Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1866-05-23
Doing up Wool.

George Wight, South Alabama, Gen
esee Co., N. Y, pretty pointedly dissentl
from the opinions expressed by ourselves
on various occasions against the propri
ty of doing up dirty tags in the fleece
and against using an extra size and quan,
tity of twine in tying. He writes: 81
understand livery differently. The buy.
er can see the size and quantity of string
such as we find it in the market, and be
knows there are unwashed tags in every
fleece, so there is no deception and con
sequently no dishonesty. The buyel
does not ask US to put up the heeces IL
a better condition, nor would he pay US
any more if we did. We should only be
benefting the manufacturer at our OWL
expense, without being called on to dc
so. If the buyer would make the price
according to the quality and condition OF
the wool, there might be reform in these
matters"
We cannot undertake to say what are
the customs of wool buyers and sellers in
Mr.. Wight's neighborhood, but in some
thirty-fiVe years experience, we have
never yet seen buyer who was willing to
give Just as much for wool put up with
u
amount of twine, as if properly put up.
Such a buyer, if purchasing for himself,
would be fool; if purchasing for anoth
er, seoundrel. We have heard of neigh
borhoods where it is said to be customary
to put unwashed tags in washed feeces.
With a distinct understanding on both
sides that such is the local custom, if the
buyer sees fit to purchase on those terms
tits his own concern. We have even heard
it asserted that the manufacturer prefers
to have the tags unwashed, because tub
washing felts and otherwise puts the wool
out of condition. But we never happen
ed to find any such manufacturer, and
every one knows that tub washed wool
outsells unwashed wool in market.
As regards the quality of twine used,
we can suppose a case where the use of
an extra and unnecessary amount would
not be fraudulent, viz: where it is put
on the feeces as uniformly as the nature
of the case admits of, and where the
amount is distinctly stated to the pur-
chaser. But what would be the object
of using two, three or four ounces of un-
necessary twine on a fleece, if the buyer
is to be honestly told of it? 1t is mere
nonsense to say that any buyer will know
ingly pay as much for any considerable
amount of unnecessary twine as for wool.
No; the men who purposely use twice
or three times the proper amount of
tWine on part of their wool, have mo-
tive. They don't do it for nothing, and
then tell the buyer of it, That would be
ehild's play. Their object is to cheat
And unless the buyer is on his guard, and
not only examines every part of the pile,
but every seperate fleece, he is liable to
be thus cheated. We have seen feeces
wound with quarter of pound of twine
taken from lots where the outsid heeces
had no unusual amount on them. They
lurked in some unexamined corner, and
we're not found, because, no fraud being
they were not looked for
According to our correspondents osten-
sible theory, this. was justifable conduct
on the part of the seller As with the
Spartan, the crime is not supposed to be
in the stealing, but in being found out
1t is true that ''the buyer can see the
size and quantity of string" by examin-
ing every fleece. But is il considered
requisite among respectable men that the
wool buyer shall be compelled specially
to examine each separate fleece to guard
against an unfair advantage being taken
Of him? Do respectable men hold that
they have a right to take such advantage
if not thus watched? Would not any
man feel strongly tempted to
kick a buyer off his premises, who thus
scrutinized every separate fleece
on the theory that it was necessary to-
49,,
We have spoken about Mr.. Wight's
"ostensible" theory, because we trust he
does not mean exactly what his words
imply. But when he thus squarely con-
demns our often-repeated views, he makes
his own issue, and we can only answer
what he says. We undertake to aver
that, in advocating the rule he does, he
advocates one not justified or acted on
BY honorable business men of any des-
sription, whether merchants, mechanics,
Dr. farmers. Would an honorable mer-
chant knowingly sell damaged, say
torn piece of broadcloth, to a purchaser
without apprizing him of the fact, be-
cause the damage was visible and might |
have been seen by the purchaser had he
ooked for it2 Would an honorable me- |
,hanic sell cracked stove, or a broken
wagon, in like manner, if the defect,
hough visible on careful inspection, was
lot observed by the buyer?
We believe in progress, but have a
,hoiee in the direction of it. We sincere
y trust and believe that the wool growers
# the United States. as body, will neV-
II, on any such excuses as those above
endered, progress downward to the plane |
# tricksters and sharpers. as they will |
Issuredly do if they adopt the modes of
their wool, justified by Mr..
Wight. s
Our correspondent is egregiously mis-
AIKEN in supposing that the condition in
which woods are put up do not influence
heir price Their usual or habitual con-
ition in a particular neighborhood or
egion soon becomes known to those who
end agents 10 buy them. Agents are
restricted within certain ran
es of price, and those restrictions are
made in reference to the anticipated quail
y and condition of the woods they are
o buy. If sent to region where woods are
sually badly put up, the maximum price
lowed to be paid is lower. Therefore, it
ften happens that woods of the best
uality and condition will not command
heir full prices in the neighborhood of
oor reputation. So, in reality, the un-
buyers complained of by
ur correspondent have no strong auxii-
ries in prosecuting a reform in these
as those who carry out the doc
rine preached by himself
We by no means contend that the wool
rover is bound to put his wool in splen-
id condition, and tie each fleece with
single thread" when he can get no pay
n so doing. What we contend is, that
D deception or tricksry shall be prac-
ced by him. He has 8 right to sell his
ool, washed or unwashed, as he choos-
!. But he has no right to stuff dirtier
from coarser heeces, or dead j
fleece of different quality
condition, without distinctly making '
nown the fact to the buyer.-[R. S. {
ANDALL. @