The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1874-02-10
Our Consul p,ion OF Woo.

United States is much larger than
would be supposed by any one not
familiar with the subject. The full re"
turns have been made OF the imports
for 1873, ard are arranged in tabular
form in the Journal of Commerce. and In
some other papers. The first mention
ed paper gives the total imports into the
United States at % .46l ,255 lbs; james
Lynch, of rev York. gives the amount
in his circular at %, 544. 900 lbs, and
the whole imports into the United
States, so, 100000 lbs., of which 6,OO2,.
900 lbs. were re,exported. The journal
of Commerce tables show that OF the
imports of New York, little less than
one-fourth was imported from the
Cisplatine Republic less than one
fnh from England; one-seventh
from Russia; one-twelfth each
from Australia and the Argentine
Republic; one.slxteenth from Africa |,
one.tweniieth each from France and
Hindostau, and the balance from varI'
Gus other points. Probably portion
of the wool imported from England is
not grown there but is from the Cape
or Australia. 1t will thus be seen that
a majority OF the imported woods are
what are termed clothing woods. At
the outset OF the late panic there was a
prospective famine OF combing woods,
but that depression shut up several
large factories, which threw their stock
on the market, thus supplying present
needs OF other factories. Should those
mills wish to start up,-as they must
or rust out, there is co wool for them
OF any consequence, even in Canada.
Lynch's Circular, above referred TO-.
gives the whole clip of the United
States at ia $4,000 pounds and the
total consumption during 1873 at 227, :
$4,000 pounds. The Economist estl-
mates the clip of 1878 at not much
above 100000 pounds. Taking
this estimate as correct, the consump-
ton for the year 1873 is over 2OO,-
100000 pounds. The Boston Shipping
List estimates the consumption at
22OO0O,0OO pounds. The Economist
says that we are now short sixty mill
lion pounds Of wool to run mills tor
the next elk months. and where are we
to get this from seems a puzzle that
worries economists and manufacturers
alike"
In the Prairie Farmer OF January "A,
are given estimates from Boston paper
stating that the stock on hand (surplus
the Farmer calls iO January |, was
l25, 4S4,O07 lbs. Lyuch's Circular
gives the stock on hand at 33,964, 600;
which estimates are corroborated by
the circular of George William Bond d
Co., also of New York. The difference
is in the estimates Of wool in dealers
hands only, and in those OF dealers and
manufacturers both. The difference OF
81 ,320,007 is the estimated stock in the
hands OF manufacturers, and OF course
is not in the market.
The Prairie Farmer, in forecasting
the probable needs and supply, says
that the California clip will soon be in
the market and will supply portion
OF the sixty millions requirements. But
the Economist objects very strongly to
the has.y use OF the next clip, saying
that "lhe fact is any manufacturer, nc
matter how experienced, cannot make
a good cloth out Of fresh wool. And
here is where the great trouble arises
with our manufacturers Nearly hal
the goods they make are mere rubbish
with q ranking. greasy smell, and the
first hurricane that comes along only
brings the dust along in clouds to find
the greatest protectionists in the land
are the very men that will not touch OF
wear a yard of American CLOTH
The fact then stands ont very plainly
that more wool Is absolutely necessary
to supply our manufacturers, and that
there is every prospect that prices will
be remuneratlye 10 the farmer for some
time TO come. The immense consump'
ton of wool in the United States ought
to be provided for by her own farmers
Soil and climate have fitted our country
to be pre-eminently wool producing;
The broad pararies at the West and
South can produce clothing in any
quantity il used for that purpose; and
the valuable email farms near oul
large towns and cities can support
probably ten times the number OF long
wool sheep they now DO. In WOO
growing. as in all other agricultural
pursuits, the demand for fret quality o.