Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1866-06-14
2elmpnt Chronicle.
st. gainesville, Ohio, June *.
For tho Belmont Chronic
~ VTTTVT VII
The Ohio w Market.

The season of sheep shearing is now
upon us, and with it comes the question OF
what shall be the price of wool. Having
spent most of the past month at The pubic
shearings and meetings of the wool growers,
this question has been constantly asked me-
and l have made such answer az, according
To the best of my information, would sub
serve the truth. think no person can say
confidently Just what wool will be worth a
month hence, or what price farmers ought
20 insist upon, but so far as have any
opinion to express, | will give it under the
above qualification. 49,,
In the first place, as to the causes which
will affect prices this season. The pending
tariff measure agreed upon by the JOINT
Committee of the National Wool Growers
and National Manufacturers Associations,
can operate only prospectively. The bill
has not, at this writing, been renorted to
Congress by the Committee of Ways and
Means, SO that the nearest possible time of
its passage is too far in the future to have a
very direct influence in determining the
price which shall rule for our woods in June
or July. But the prospective and c%ollater-
al influence of this measure will be consld-
cradle. Let us calculate With an impost
duty of ten cts. per ID. and ten per cent. ad
valorem on foreign wOols-of which foreign
woods it takes two pounds to be equal to
one of American wool-to tho American
wool grower twice ten cents per pound, and
twice ten per cent, say twenty-three cents !;
add to this the cost of the foreign wool. say,
at fifteen cents per pound, equals thirty
cents, making in all fifty three cents, besides
exchange, storage, &c, and the American
wool grower will have his own market Of an
average of some sixty cents per pound.
Even under the present delusive tariff. 1t is
stated in the last report OF the Boston Board
of Trade, by one of the best informed wool
dealers in that CITY, that even az n cost OF
twenty-fonr cents per pound, the importa.
ton of Mestizo woods the past season had
not been remuncrative; and this while
American wool is quoted at fifty to fifty five
cents. Ii this calculation is correct, | think
the American wool grower has abuudan'
reason to be satisfied with the prospective
condition of the weol market.
Another and more immediate cause at
fecting the price Of wool in 1866, is tho fac
that the eastern wool houseSare UNUSUAL
bare, not only Of foreign, but Of entire an
desirable lots of domestic wool. Th,
operations of manufacturers within the las
few weeks have cleared the eastern We
houses TO an extent below that of any othe
time, at this season., within the last fv
years. Meanwhile the machinery of tn
wooden mills has been increased fully fit
per cent, requiring a supply Of one thir
more than all tho wool raised in the Unite
States, to keep it in even moderate opert
tion.
These two main facts-viz: the unprofit
ableness Of importation, and the %necesslt
for domestic wool, fix the status OF the ma
ket at its present opening.
Tho wool but-nra ora already in tho feel
with the expressed determination to tax
the new clip OF a range Of from forty.fve
fifty cents. Formerly it was tho custom
just before the sending out of orders to pu
chase wool in the spring. to get up a shal
sale in Boston or New York, and send o.
a false report of prices but as this practi,
can no longer deceive intelligent men, II
spectators have resorted to q system
decrying tho condition of our woods, and (
this purpose have held meetings in Mich
gan and Ohio, adopting rules both impracti
able and unjust, and putting forth declar
tions concering the practices oil wool gro,
crs whose impudence is only equaled
their falschood.
But the farmers have wool to sell. ar
these men will come to buy it. Every iarI
or must decide for himself how he will di
pose of his wool and the price at which
Will nOlu II. III IL always lnoso hu.inino'o
to the farmer to dispose of his stuff at hon
for cash in hand, and when q satisfacto
offer Of this kind is made, l should 50
take it. But let no farmer be deceived
s~pecious arguments, as if tho bottom W
about to fall out of the market. There Ct
be no prediction in trade at this time mo
certain of ful6lment than wool must advan
from present quotations, and although
published rates are from lorty.6ve to fiji
cents. | know Of considerable purcha'
already mode in Ohio at ffty'ive to six
cents, and I know Of no good reason W
all the better class Of good condition
Ohio wool should not command the OF
side figure within the next Two months.
Believing this, as | do from a canvass
the whole field Of production and consum
ton, | send forth this statement to the pu
lie for the consideration of such wool gro
ers as arc constantly inquiring of mc--Wh
arc the prospects Of the wool trade d
season? 3. ID. HARRIS,
Secretary Ohio Wool Growers Associate
and Agricultural Editor Ohio Farm'
Cleveland, June 8, 1866.
New System Of SliOeing Horse