The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1888-01-13
THE TARIFF AND THE WOOL ,aDusrs,
A Montana Rauehman's Plain Statement Of
the Case Between Them.
Nao York Tribune. Dec. 9.

Neo York Tribune, Dec. q.
To THE EDITOR Of THE TRIBUNE:
Sir: In view Of President Cleveland's re-
cent attack on the wool growing interests, l
vant to say . word for the sheep men in
Montana. The wool grower 10 In most cases
tied to his ranch and hocks, is not within
reach Of influential newspaper, aud il far
away from the mail station, 80 that he Is
obliged to await bis fate in silence while
Others decide whether he will be able to sup
port his family IN the future or whether he
will be ruined. The latter Is unavoidable If
the tariff should be taken off the wool. 1
have myself . sheep ranch in Montana, on
Sweet Grass River, and have lived there for
three years in . section of the country
where wool growing Is the chief occupation
of the inhabitants.
The President said In his message that the
farmers have generally from rs to so sheep.
II he was in any way acquainted with the
business, he would know that the sn aller
focks number from 500 to 1000 head, the
larger Eve, ten or twenty thousand, the num-
bers fitting the means Of their owners. The
former are in the majority, therefore Mr..
Cleveland ought not to have stated facts
until he was thoroughly posted on the sub
ject. The wool grower has to depend on the
proceeds Of the wool which his sheep yield.
It is the only income he has. On account Of
the tariff question the price of wool has
been unsettled for the last few years, which
makes wool buyers timid and most-of the
wool has to be sold through commission
houses. Manufacturer buy only enough to
supply their Immediate wants.
During the winter of 1867 the thermom-
eter here registered from IS degrees to so
degrees below zero, and terrific billiards
caused a loss Of 60 per cent. Of the stock,
which it will take At least two years to make
up. From the following facts it will be
clearly shown that the ruin Of the wool
growers and many others who make their
living from this business is assured if the
tariff on wool should be abolished: We re-
ceived this year 16 cents per pound for wool.
A sleeps fleece weighs generally 6 pounds,
so that Z flock of 1000 would yield $500 in
wool. The herder for such = flock receives
$40 per month and his board, which makes
$3.50 per year. Now deduct the tariff of 10
cents per pound from this amount, and there
remains . balance Of $500 for 1000 sheep,
not enough to pay the herder's wages with
cut counting provisions, clothing and gen
eral wear and tear. Under such circum-
stances it would be impossible to carry on
the wool growing business in this country
any longer. Great Britain and other nations
would derive the benefit from it, and in the
end Americans would have to pay more for
their home manufactured goods than they
are doing now Besides = hard-working
class Of American citizens, who are now
only by close attention to their business,
perseverance, and self-denial, able to make
both ends meet, would be completely
ruined.
I hope this correct statement of affairs
will enlighten the public OF the wool ques-
ton and thus will help the wool grower to
continue in business. -
NJ. STocKER, OF Stocker & Co.
Melville, Mont, Dec. 16, 1887.