Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1867-09-27
agricultural.
VERMONT STATE FAIR.
DIsoussGoN ON WooL.

]
E. H. Griswold Of West Salisbury was the
first speaker He alluded to the general de-
preston in the wool market throughout the
country and said that the effect of this depres-
sion was more serious at the West than it ia
at the East. Probably three fourths of the
sheep in Ohio will be slaughtered during the
p esent year. Any long continued depression
in the wool market will d i've hosts of farmers
out Of the business. He believed that so
many men would drop wool raising through
out the country that il would cause the price
OF wool to advance 10 or 20 cents per pound
during the next year or two. The Vermont
farmers ought to try and raise a good class Of
sheep, independently If the wool that they
directly aim for. He could see no reason for
any permanent encouragement In regard to
wool growing He believed hat the trade in
sheep would soon be as lively in Vermont as
/ 1T had been, though the prices might not be
as high as they were during the war.
/ Victor Wright Of Middebury said that be
wa not discouraged as wool grower, and
could see no reason for any widespread dis
couragement. Low prices must be expected
occasionally, AMI there was no sense in abau-
doning the wool growing business because the
prices were temporarily depressed He ex-
State to do all in their power to retain the
present tariff. For himself he would not
knowingly vote for any man, for the State
Legislature even, who not known to be
decidedly in favor OF strong protective tariff.
Nathan Gushing Of Woodstock spoke OF
the unsettled state Of the business Of the
country, and expressed his confidence that
the business of wool growing would come
around right BY -and-by.
Judge Joseph w. Colburn of Spring field
said that the manufacturers Of the country had
once promised the wool growers that they
uld stand by them, and then had abandon
ed them and tried to advance their own inter-
eat by working against protection. He thoug ht
that the wool growers had better look out for
themselves, and not trust any more to the
manufacturers.
Ii. 9. Merriam of Boston said that abou!
400, 900 600 was invested in wool growing in
the United States, and it was of the first
importance to all wool growers, and to all
farmers who were not wool growers, that this
department Of American agriculture should be
carefully attended to- The cutting IF of the
cotton supply during the war largely increas-
ed the demand for wool, as well as its pro-
duction. The cultivation of cotton in Egypt.
Brazil and India, and he resumption Of cotton
planting in this country, mad supplied the
markets with cotton. aud bad diminished in
some degree the demsnd for wool. There are
now about SO 600, 900 persons in the United
States, and the annual consumption of wool is
about 100, 600, 900 pounds With so large a
yield of wool as we now have the question is
how can the market be controlled and protec-
ed so as 10 make the business remuuerative
In krayU ynnI ran ha urpup q car,a 80.
pound, and in Australia, the finest wool in the
1 world can be grown for cents per h. In
view Of these facts he regarded duty Of 10
/ cents pound as none too high, aud, in fact
as not high enough. The South American
and Australian woods can be imported under
that duty and sold a. prices that will rum
Vermont wool growers. 1t is of vital sonse
quence that the present tariff be maintained,
and he knew that il was the design Of the
Massachusetts, manufacturers to try and get
Nh. David A. Wells tariff through At the next
session Of Congr,ts. He thought il would be
useless for tn wool growers to contend with
the manufacturer, If the manufacturers have
uonIsal Of both the political and agricultural
press. The manufacturers are the shrewdest
men in the country, and they will spare no
money and no pains Ia carry their points.-
The farmers are not organized for competition.
and are not prepared to contend for their
rights. He urged the importance of getting
the press interested in behalf Of the wool
growers. and Of having able and practical
agents employed to watch Congress aod see
that the wool growing interest get its rights
be said that the reason why the wooden mills
a'e not running more generally is not on ac-
count of the excessive importation of goods,
but because there are more mills than are