. Goodridge who has been extensive
ly engaged for years in the purchase of
woods, presented specimens of wool i'm
ported from Buenos Ayres and Monte Vi
dec. The quality compared in fneness,
favorably with the American Merino. The
fibres displayed good strength. The
heeces unwashed < Weighed two and one
half lbs. 1t cost IN Buenos Ayres 10 cts.
per ID. The shipping did not much ex-
coed ct. per h., but the full expense of
packing, importation, tariff and profits to
dealers, &C., brought the wool to 80 cts
per Id. in New York, in our present paper
currency. During the war our exchange
with f reign countries was such, that it
came much higher amounting somewhat TO
a prohibition or at least to high tariff.
Now the case is changed. This wool was
not from the native sheep of Buenos Ayres.
They are coarse wooded. The,very past
season, merino bucks have been taken
from Vermont to Buenos Ayres, to perfect
the breeds already imported there and to
raise heavier fleece. These specimens of
wool would shrink in cleansing about So
per cent, while Vermont wool would
shrink 20 per cent. Extensive capital and
large companies are engaged in producing
wool in Buenos Ayres. Pasturage upon
the waving grasses of the broad and fer
tile pampas watered by the La Plata, Pa
rama, Paraguay ard their tributaries, is of
little cost. A single shepherd watches an
immense flock. Labor is cheap. The
women of the country shear the sheep at
an eighth of a peso per day or about l25b
cents of our money. Here are the data.
Now comes the question. Can Vermont
under the present state of the tariff and
other circumstances considered, produce
wool so as 10 compete with specimens i'm
ported from Buenos Ayres?
Mr.. /. N. Farr said we could not raise
wool at 30 cents per ID. but by a justly
discriminating tariff on imported wool such
as the present wants of the country de-
mand for revenue even, wool would obtain
a remunerative price. 1t is unjust to tax
by stamps for internal revenue, every spe-
cies of business transaction, and neglect TO
protect tie interest Of the farmer, from an
utterly destructive foreign competition. 1t
is one of the highest aims of wise legisla-
ton to protect the interests of the people,
and no where is this more needed now
than in our great agricultural interest of
wool-growing. Witness the sums expend-
ed by government in fostering our great
commercial, manufacturing and mechanical
pursuits. Patent rights are issued by
which persons are guarded for years in
exclusive privileges against all competition
at home or abroad, and shall the labor,
skill, continued effort and expense which
have attained such important results in
sheep culture, alone be left to languish for
want of the friendly protection of wise legis-
laiion ? Let the foreign countries send in
their wool but let them pay for the bless
ings of market furnished by govern
ment which not they but we, through the
most costly sacrifices have contributed 10
save and sustain.
Mr.. Davis said it was of vital impor.
lance for Vermont that our wool-growing
interests be protected. We have institu-
tons to support, expenses as citizens. to
meet, that the wool-growers of Buenos
Ayres do not have. Our sheep cannot
crop the untitled grasses. Labor is moi
worthless with US. Such application O
our lands, such system of labor with us i
neither practicable nor desirable. w,
must have protection. What can Yer
mont without it, do ? She cannot compel,
in grain-raising or stock-raising with tn,
West. The West will undersell US in GU
own eastern markets. But we have natu
raj advantages as State in raising shee,
superior 10 all others in perfection @
breed and weight of golden fleece. Th
last Congress has failed to protect us. III
feared the present would. He saw bu
little hope. Yet every man in Vernon
should knock with eeaseless importantly a
the doors of Congress till our demands ar
answered. He saw ray of hope if Yer
mont should turn her attention more +
manufactures. 1t might create HON
market. But the assessor at Cavepdisl
said not ID. of our wool was used !;
tn cir factories. He believed foreign woo
did not make as good cloth. The stapl
was by shipping or otherwise made weaI
or rotten. He said il had been succes,e