The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-06-15
HARD 4 TINES.
Conversation with q Prominent
Wool Buyer-A compliment TO
West virginia Wool.

West Virginia Wool.
WNahington (PL) Observer Of Yesterday
Mr.. George D. Workman, a prominent
wooden manufacturer Of Massachusetts,,
and a regular buyer of Washington county
wool for the past twenty-five years, put
10 an appearance Saturday night. He
usually buys from three to FIVE hundred
thousand pounds, and will probably do so
thi. year If farmers will sell. he is
thoroughly posted on the present statu.
Of the wool market, and with the good OF
our readers in view, we sought an inter
view with him at his hotel Monday even.
ing. Alter the usual civilities had passed
We asked him where he purchases the
greater part OF his wool. His answer wa1
IN Washington county, Ohio, and West
Virginia.
q. How does Washington county wool
compare with Ohio and West Virginia
wool2
A. You have a good grade Of woolhere
but Il ia not near 70 we'll washed as in
either Ohio or West Virginia. The wool
bought In this county shrinks from IS TO
so per cent "a statement that Il great
many farmers would not believe.
Q. Are Mt you buyers to blame for this
state Of thiugs7 You refuse 10 reward a
farmer who gives his wool a thorough
washing and he Is forced 10 take the same
price his neighbor gets for this clip that
\. I'M, half waahed, What incentive has
man 10 put decent wool on the market
A. That criticism, / think, applies to
your local buyers but not 10 me.
Q. What do you propose to pay this
4. Not over thirty cents, unless in
exceptional cases. As l came through
New York State the other day, | was
offered a large clip for thirtY-four cents
that last year sold for iorIy.eight. The
man would have sold had l offered thirty
three, but ever that was too high.
Q. What is your explanation Of the
heavy fall from last years prices2
A. What is your farmer getting for his
butter2 Six and eight cents. What
il he getting for his hay? Three and
four dollars a ton. What does the gem
eral produce Of his farm bring him I
Merely nominal prices. These being the
facts in the case how can he expect fancy
prices for his wool? Everything is down
70 the lowest bottom prices. Wool is not
too low at thirty cents. Manufacturers
are making but little money at the pres
emit depressed state Of the market. The
trouble IL, buyers made a little money
two years ago and the result was, last
year they made did fools Of themselves
by paving more than could be afforded.
Norman touched wool at last years prices
but no lost heavily on it. l sunk ten
thousand dollars on what | bought. The
average farmer makes 4 great mistake
when he thinks buyers want low prices.
The lower the prices the harder for them
10 buy and the closer the profits. The
most money I ever made on wool was in
1854, when I paid 81 90 and 81 10. Buy
ers rejoice at high prices as we'll as the
farmers.
Q, What do you think Of next years
prospect?
a. Prices will look up a little. We
msy'pot have struck the bottom OF hard
times yet but / am inclined to think we
have.
Mr.. Workman did not suspect he was
talking to u newspaper mar until the
conversation was over, and hence could
hardly have talked for effect. He is a
very affable, intelligent gentleman. We
believe he was perfectly sincere in what
he said. Whether he is correct or not in
his positions 10 another question. We
will leave our readers to judge Of that.