The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-05-31
RAISERS OF FINE STOCK.
Meeting of the State Wool Growers
and Short-Horn Breeders.
THE WOOL GROWERS.
The Points of Tariff Commissioner Gariand's
Address and the Discussion of 1t.

The Points of Tariff Commissioner Gariand's
Address and the Discussion of 1t.
The semi-annual meeting of the State Wool
growers Association convened at 1870 O'Clock,
with larger number of members present than
at any previous meeting, the shorJ-horn breed
ers, who are nearly all interested also in sheep
husbandry, being in attendance.
John E. Mccartney read a paper on the
question, care full bloOds or cross-breeds the
best mutton sheep for the common farmer2" De
stated that there is no good milton sold in the
markets Of the Western Cities but that the better
aGanty is all shipped East, where better prices
are paid. He thought that II the farmers would
produce and sell hrst-class quality Of mutton
for the present prices. for a time
1t would have the effect to strengthen
the homo market, and that 1t would
result in profitable trade with the local butch
ere. The raising of sheep for the meat market
he said, can be made, and is, quite profitable.
The common farmer, engaged in general stock
and crop-raising, would find 1t the most profita-
BILE to raise a mixed breed. The raising of a
pure breed requires more care than could be af-
fOrded by farmer whose time and attention is
divided between variety of things. The South
down is the best mutton sheep, and, crossed
with some of the larger breeds, such as the Cots
void or the Leicester, would give, he thought,
the best results.
A very lengthy paper on practical Sheep
Breeding" written by DR.. N. P. Gaddv, of
Lovett, was read by Cyrus T. Nixon, and was
briefly discussed.
HON. A. NJ. GARLAND's ADDRESS.
The principal feature of the afternoon was the
address OF Hon. A. NJ. Garland, Of Springfield,
| Ill, president OF the National Wool Growers AS
soclation and member of the tariff commission,
on the subject of The Tariff and Foreign Woods"
In the course of his remarks Mr.. Garland said:
"Wool occupies peculiar place In the agricul-
tural economy. 1t is the only prime necessity
to the life and comfort of people, strictly the
| product of agriculture, that they have not been
| able adequately to supply from their own re-
sources. 1t is especially exposed to competition
| from other countries by reason of it's value in
| proportion 10 bulk and consequent expense of
transportation. From the fact of the exceptional
| position of this product wool growers
| have been forced to look with
| great interest to the enactments of Congress
| fixing charges under which foreign woods were
| to come in competition with woods of domestic
production. The history of this legislation
| though peculiar in many respeots-presents no
feature so prominent as that of its vaclllation.
| The domestic prOducer-though always certain
tions-was never allowed TO rest in the assur-
| aEce that his foreign comps eSr would be taxed
with equal certainty and set Srity And he has
not been so taxed, as a glanco at the history OF
| tariff legislation will show.
"FroIn 1924 to 1884 the policy Of the govern
ment may be characterized as protective. From
| 1884 to 1912 the tendency was In tic, apostle
direction. II was then again protect 'sq3 IS47,
| when the tariff Of 1916 went iOtcsfne, alton.
| Then antprotection up to 1861. ,a that
time to the present the policy has 6esiee protec-
| tive-increasing by several enactments during
the war, and becoming highly so on the passage
| of the wool tariff OF 1867, which has remained,
with slight notifications, until the present time.
| The duties imposed by that act are to be reduced
| somewhat July /, 1888, when the law passed
i
effect.
"The uprising of wool.growers that eliminated
/ in the passage OF the wool and wooden tariff of
| 1867 marked new era in the series of struggles
which has accompanied the rise and fall of du-
/ ties on foreign wools The stimulus impaired to
wool production by the demands Of the war
| period had rapidly multiplied tlocRs, and the me-
cessity for increased expenditures or the govern
| ment had enormously increased the tax bur-
| den that more than ever before the producers of
domestic woods appreciated the inadequacy Of
| tariff defenses against foreign competition. In
the tariff Of s67 an entirely new system of
| classification devised. The 36,916,794
/ pounds of Mestiza woods from that Argentine
| republic imported in 1866, fell to 26,752, 1877
/ pounds for the entire three years Immediately
| following the passage Of that tariff Looking
over the history of wool production during
/ the last sixteen years find
ample excuse for the restlessness of
| wool growers, in view OF the reduction of wool
| duties, determined upon by the late Congress
woO-growing has scarcely been profitable in
many localities, and any legislation that will
| charact erized ill-timed and unjust"
In speaking of the effect of the law of 1885,
| Mr.. Garland said that he thought no serious de
preston would follow the law, as the tariff of
| 1867, which largely in the direction of an
| advance in duties, did not advance prices, but
merely diminished mpOrtatiOns. 1t may reason
| ably be inferred that the tariffof 1888 though
providing for a reduction, will not operate to
| bring down prices any further than it may be
used by buyers as a temporary argument for
bearing the market
In concluding his remarks Mr.. Garland said:
| GAS who has had more than average
opportunity for observation and the.best of rea-
| sons for reaching correct conclusion, un
| able to see any serious Encouragement in the
| outlook for flock owners. The condition of
sheep husbandry, when contemplated from
national standpoint, was never more satisiac-
| tory than now. Local embarrassmeDts may
| ensue as the great system adjusts itself to the
! wider fields that await Its future, but these in
| the nature of things will be but temporary
| mands of rapidly growing population comes
| general prosperity which enables that popul8-
tion to largely increase its per capita cOnsnnp-
| ton. With a foreign demand for meat that in
sures "A ready sale for every carcass of mutton TO
| be spared from the home market, and multiply
| ing factories as buyers for every pound of home
| grown wool, there will come rewards for every
man who makes himself worthy of them"
OTHER MATTERS.
The remainder of the evening session, follow
ing the address OF Mr.. Garland, was devoted
to the discussion of questions suggested by his
remarks
The association will continue in session until
this evening. The usual exhibition OF wool will
be made and premiums will be awarded to-day
There several persons in attendance from
iLOrs is J. r. Dodge the statisticlan OF the girl
cultural Department. at Washington, who is here
for the purpose of learning something regarding
Indiana sheep husDandry.
THE sHoRT-HoRN BREEDERS