The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1867-09-27
FINANCE AND TRADE.
The Western Wool Trade as Seen
fraIn mn 4, usIRrn Ainnd ROinI

A Chicago paper of n late date urges
the wool growers of Illinois not TO send
their wool TO Boston. "If u Western
man sends his wool to Boston," it says,
che practically loses control of it, and
the wool buying Yankees are cute
enough to understand il. We
do not want to send our wool ont of H.
linois to dispose of it; if outsiders want
it, let them come and get it,
This is admirable theory, but cores
ponding practice is difficult. As it is
not given To man to enjoy at once all
the physical blessings of life, so it is
not given Ia communities to mOnOpOliZe
all the iustrumentalities fpublicwealth.
The great West, with characteristic am
bition, aSpires To he at once the produce
er, the buyer, and the seller of her own
mighty crops-three offices which never,
unless u most rare combination OF cir
cumstances, centre in the same person.
But Chicago recognizes no impossibili-
ties; in her dictionary thers is no such
half of Illinois, to direct the growing,
the bringing to market, aud the selling
of the entire wool crop of the State.
If this could be done-if il were practi-
cable to unite rho functions of farmer,
transport agent and buyer in one indi-
vidual or Chicago would do it;
that is beyond doubt. But let us in.
vestigate some facts touching the wool
trade and see why this cannot he done.
The National Association of Wooden
Manufacturers received reports of their
operations from 9l7 mills in the United
States, for nine months of the year 1865.
The amount of wool consumed by these
mills was 2,252 ,545 pounds, and of this
amount New Englands share was ,660,-
3l3 pounds, OF almost seventy-tve per
cent. The total value of WOODEN goods
manufactured in the United States, in
1864, was 1921, 1853 800; of this amount
New England furnished SS3,62a ,S7i, or
nearly seventy per cent. 1t is no exag-
geration, therefore, in view of these
figures, to say that two-thrds of all
the wool used in the country is con-
sumed by the six New England States.
Hence, Boston being the trade centre of
these States, is the natural wool market
of twO-thirds of the wool buyers in the
Union.
1t is quito natural and laudable for
the press of the West to seek to az
grandiZc the section which il represents,
and on whose prosperity its own exist
ence depends; but in its efforts TO that
end it cannot safeley ignore great CON-
mercial facts and influences. These in
fluences and the wool crop of the West
to Boston, and ST long us they are in
operation, no newspaper depreciation
will keep Western wool at home.
But just ut this time there is one ill.,
tluence far more potent than any of the
permanent ones which every one recog-
nizes. That arises from possession of
money ut the East. and the lack of il in
the West.
With never so good will Western
operators cannot buy without fRnds;
and growers are forced to go East for
market. The amount of money ad-
vauced by the wool houses of Boston,
on consignmeutS of wool, and in the
shape of loans 10 Western operators, to
enable them TO do business wonld foot
mp millions. A single honse has $780,
900 out in this way. Another consider
alton connected with the fact that goods
will 20 where the :naFket is. deserves
dtltitlOu.
In Boston a manufacturer can buy
just the kind of wool he wants; at the
West he must take lot aud run the
risk of finding greater or less quantity
therein which he cannot use. Buying
in Boston, he eau claim deduction Il
he finds i'll his purchase few heeces
not of the kind which he bargained for:
buying at the West he cannot do this;
there is no one whom he can fall back
upon.
Early this season large manufacture
er contracted with parties in the West
to furnish him wool ut fifty cents per
pound; when it arrived he found large
per centage of it unfit for use; but he
had no remedy.
To the manufacturer, therefore, Bos-
ton presents unsurpassed Inducements;
and to great extent, the advantages
which operate in his favor. help also
the wool grower. The latter is depend
emit Oh the former in no slight degree,
for the one has the money which the
other wants; and where the money is
the wool will seek it.-Roston CONNER
e;aI RHIlefio