Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1867-09-20

said that the manufacturers of the country
had once promised the wool growers that
they would stand by them, and then had
abandoned them and tried to advance their
own interests by working against protection.
He thought that the wool growers had better
look out for themselves, and not trust any
more to the promises and arrangements of
the manufacturers.
&c. Merriam of Boston said that about
$500 900 900 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 vol growers that this
department of American agriculture should
be carefully attended to. The cutting off of
the cotton supply during the war largely in
creased the demand for wool, as well as its
production. The cultivation of cotton in
Egypt, Brazil and India and the resumption
of cotton planting in this country had sup
piled the markets with cotton, and had
diminished in some degree the demand for
wool There are now about $4,000, 900
persons in the United States, and the annual
consumption of wool is about 100 100000
pounds With so large a yield of wool as
we now have, the question Is how can the
market be controlled and protected to
make the business remunerative. In Brazil,
wool can be grown at three cents per pound,
and in Australia, the finest wool in the
world1can be grown for seven cents per pound
In view of these facts he regarded a duty of
ten cents pound none too high, and, in
fact, as not high enough. The South -imeri-
can and Australian woods can be imported
under that duty and sold at prices that will
ruin Vermont wool growers. 1t is of vital
consequence that the present tariff be main
tanned, and he knew that it was the design
of the Massachusetts manufacturers to try
NJ 4 oil - nph
at the next session of Congress. He thought
it would be useless for the wool growers to
contend with the manufacturers, for the
manufacturers have control of both the
political and agricultural press The manu-
tacturers are the shrewdest men in the
country and they will spare no money and
no pains to 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 and see
that the wool growing interest gets its
rights He said the reason why the WOODEN
mills are not running more generally Is not
on account of the excessive importation of
goods. but because there are more mills than
are wanted to manufacture the cloth needed
for in The country.
Edwin Hammond of Middlebury. made
some remarks in regard to the agreement
made between the manufacturers and wool
growers. \ great many of the manufac
turers We're always opposed TO any union
with the growers, and great many Of the
manufacturers in Massachusetts and else
where never became parties to that agree
ment. lie believed that those of them who
made an agreement 10 act in concert with
the wool growers upon the tariff question re-
NAMED faithful to their agreement, and il
was to be remembered that the present tariff
upon wool. which was four cents per pound
more than under the preceding duty, was OBJ
tanned through the assistance of the manu-
facturcrs He believed that the prices of
wool would improve when the country be
came cleared of the present Accommodations of
wool and cloth. And even at present prices
ne could see no reason for any discourage
mcnt. for the business Of wool growing in
Vermont was more profitable now than it
thirty years ago Then the product was
not more than three pounds of wool per
sheep and now it Is nearly five pounds per
head.
Victor Wright of Middlebury rose To pro-
test against provoking IA fight with the
manufacturers The present tariff could
not have been obtained without the aid Of
the manufacturers and he did not believe
it could be retained without their aid He
thought the wool growers would gain more
by being friendly 70 the manufacturers than
they would hv fighting against them
Henry Clark of Rutland defended the
manufacturers from the accusations that had
been made against them of acting in bad
faith with the wool growers. The present
tariff could never have been obtained without
the aid of the manufacturers.
Mr.. Hammond of Middlcburv said that
when the question of fixing the rate Of duty
was before the wool growers and mannfac-
turers committee. at New York. the wool
growers did not dare suggest a higher rate
of duty than the one now in force. The
rates OF twelve aud fifteen cents per pound
were suggested and discussed at this meet
ing but il was finally concluded that If they
made an effort to get more than ten cents
per pound and ten per cent advalorem, they
would get nothing at all.
Judge Colburn Of Springfield believed that
the wool growers might have gotten a more
favorable tariff without the manufacturers
than with them. They certainly could if
they had gone T. work in the right way
George Campbell OF W Westminster said that
he had lately been told by Buenos Ayre.
wool merchants in New York and Buenos
Avrcs wool growers. that our present tariff
was running their trade. He believed, there
fore, that the present tariff was a benefit to
the wool growers that it obtained
through the assistance of the manufacturers
and that the wool growers should cultivate
congenial feeling with the manufacturers.
In answer to questions by Mr.. Clark of
Rutland Mr. Merriam of Boston said that he
had no doubt that if the wool growers had
made direct issue with the manufacturers
upon the tariff question the wool growers
would have triumphcd. He also said that
he had never known Massachusetts United
States Senator to vote in favor of an agri-
cultural measure. They ALWAYS had favored
the manufacturers and he supposed they
always would.
y. ID. Smith of DANDY said that the wool
growers were better off than the cheese
makers Last year he sold his cheese for
twenty-one cents per pound. and few days
ago he was offered only ten cents per pound
for the same dairy Of cheese. He was in
favor of supporting the wool growers. and
urged all farmers to Join with the wool
growers in keeping up the present rate of
duty upon wool and cloth. People could
better afford to pay high prices for the cloth
they than to have the wool growing
business abandoned by those farmers who are
now engaged in it.
The discussion quite spirited, and
was well attended and we'll listened to. 1t
was by far the most spirited meeting of the
week, and 1t was not until ten clock that
any movement was made for adjournment.
The following are the premiums we notice
in this vicinity:
Adams Slate Company Northfeld. LIST
premium for roofing slate
Miss Adela Howes, Northfield. best Wax
Flowers, and best Tidy.
c. B. Tilden, Northfield, Best walking
Gelding, walking ID mile in SIG.
w Iittla 81 Eat