The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1870-06-15
Wool PROSPECTS,.

reduction in the number Of sheep kept;
and many farmers, thinking this must
reduce the supply, are looking for better
prices. Wheat has also been depressed
in price, but the reduced amount sown
and unfavorable prospects of the crop,
have already led to quite an advance.
4 similar falling off in supplies and adj
vance in prices, is looked for in wool !;
but it is with much regret that have
to write that there is much less reason
to expect such change in wool. If
supplies were confined to American
flocks, something of the kind would no
doubt take place.
There are different reports in regard
to the number of sheep in the United
States. The New York Economist
argues that, although there may be a
falling off in wool-growing in the East
ern and Middle States, 'it is rapidly in
creasing in Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska,
Minnesota, California, Oregon, Texas,
Missouri and every other Southern
State; and with the exception Of comb
Ing wool and carpet woods, its will be
found that we have now large supply
of clothing woods. produced in this
country" The Missouri Republican
says there will be 10 to ID per cent
more wool than there was last year;
that someof the Western States, IS Hi
nols, Missouri and Kansas, will have
smaller crops, but the Eastern and
Southern States will more than make
up the deficiency. A moment thought
will show that these papers must be, at
least in part, mistaken when speaking
of the prospects in Ito them) more dis
tant sections So, too, may many farm
ers be mistaken when, Judging from the
reduced hOcks in their sections, they
conclude there must be a large falling
off in the amount Of wool produced.
The truth lies somewhere between the
two extremes, with perhaps not much
increase and no considerable falling off
the reduction in the older States be-
ing nearly offset by the increase in the
newer States and in California and
Texas
But whether the domestic supply is
larger or smaller than it was last year,
there Is reason TO expect sufficient
supply of wool. The imports into the
United States are again large. The
Monthly Report of the Department of
Agriculture give the amount of wool
in 1869 rs 1882, 392 lbs; the imports
of wool in lS6S were 20, 1882 lbs,
showing an increase of y, 363,OiO lbs.
in 1863. The wooden goods imported
in 1869 came to S34, 945, 900, against
ST. ,044 ,499 for those imported in 1868;
beside wooden rags and shoddy to be
used as wool to the amount of S69,3l3
in 1869, and S47,43S in 1868. The
wool imported in 1869 cost 81, ,OI5,
against 1901, 80 in 1868. Taken al
together, the wool, wooden goods and
shoddy imported in 1869 came to S42,-
lS5,4IS against $50, l23,3OI for the
same articles in 1868, showing an IN
crease in 1869 of $7,062,l7l over the
imports of the latter year.
The imports of wool into England are
also increasing The Mark Lane Err
press gives the official returns OF the
amount of wool imported into Great
Britain in 1869 as 20, l6l ,343 lbs,
which is 4,232, 449 lbs. more than the
imports Of 1868. The same journal,
Mav.2, gives the imports of wool for
the first three months of this year as
g., POI ,9l9 lbs, which is an increase OF
II .626, 80 lbs. over the imports for the
same period last year 1t also appears
that the number of sheep is increasing
in Australia, the Cape of Good Hope,
and in some places in South America;
but that in other places on the latter
continent they are decreasing. so 1t
seems there is little reason to expect
smaller imports this year. The fall in
the premium on gold also tends to IN
duce increased importations of wool;
Besides the increase in the crop, and
probable further reduction III the prlce
of cotton, will not be any help to the
price of wool.
True, many look for a large falling
off in the amount of sheep kept IN
South America, Australia and other
countries. The Mark Lane Express
has a review of the Liverpool wool
trade, in which the prospects are thus
noticed: THE reports from the colonies
(of England) represent that owing TO
the unremunerative results OF wool
shipments. for some time past, there
will be a material reduction during the
coming season; as, according to all ac-
counts from the river Plate districts, the
falling off in the growth of wool will be
very considerable there too, We may
venture to predict that if the rate OF
consumption now going on be not inter
fered with by any unforeseen events,
prices of fine woods (Which of course
from the great bulk of the Liverpool
trade) will steadily, though per
haps but slowly, tend upward ' This
appears very reasonable, and also
in accordance with the laws of supply
and demand, but it is not sustained
BY the large imports into England dur,
ING the first three months OF this year
or by the statements in other number Of
the same journal showing the increase
in sheep already referred to. Besides
it is but reasonable to suppose that tn,
low prices have led many to hold bach
wool, and that any material advanc,
will bring out these reserved stocks
while better times for wool-growers her
will also benefit those in South Americ'
Australia and other wool-producini
. -..,,-;,. whara wool can be profitabl