The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1888-02-16
DUTY ON wooL-FRozEN FACTS.

The Hartford Daily Times saws
The duty on woods in the ITnifed
States varies from 10 cents a ponnd to
90 Genus pound, according to the class
and condition of wool imported.
NO government in Europe taxes the
Importation of wool at all. The guam
tlCy OF wool imported into Europe last
year from Australia, New Zealand,
south America, Cape Colony, &C., was
nine hundred millions Of pounds.
What is the resultI The foreign
manufacturers of England, France and
Germany can produce wooden goods
and send them here cheaper than our
manufacturers can make them; and the
importation of these foreign wooden
goods has largely increased Of late, and
1t is increasing.
The present tariff laws of the United
States discriminate against the woolen
manufacturers.
First, the highest tax is laid upon the
raw material.
Second, the next highest tax is laid
upon Woolen yarns
Third, the tax on manufactured
cloths is less than on our yarns.
Fourth, the lowest tax is laid on
ready made clothing.
Suits of made-up clothes have been
ordered in London, and the tax on
them by our tariff was found to be less
than the tax on the wool of which they
were made. This unfortunate feature
OF our tariff has led to the importation
OF large quantities of cloaks, Woolen
goods, and ready-made clothing. Amer
lean merchants send cloak patterns to
German manufacturers, and have the
cloakS made there and sent here.
cheaper than a similar article can be
made here, owing to the tax on i'm
ported wool.
The cost of material in the manufac-
ture of woolen goods is about tWo-thirds,
against one-third for the cost of labor.
Hence the Woolen factories in this cOun-
try are languishing.
When the present tariff on woods was
made, the prices of wool in Europe we're
double the present prices; and as the
duties levied by our Government are
specific, the result tends to the destruc-
tlon OF our manufacturers. Wooden
mills have been sold, the past year, for
10 to 20 per cent. of their cost, and none
of them, except the makers of shoddy
goods, are making money; they have
actually lost money the past year.
On inquiry of Messrs. Beach & Co.,
of this city, importers and manufac-
turers, with regard to the Home WoOlen
Company, the large Beacon Falls
woOlen mill on the Naugatuck River,
which they own, we were informed that
they closed that great mill last July.
1t is perfectly equipped, and its capac-
ity is for a production of goods to the
amount of 100000 year. Its cost, in
dams, race-ways, buildings and machin-
cry was over $50O,OO0. They offer it for
sale for $150OOO
Should wool be put on the free list,
our manufacturers could compete with
the foreigners, and every spindle would
be buzzing in short time. 1t would
be great help to laborers as well as
manufacturers.
A woolen-mill owner in Bradford.
England, said to gentleman connected
with this Hartford firm, 'EIf we had been
given the privilege of making your
American tariff to suit ourselves. we
couldn't have made it to suit us so per
fectly as your own people have made
it." Another English manufacturer
said, "lf your country puts wool on the
free list, we will 60 over to the United
States, build or buy mills, and make
goods there