The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-02-01
0rowtl or the Wool industry.

1867, the wool industry OF the united
States has grown enormously, over four
hundred thousand Hock.masters, each with
his help, are devoting their time and
money to the business. According to the
recent census there were in the country
1850, 500 sheep, and the clip for the census
wear was 2S5,G4S,9S4 pounds, valued at
more than hundred millions Of dollars.
TO u reasonable protection OF the interest
we owe this development.
But tariff wreckers answer every such
proposition with the curt retort that this or
that industry grows because the country
grows 1t has recently been stated In the
Senate Of the United States that the mar
yelous industrial progress Of the country
during the two decades just passed is in
spite OF tariff for protection. OF course
no proof is offered, for there is none to be
had. Let US see how the progress'any-
how theory applies to the wool industry.
In 1850 We had 2l,72S,0OO sheep,
Welding 59,5lBOOO pounds Of wool; in
1850, 92,47l, 600 sheep, 6O,264,OGO pounds
Of wool-a scarcely psrceptibleincrease in
ten years; in 1880, 2s,477,COO sheep and
1OO,lO2,OOO pounds of wool; in 1880, 49,
$4,000 sheep, 235,646,OOO pounds Of wool.
The increase in the number OF sheep was,
from 1850 to 1860, 8! per cent; from 1850
to 1870, 81 per cent; from 1870 to
to 1880, So per cent, more than one'haIt.
For the first Of these three decades the in
crease in the wool clip was ~! per cent;
for the second 90 per cent; for the third
1876 per cent, a third more than double.
1t is unnecessary to say that there is no
analogy between these percentages and
the percentages Of growth in population
for the decades named. The wool indus
try. for the lack Of protection, had Ian
guished, dragging along with slight gains,
until the act Of 1867 came between the
American wool grower and his rivals in
Australia and South America. No natural
condition was improved; but the Govern
eminent favored the American farmer with
an artificial condition for his protection, as
il improves the rivers Of West Virginia,
as irrigating canals protect from endless
drought the farms of Colorado, as Holland
protects her people and her soil
with dykes against the encroach-
ments OF the sea. The wool tariff OF 1867
was operative for less than third Of tho
census decade, but We have seen that the
number OF sheep increased by more than
six millions, and the clip nearly forty mil
lions OF pounds. We have also seen the
enormous increase in the following ten
years. Unless It can be shown that some
thing besides the tariff stimulated this great
industry, it must be set down as one Of the
fruits Of that wise system OF protection
which has given US the most prosperous
country on earth.
While this industry was growing under
protection no man who wore wooden hat
or coat felt that he was oppressed. II he
came from England, where the wool that
went into his hat and coat came in duty
free, he was glad Of the change which en-
abled him to wear more and better manu-.
features OF wool, sit down to a better table,
and have something over-which he did
not have in the old country. And foreign
wool was not shut out. In 1881 over
twelve million dollars worth came into
the country, paying nearly five millions in
duties; in 1882 over ten millions, yielding
nearly four millions revenue. Woolen
manufacturers are not embarrassed, in fact
they too have largely increased in number,
and the value Of their products has kept
pace.
The recommendations Of the Tariff Com
mission, adopted by the Ways and Means
Committee, are not just to the wool grow
ers Of the United States. The ad ralorent
duties are removed and no compensation
given in the specific duties. The reduction
is estimated at three cents a pound on
those woods which come into sharpest com.
petition with our own. What Ohio, Pennsyl-
vania or West Virginia wool grower thinks
this reasonable measured Such wool
tariff as this might not crush the Amer
lean wool industry, as many believe, butt
would certainly make it possible only on
The cheapest lands.
1t is not too late for the wool growers to
make themselves heard and felt ut Wash
ington, but there is no time to lose. They
must be up and doing II they hope to hold
on 10 what they have.
PERSONAL.
NJ. Ei,Js,opa 10 rinIursd hv tho Whita-