The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1878-02-11
THE WOOL TRADE.
The New Tariff Bill and the Changes
Made-Reasons For and Against an
Increase or the Duty on Wool.

Made-ReasOns For and Against an
Increase or the Duty on Wool.
Pittsburgh Leader.
The new tariff bill, as reported, makes
few changes in regard to wool. L, takes
off the ad Ualorem duty entirely and re-
duces the specific duty from II to. 10
cents per pound according to the quality
of tie product. A well.known gentle
man of this city, DR.. Hussey, who is as
well posted in wool statistics as he is in
steel and copper, has given US some in
formation about the way the present tariff
was effected. He says that about the
time the present tariff bill was in com.
mittee, he, thinking that the farmers and
sheep men were not represented TO any
extent in Congress, and that there would
be no mention made of wool, wrote 10
some friends in Ohio, telling them that
they ought to get up q large mass meet
Ing at Syracuse, n. Y. They had big
tzme anc passed resolutions thst COM
mittee should be appointed to press the
matter on the Tariff committee and to
urge large duty to be imposed, but were
brought up short by the protest of the
WOODEN manufacturers that it would make
the manufactured articles cost too much,
unless they were protected also. A COM
promise was effected, by which both wool
and woolen manufacturers were made
subject to duty. About the same time
high-tsriff man from Philadelphia, in
conversation with DR.. Hussey, stated that
he was opposed to duty on wool, as he
did not think that this country would be
able 70, long while to supply the de-
mand, because the government would
require so much woolen goods for the
army. DR.. Hussey stated to MIN that the
production then was from eighty 10 nine
ty million pounds of wool yearly, and
that by natural increase the supply would
double in three years. The Philadelphis
man was much surprised at this statement,
and, after hesitatsng q little, he agreed
with DR.. Hussey, and determined to press
the subject, but was then Informed OF the
action of the convention in Syracuse, and
the subject was dropped. DR.. Hussey
thinks that there ought to be duty on
wool of from forty to fifty cents per
pound, 80 as to protect our farmers, who
raise their sheep on lands that are worth
from $50 to $50 per acre, and have to pay
30 much for the herding OF them and
from five to six cents per sheep for shear
ing.
In South America the sheep rsisers do
not have any expense at all, compare
lively. Their lands are not worth
much and the herding costs nothing, and
they get their sheep sheared at cost OF
only three-fourths of cent each, or sew
enty-fve cents per hundred sheep. Bue-
nos Ayres is the greatest shipping point,
and the wool is sent to this country by
the ship load, in very dirty unwsshed
condition. DR.. Hussey has heard OF
csrgo that arrived at New York and was
sold, or offered for sale, at the rate oil
about six cents per pound, and as there
was about fifty per cent. OF 1t dirt 1t cost
the buyer about twelve cents per pound
this was duty paid. He thinks that a
high duty would hurt no class, and
would reilly benefit the country, as 1t
would make the land more valuable by
making one of its products (wool) more
ysausble, and IS sgriculturge is the
bsgis of all wealth, this action would be
one OF wisest things the tariff committee
could do. ~
The production of wo6rin the United
States amounts in round numbers to over
two hundred and fifty million pounds OF
wool year, and about fifty million head
of sheep. This is q vary large Interest,
and he thinks it ought to be protected.
On the other hard Mr. Barker, wool
dealer, thinks that the duty on woods
should not be increased, S it is good
enough now. be says that ii the duty
should be raised 10 forty cents, or above
that rate, it would enable some OF the
sheep men to 90 into the raising OF cheap
and low grades of sheep; that the only
chance the American farmers have now
is that they raise the best grades OF wool,
excepting the Cape and Australian
wools; thst the South Amercon wools
are OF the lowest class, and il the duty
was raised our farmers might 90 into the
common sheep business, and that would
have the contrary effect and would de-
preciate instead of increasing the value
Of the woolen trade. Mr.. Barker says
LnaL sneep TeaIIS pay IO'
account of their well.known fertilizlng
qualities. He is opposed, as wool deal
er, to any change in the new bill, as he
saws that sll the men who have stuck TO
the wooden trade alone, have been and
are making money, though not much.
There two statements are conhicting'
but are TO some extent both plausible.
This ought to be worked up, and If there
is Injustice done 10 our farmers and TO
agricultural interests, COMMITTEES should
be appointed, to present the matter In
the most favorable light possible, to the
tariff committee IN Congress. A subject
like this ought not TO be overlooked when
other trades and interests are beng
pressed on the committee.