The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1871-11-14
From the practicn Farmcr.Y
Wool and Woolens. and American VS..
Foreign Goods.

From the Practical Farmer
Wool and WOolens, and American VS..
Foreign Goods.
A few years ago we imported nearly
everything worn by the American people.
How is it now why we manufacture
all the different varieties, and nearly G.
nough to supply the markets better and
cheaper than the foreign made goods. A
few years ago, and people were crying
for "imported goods but they are now
satisfied with American made goods. They
see that we can make superior, as fash
ionable, and cheaper article than we
can import. Even if we could not, we
ought to patronize American in preference
to foreign manufacturers.
The wool industry is enc Of the most
important of this country. BY the cen
sus of 1860, it appears that there were
then in the United States 1868 wooden
and worsted mills, and 7l2 wool-carding
establishments. In 1864 the whole pro.
duction of woocns was estimated in val
ue at S120,000,000. And from 1868 to
1870, there were erected in the West
2l0 wooden mills. That we have made
great improvement in the meantime, both
in quality and finish of our woolens, is
unquestionable. We are now making far
more and better wooden fabrics than we
did prior to 1867. Ofthe s240, 100000
worth of wooden goods which we consume,
we manufacture about three-fourths.
When we come to look at it practically,
we find that for the woolens consumed by
the great masses Of our people, we are in
fact quite independent of all foreign coun-
tries. We are producing broadcloths,
superior cassimeres, beaver-cloths, Brus-
sells carpets, etc., (about one half which
we manufacture ourselves,) which most
Of the purchasers believe to be of foreign
manufacture, and value accordingly. or
this shameful fact, Mr.. Bigelow, in Ma
tional Association of Wool Manufacture
ers, says: Notwithstanding the unqucs-
tionable and the generally acknowledged
excellence of our wool manufactures, those
manufactures still suffer more or less in
the market, from prejudices and prepos-
sessions which are alike ill-founded. A
preference for fabrics Of foreign origin
has very naturally come down from time
to time, not very distant, when our do
nestle products were generally inferior"
"Of those who now habitually insist upon
buying the foreign article, some are hon.
estly ignorant. They are not aware OF
any improvement in American manufac-
lures. With others, it is the mercst ape
ing of senseless fashion,"
"But the dclusion could not long be
kept up, were it not for the interest Of
the dealer to sustain it. 1t is easy for
him to make larger profit on the i'm
ported article, from the fact that its
prpbable cost is not 50 generally known
In many instances the temptation is so
strong, that truth, honesty, and patriotism
make their appeal in vain" ".,ot only
are American productions Systematically
disparaged, but, in multitude Of instan-
ces, these very productions are labelled as
French, English, or German.-The cx-
tent to which this imposition is carried is
known only to those who are let into the
secret. There are, probably, very few
of us who have not thus been taken in
And, what | am inclined to regret as the
most melancholy thing of all, is the un-
questioned fact, that some Of the manu-.
facturer. themselves have consented to
the deed. | suppose the process by which
such bargain is consumated, to be some
what as follows A manufacturer, after
much toll and outlay, is prepared to in
troduce fabric not before made here,
He finds the market, however, fully sup
piled with the foreign article. Those who
hold it give him no encouragement for
they know that the introduction of the
domestic product must lessen their chance
for high profits. Between him and the
consumer (who must be reached somehow,
or his enterprise fails,) stands class OF
men whose interest it is to sell foreign
rather than domestic goods. "-"The re-
suit is compromise. Says the dealer to
him i like your goods but | cannot
sell them as American give them n
foreign brand, confne the product Of
your mill to me, and | will take all that
you produce The poor manufacturer,
seeing no alternative, closes the unhal-
lowed bargain" w. C. RIpeELY'
Bethany, W. Va, July 27, II.