Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1866-05-02
Large Convention of Wool
Growers.

were reported for discussion.
Frst-The tariff duties on imported wool
Second-The best manner of putting III
and selling wool.
Third-WOol Growers Associations-thei
management and uses.
The first topic was then taken up, wheI
Major Mcfarland read the following:
The committee appointed to prepare bus
lness for this convention, beg leave to re
port as follows:
science of political economy that the consumption
Of a country should be the production of tina
country; and wheras, 1t has been the general pol
icy of our Federal Government ever since its or
ganiz ation, for the purpose of securing natiOna
wealth as wellas natiOnsl independence. to extend
Its fostering care and encouragement TO all brancn-
es of American Industry employed in developinI
the resources Of the country, by ievying sufficient
tarlH on foreign imp' rtatiOns 10 protect domestic
labor against the competition of lUw-pTiced tor
eign labor; and. whereas, under this pOlicS q vast
WcOl-Rroaing interest. eXten ling over a very large
proportion OF the United states, having grown up
and OF only become u part of the national wealth,
but in some States, and in many districts OF other
States. wO j is already the staple commodity; and.
whereas, from the TACT that WOOl, for several years
past has been lower in price, and since the war
mas been closed, reduced IN value more than any
other agricultural product, II Is abundantly man
ifest that tle tariff on imported wool is inadequate
10 produce the desired result of securing the pro-
duclon, IN our own country, OF 3 sufficient
amount OF wool 70 supply ITS consumption: but on
the contrary. unless the tariff be very materially
increased. this great branch of American industry
must and " II Ian guiSh and soon be absndOnel.
which would produce an incslculasle calamity.
lot only upon those engaged IN this branch OF
business. but also upon ali classes of
and the country generally; and, whereas further.
although the true Interests Of wool growers am
he manufactured of wool are reciprocal. yet from
q mistaken. Short-sighted policy, 10 order to Sc
cure pres ut gam, manufacturer being compare
lively lev in number. have by united effort sue
.aaAad in kgurnn ~ forsH m Unnl cO ahannd &c
pr .ctically TO be merely nominal. therefore,.
R,sotued. That while We do no object 70 any
smOuut of tariff manufacturer may demand and
congress may tnlnk proper 10 grant lor tnelr en-
eouragement and protection, this Convention re-
spectiully request Congress to give to the wool grow
ing interest Vt the country such protection as wall
not only encourage wool growers TO continue their
business, but Will also secure, at an carly period,
the prOducuOn In our own country of q sufficient
amount Of wool to supply all its demands. and
thus aid in securing nauVnsi wealth as well as
national Independence, which is SO essential at ali
times, and especially Of such vast importance IN
time OF war.
kesolped, That on all imported wool unwash-
ed, coming In competition with he wool produced
in this country. a duty of twelve cents per pound
Ue levied; o. washed wool double that amoant.
and on secured wool three times that amount, and
ten per cent dd GOT rem.
ResOtued. That the Senators and representa-
tiVeS In Congress from Pennsylvania, Ohio and
West Virginia. states represented in the Conven-
ton. be respectfully but earnestly requested to
use their influence 10 secure the object cohtemp-
ldteu IL U ANEGkO1uB IScOAulAOu6s
Col. Harris, of Cleveland, stated that the
basis of agreement between the joint COM
mittees OF the National Wool Growers As
sociation and the Manufacturers Association
had been Sd .isfactorily arranged, and that u
bill providing for . higher tariff Oh imported
wool would soon be submitted to Congress
through the Committee on Ways snd Means.
He did not feel at liberty to state the pro-
.bo Kill huk could cav ghaF fho-
would undoubtedly prove satisfactory to the
wool growers Of the county.
Major Ewing, of Washington county,
thought it was important that the Conven-
ton should know what decision the joint
committee had arrived at.
Col. Harris said that it had been decided
not q diEulge the proceedings Of the joint
committee at the present time.
Mr. Joseph Sharon, of Harrison county,
said that the agreement arrived at by the
Joint committee was not altogether ~Satisfac-
tory to many Congressman, Is he had ascer-
tanned by corresponding with them. We
may secure ten per cent ad v~cIorsn, but the
matter was not settled.
DR.. LeMoine, of Washington county, had
been in receipt of recent information in re-
gard to the subject, and understood that IN
washed wool should pay a duty of ten per
cent Gd ooEOrem and ten cents specific.
The question was then taken on the report
of the committee, when it was adopted unsn-
imously.
The next question ''The best manner of
up and selling WOOL was taken up.
DR., LeMoyne opened the discussion, and
advocated shearing in the grease and shear
ing early. Sheep could not thrive well in
their winter clothing during the warm days
of spring. One single storm in fall would
do more harm TO sheep than all the other
storms of the season. The speaker was in
favor of sheariRg wool In the grease, because
it gave it q uniformity. He also advocated
the asserting and stapliDg of wool, and plsc-
ing the different varieties in separate sacks.
The producers would then receive the full
value of their feeees as they would have an
acknowledged staple article. An inspector
should be appointed by the State TO examine
the different varieties and mark them official
". This idea was originated forty years
and had il been carried into effect then,
Washington county would have saved thou
sands of dollars.
Major Mcfarland said that an association
had been formed in Washington county
years ago, having for its object the
dDDOlubuleuk Dl Ill luspcClOIy Uul ID ndu oil
ed to succeed. He believed the object was a
good one, and hoped it would be carried in
to effect
Col. Harris said that the manufacturers
did not object to receiving wool in the grease,
provided it was uniform. The old method
of selling wool was very unsatisfactory, and
he believed the depot system was the best for
the manufacturer and grower. He then
- =, o,o,T.- go, NJ GnoIon nF T1a,o
land, who proposed establishing a wool
agency, where the different staples could be
assorted, and sales made at the rate of one
third cent per pound.
Major Ewing did not consider the plan
proposed as practical. A similar project
was carried into effect in Ohio some years
ago. by the celebrated John Brown, but 1t
q failure. He was in favor of the old
system-wash the wool on the sleeps back,
and wash it clean. 1t was unnecessary TO
carry dirt from Ohio to Massachusetts. The
manufacturer was q good judge of wool, and
and should put it up in good order. There
not 3 wool grower present who can say
that our wool is as good as it was eight or
Ten years ago.
Col. A. G. Manchester, of Washington
county, was in favor of washing wool, but
bOu4c Abbclllpl auOulu NC RAfOA W
The price. He was one of the pioneers of
the present movement, and as representa-
lives of the best sheep growing country in
the Union were present, he hoped some prae-
teal suggestions would be offered.
DIR. LeMoyne said the argument had been
that we should not send dirt to
New England. 1t does not cost more than
or two cents to cover the transportation
IF a pound of grease, and the sheep would be
benefited by not being washed. The man
ufacturers wanted wool in the grease, and as
suited both parties, why not adopt the sys-
.em.
Mr.. Goodall was introduced to the Con-
and read a lengthy description of
.he aims and objects of his proposed wool
agen, J.
The third proposition submitted by the
,ommittee-"The Wool Grower's Associa-
ion, their uses and managements"-was
up.
Col. Harris gave a succinct history of the
Wool Growers organizations, snd cited
iome of the benefits which had already been
from them.
Mr.. James Archer, of West Virginia,
moved that Thomas Sweeny, of West Vir-
GINA, L, NJ. Montgomery, of Mahonlng
county, Ohio, and DIR. j. +. LeMoyne, of