The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1870-07-30

WItIo Oul LuoLE OWu raves ouu w C1..-~
have every thing for nothing, with the
grateful thanks of those who are competing
for our custom. To achieve this argument
Mr.. Wells carefully avoids the one over
whelming Influence whose effect on the
WOODEN trade throughout the world, no tar
if could wholly counteract, viz: the sup
DIV Of cotton. The withdrawal Of the
southern cotton supply, during tbe rebel
lion, increased the demand for wool
throughout the world. In Australia the
clip rose from 100000 TBS in 1859, to
$4,000, 900 lbs in 1866; an increase in
seven years of los per cent. In the Cape
of Good Hope, from 1900, 900 TBS to
q 900, 900 lbs; an increase of 81 per
cent. In La Plata, from 10000, 900 lbs
to 100000 lbs; an increase Of Zoo
per cent. No doubt this increased prOduc.
ton was at first stimulated by increased
prices abroad as well as at home. Yet 1t
is a singular illustration Of the tendency Of
foreign shippers to reduce their prices, in
order to compensate for our increase in the
tariff and hold our markets, that while in
1859, 1850 and 1861 Cape wool was ship
ped to us free at l8 to 10 IA cents a
pound in 1868, duty of three cents per
pound and per cent Gd U0Lorens being
imposed, the foreign price fell to 1872 cents;
in 1864, the duty having been increased to
six cents per pound the price fell to l4.8
cents in 1867, the price opened at 15.l
cents but in the spring Of this year, the
duty being increased to ten cents per pound
and / per cent. 0d V0Lorena, for the last
six months of the year, the price fell still
further to 1874. In 1868 the foreign
price still further declined to 1O9, that on
our actual importation the foreign producer
paid the chief share Of the tariff without
seriously diminishing its quantity.
The nominal rise from 35@48 cents per
pound in April. 1851, to 90@$1.17 cents
per pound in August. 1864, is in reality q
decline, since the intermediate rise in gold
to $50, would have required that. wool
should rise to from 80 cents to $l.34 IL,
whict it never actually did. The nominal
rise in wool, though not more than ade-
quate to maintain its former gold price, al
least most of the time, was much more
rapid than the rise of mutton, wages, land,
rates of interest or any of the other ex
penses Of producing wool and wooden goods,
and hence for a while gave a large profit
and rapid growth to both industries. In
the eleven years, from 1850 to 1860, In
elusive, we imported in the aggregate,
wool and woolens to the value of about
$50, 900. 900 year, or $3.50, 1882 SO es
timated production for the same time was
only about S26, 100000 a year, or 1894,
$4,000 /; importing more than We pro
duced by SIS, 4O2,232.
But under the stimulus caused by the
withdrawal of the cotton supply, our an
nual product Of wooden fabrics rose from {
value of SOS. 1856, 1868 in 1860, to IT'S,
100000 in 1869, while our product of raw
wool had tripled.
In Wisconsin alone, an average State
the growth in ten years was as follows
Number If sheep in 1859 $4,000 number
Of factories IS. In 1869 l 1926, 900; sheer
factories So.
In Iowa the growth was greater, and il
Ohio nearly as great. Here we have sim
ultaneously an enormous increase in boil
the domestic and foreign production, at
tended by very modelate rise in the do
nestle price. OF course, had we been de
pendent in any degree upon the foreign
supply, as were the rebels Of the South, j
would have been inadequate, and our sol
diers during the war would have been al
naked and ragged as those of the rebellion
1t is net too much to say that our abilit,
to clothe our armies in the deeces of GU
home flocks, made up in our home mill
was one of the potent influences in secur
ing our success The chief rebel officer
have repeatedly declared that our superior
ity in iron and wooden manufactures NOR
than offset their advantage in fighting o.
defensive lines. In consequence of To
rise in the foreign gold price, we bad, du
ring the war, but little importation Q
WOOL Our manufacturers and farmers bel
the market under the moderate tariff 0
1861, and the high premium on gold. Blu
in 1865 and 1866 there was certaint
that with the decline of gold, and return Q
i southern cotton to the mar ket, there wOul
be heavy decline in wool, and imminen
danger that the production developed b
the war would be found excessive, not onl
here but in South America, Australia an
the Cape of Good Hope. The questio
for American farmers, therefore, was sim
ply, will our interests be promoted b
opening our ports to the woods of DE-
clining market, and surplus productio
throughout the world, or shall we take car
of theirs ?" A decline in wool and sIaugt
ter of sheep were inevitable everywhere
for wool cannot permanently compete wit
cotton. But by passing the tariff Of 1887
the tide Of foreign woods was turned aside
our markets declined gradually, and
heavy importation, and sudden prostratio
Of our wooden industries, were averted
That this tariff has not increased the fol
eign importation is clearly shown by tn
returns of 1860, and of the year after it
enactment Value of wool imported il
1860 1882, 1852. In 1868 $3,915 ,202
Value Of woolens imported in 1860 So,
937, 100 in 1868 80, 4O9,749. Decreas
in woods 1926, 800; decrease in wooden
s., 527 ADJ.
Here stand combined all the advanta
geous effects that can possibly ensue iron
tariff, to wit;
Though the amount Of the importation
has declined the revenue is enhanced.
2. The supply for consumers is MGR
abundant and cheaper than under fire.
trade.
3. The domestic production has beer
tripled within ten years, and is not now 81
depressed as the wool and wooden business
in other parts Of the world especially
have wooden manufactures in France anC
wool growing in Australia been more de
pressed than here.
4. We have advanced to the manufac
ture Of fabrics Of improved quality and fin
isb, especially shawls, cassimeres and beaver
cloths. While our American purchaser
have a silly and stupid preference for for