Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1879-05-02
Wool and W0Ollens.



Mr.. George William Bond, of q. W. Bond
4 Co, of Boston, firm which probably
handles more wool than any other in the
United States, was interviewed the other day,
AZ to the business outlook. He said that
for 20 years there had not been 50 encourag
ing a time As the present. People are
beginning to realize that they can get
living by legitimate mcans-by hard knocks
and hard work. lilo did not regard the dis
putaticns in Congress as anything serious at
present or as likely to have any damaging
effect upon the reviving industries of the
country 50 long as the member abstaincd
from interference with tie currency lie
thought that judicious revisal Of the
present tariff would be of great advantage
but, if it was not iudicious, it would be
better for the present laws to remain in
force. The tariff of 1867 was not sought by
the wooIlen manufacturers but was forced
upon them by the wOOl-grOwers, who de-
manded an enormous duty on foreign wool.
The duty has had the effect to stimulate the
wool-growing industry of the new States
and render it improbable in the older
States. "What we want said Mr.. Bond,
"is rise tariff prepared by a commission,
some members OF which should he experts,
to take the whole matter into consldera-
tion aud report bill, after due CON
sideration, adanted to the changed ;ondi-
tion of affairs since the last tariff bill became
a law. The price of wool is SO low at the
present time that the tariff is prohibitory to
all but the grades which are not raised in
this country. We do not raise the coarse
carpet woOls, but We raise other woods
sufficient to supply all the needs of the
country.
wEHAvE THE BEST MACHINERY,
and the most skilful workmen, and can pro
duee fabrics which, in texture, quality and
color, will rival any Of the products Of for
eign looms but, as We allow London and
Paris 10 fix the styles for Us, we must have
more or less of foreign fabrics and of foreign
wool to meet the popular demand. Since
the opening of the year there has been
steady call for domestic wool of all descrip-
tions, with very slight variation in prices
such as there has been, was in favor of the
buyers. There has been nO spirit of
speculation, notwithstanding the low
rates, and there has not been such
an Improvement in the prices for
goods as will warrant manufacturers to nuy
IN advance Of their immediate needs The
bulk Of the sales reported during the last
three months has been larger than during
the corresponding quarter Of last year bv
nearly 900, 900 pounds, and the aggregate
sale OF wool of all kinds has been ialy %
per cent. larger than the average of the first
quarter of the five preceding years All
these facts 90 to show that business is re-
yiying-that our manufacturers arc on the
alert to furnish all the good. that can be
sold" Mr.. Bond seems to be an enthusiast
upon the subject of American manufactures.
lie says that the United States can beat the
world in wOOllen goods, and tnat there Is no
product OF foreign loom that we cannot
make here cheaper than it can be produced
abroad OF the same quality. In illustration
Of this fact he stated that at the world :
fair at London in lSjl a Maine manufac-