Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1867-10-04
Interesting Discussion on the Wool Ques-
tiOn.

DiSCussion on lne w OOlQut
: tion.
One of the most interesting exercises CO.
nec'ed with the State Fair, was the discu
sion at the Farmers meeting, on Thursda
evening, upon the wool question.
E. II. Griswold of West Salisbury. W:
the first speaker. He alluded to the gener,
depression in the wool market throughou
the country, and said that the eject of thi
depression was more serious at the Wes
than 1t Is at the East. Probably three-iourth
OF the sheep in Ohio will be slaushtere
during the present year. Any long eontin
ued depression in the wool market will driv
hosts of farmers out of the business. III
believed that so many men would drop WOO
raising throughout the country that it woul,
cause the price of wool to advance ten Of
twenty cents per pound during the next veal
or two. The Vermont farmers ought to try
and raise good class OF sheep, independ
entity OF the wool that they directly aim for
lie could see no reason for any permanent
encouragement in regard to wool growing.
lie believed that the trade in sheep would
soon be as lively in Vermont as it had been.
| though the prices might not be as high as
! they were during the war.
Victor Wright Of Middlebury, said that
he was not discouraged as wool grower and
could see no reason for any wide spread dis
couragement. Low prices must be expected
occasionally, and there was no sense in aban-
doning the wool growing business because
the prices were temporarily depressed. lie
expected the farmers and wool growers of
the State to do all IN their power to retain
the present tariff. For himself be would not
knowingly vote for any man, for State Leg
islature even, who was not known to be de-
cldedly IN favor Of a protective tariff
There are now about 80 coo 900 persons
IN the United States, and the annual con-
sumption of wool is about 100 ,0OO, 900 lbs.
With so large a yield of wool as we now
have, the question is how can the market be
controlled and protected SO far as to make
the business remuneratiye. In Brazil wool
can be grown at three cents per pound. and
IN Australia, the finest wool in the world can
be grown for seven cents per pound. In nview
OF these facts he regarded duty Of ten cts.
pound as none too high, and in fact, not
high enough. The South American and
Australian woods can be imported under that |
duty and sold at prices that will ruin Yer /
mont woOl-growers. 1t is Of vital conse-
quencc that the present tariff be sustained |
and he knew that It was tie design of the |
manufacturers to try and get
Mr.. David 4. Wells tariff through at the .
next session of Congress. He thought it
would be useless for the wool growers to con-
tend with the manufacturers. for the manu-
iacturcrs have control Of both the political
and agricultural press. The manufacturers
are the shrewdest men in the country. and
they wal spare no money and no pains to
carry their point. The farmers arc not or
sanlzed for competition, and are not prepar-
ID to contend for their rights He urged
the Importance Of getting the press interest
I'd IN behalf Of the wool growers, and of
having able and practical agents employed
10 watch Congress and see that the wool
growing interest gets its rights He said
hat the reason why the woollen mills are
not running more generally Is not on account
II the excessive importation Of goods, but
lecause there are more mills than are want
d to manufacture the cloth needed for use
n the country.
Edward Hammond, of Middlebury, made
.ome remarks in regard to the agreement
made between the manufacturers and wool
growers. \ great many Of the manufactur-
rs were always opposed to any union with
he growers, and great many Of the manu-
in Massachusetts, and elsewhere
loyer became parties to that agreement. He
,eheyed that those Of them who made an
greement to act in concert with the wool
,rOwers upon the tariff question remained
aithiul to their agreement. and 1t was to lie
emembered that the present tariff upon wool,
which was four cents per pound more than
nder the preceding duty, was obtained
Trough the assistance of the manufacturers.
Henry Clark, of Rutland, defended the
from the accusations that had
zen made against them of acting in bad
aIth 10 tie growers. The present tlrif
Ould never have been obtained without the
id Of the manufacturers.
ii. Z. Merriam Of Boston. said that SIOO,-
1000 was invested IN wool growing in the
nited States, and 1t was Of the first impor-
ance to all wool growers, and TO all farmers
Who were not wool growers, that this depart
nent Of American agriculture should be
arefully attended to. The cutting of Of |
he cotton supply during the war largely
increased the demand for wool. as well as
IS production.
George Campbell of Westminster, said
i4tsN Az Ae-- AAthAf jul WIN - AllNo ]
vool growers, that our present tariff was
unning their trade. lie believed therefore,
hat the present tariff was benefit to the
WOOL growers that it was obtained through
he assistance of the manufacturers, and that
be wool growers should cultivate congenial
ceiling with the manufacturers.
A. ID. Smith OF Dandy. SAID that the wool
,rowers were better of than cheese makers.
-ast scar he sold his cheese for twenty-one
'ents per pound, and few days ago be was
,tered only ten cents per pound for the same
larry Of cheese. lie was in favor Of sup
1orting the wool growers, and urged all
armers to Join with the wool growers in
leeping up the present rate Of duty upon
yoOl and cloth. People could better afford
o pay high prices for the cloth they use
han to have the wool growing business
abandoned by those farmers who are now
,ngaged in it.
The discussion was quite spirited, and was
we'll attended and listened to.