The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1883-02-16
THE SHEEP INTEREST.
The Out look for the Mel inc Breeder.

state Sheep-BrecdcrS ana NoOl-GfOW-
crs' association said. in the course OF his
address at the recent annual meeting;
l congratulate YOU upon the prosperity
which has attended our common indus
try during the past year. and the pros
poets of continued success in the protita-
bic Improvement of the American
"erino. SO long as wool and mutton
are necessity. and the genius of our
breeders can add to the intrinsic value
of the Merino sheep. so long. | believe.
may the association continue to flourish
and its members find the business profita-
Bile.
The immediate and absorbing question
of the future is the tariff. We believe In
protective policy in this country, upon
the general principle that American in
dustries should be allowed to work out
their own problem unhampered by the
conditions of cheap labor and ignorance
which characterize the industries of for
eign countries. Acting upon this princi-
pie we, as wOol-growers, took an active
part in the formation of tariff commits
sion, and secured an able representative
among its members in the person of the
president of the National Wool-Growers'
association. Hon. A. NJ. Garland. 1t is
should as body have felt it necessary to
concede any reduction of protective du-
ties on wool in Difference to q subservient
public sentiment more or less in svmpa-
thy with the foreign policy of free trade
in raw materials, which strikes most di-
rectly ut American producers. That so
little was conceded, is largely due to the
influence of the wool-growers and their
Representative upon the commission.
ms tariff of 1867, now in force. fixes the
duty upon woods of the first class, which
constitute the bulk of clothing woods, as
follows: Cnwashed woods costing 81
cents or less per h., II cents per ID. and
10 per cent advalorem. Washed woods
double and secured woods treble the
above duty. The change recommended
by the commission is the dropping off of
the advalorem duty. which amounts in
reality to , II to 3 10 cents per h.. and
the placing of the dividing line between
the higher and lower valued woods at 30
cents instead of 81 cents. This last
change places such woods as have been
imported ut a foreign value of over 30
and under 80 cents in the higher class
and makes the actual reduction in the
duties on these woods from about 13 ID
cents to II cents per h., or Il net reduc-
ton of only 10 cents per lb. In view
of the fact that we shall soon be supply
ing our manufacturers with the common
grades of clothing wool, the competing
woods most likely to be imported in flu
ture are of the higher grade and such us
have come by being just squeezed in at
y cents. foreign valuation. and which |
must now pay the additional cent duty. |
This is feature in the report which NAV |
be of great value.
This commission recommended on the |
The second class, long combing woods, |
double duty on. washed woods the same |
rs on woods of the first class, which re-
moves the discrimination against long |
woods about which SO much complaint |
has been made by the growers of these
woods. The committees in House and |
Senate, however, have restored the origi- |
nal reading so that this recommendation
may be Of no avail.
cannot see, either in the present bills
before Congress or in the temper of Con-
gress itself. anything seriously alarming
% our industry. The chances have
seemed in favor of the passage by the
present Congress of tariff bill substan-
tally in accord with the recommended
ions of the tariff commission. This will
re likely to fiXsthe tariff legislation for
Ome years. If, however, no bin is
passed by the present Congress. there is
enough Of alarm in the known tendencies
If the incoming Congress to cause the
wool growers to bend all their energies
oward the protection of their industry
rom the cry ofa''free trade in raw mate
'ials.i
The second important question of the
uture is that of over-production. The
WOOL production of the last five years is
IS follows: 1873, 2ll.000.000 pounds
$40, 232. 900 900 pounds; 1880, 100000
'OO pounds; 1881, 2S0, 900 pounds
$50, 300, 100000 pounds, shcaring an
Iverage increase during the last four
ears Of y 100000 pounds.
The manufacturers have imported dur
ng the last four years an average of
100000 pounds clolhing woods. 1t is
however, that production and
consumption for the coming year are APP
equality, and as the produc-
ion is likely unless unfavorable legisla-
ion 1nteryenes, TO increase during the
text few years as fast as the averge of :
he last four, it is proper to consid r its
Ultimate effect upon the profitable char
cter OF the industry. The falling off in
california from $1,000, 900 pounds in 1876
o 33,OOO,O0O pounds in 1882 has been
Ounterbalanced by the increase in
Texas from G.000.000 in 1876 to about
3 1000 900 in 1882 and it is not probable
hat the future decrease in California and
'ther States will at all equal the natural
Increase upon the large areas of waste
ands in the South and West which are
low being occupied for sheep walks.
How, then, is this increased annual
of say $4,000, 900 or 80 ,O00, 900
pounds of wool to be consumed without
ruinous reduction in price?
Our population is increasing at the rate
# 2,OOO.OOO per annum; this may fairly
all for l5,0O0, 900 pounds of wool. The
growing wealth of the people increases
and, should their luxurious
habits in the wear of coats, vests. pants
md underwear call for one-half pound OF
wool additional for each individual. there
would be an increased demand for 25,-
200 pounds of wool. Each slight re-
luction in price will further stimulate
his luxurious habit. These two items
nay fairly call for from 25.0O0,0 900 to
10 900 600 hounds of wool additional an