Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1888-10-17
AS TO WOOL.

naturally inimical to the wool industry
and are seriously attempting to bring
ruin upon those who have embarked in
wool-growing enterprises. That the
Democratic party is not hostile to any
character of business or industry, goes
without sasipg, to any man who has the
| slightest cl8im to common sense. That
it is The purpose of that party to improve,
rather than iniHre, all enterprises and
busine & an assertion that ought to
| find nc eautr adiction, however much one
may do the expediency of the pro
posed m 40.
1t is oul duly il discussing the ques-
tion of expediency, to be led by reason
and a fair and honest argument, and not
by silly vituperation, which is the FOOLS
answer, or dark, prophetic forebodings OF
results, which has come to be the response
of those who blindly and unreasonably
oppose all progress, and have no argu-
ments to interpose. Let us look hon.
estly at some of the effects of the tariff,
upon this much discussed question of
wool.
No provision of the Mills bill has met
wit less argument on the part of the
opposition, than the clause putting wool
on the free list. Nor has any other feat
ure Of the bill been discussed, or SO con-
tinually misrepresented and falsified.
The e%xtrayagant duty on wool, which
existed until 1SS3-at which time it was
slightly, but not materially, modified
was imposed by the act of 1867. At the
time Of the imposition Of this duty the
price of wool ranged from so to 68 cents
per pound, according to quality. How
ever, the wool growers, although hand
somely paid by such prices, were not
satisfied, but in their greed for more,
prevailed on Congress to impose a high
duty on foreign woods, thinking, Of
course, the amount Of the duty would be
added to the already more than sufficient
price which wool then commanded.
The old, old story was told again.
The wool growers, seeking to take adyan-
tage of the consumer by ~legislating a
higher price upon their commodity,
killed the goose that had laid the golden
egg. Under what was practically free
trade, wool was quoted in 1865 at $1.O2,
and in 1868 at 70 cents. Such prices
would now, under high protection, be
considered almost fabulous. The sheep
men had no doubt that if a heavy duty
were imposed. wool would again assume
the prices of free trade days, and so con-
tinue. Had such been the case, there
might have been some reason for main
tanning the benificent influence OF the
tariff. But what are the facts? In 1868
wool dropped to 38@4S cents per pound,
this Immediately succeeding the imposi-
ton of the tariff. From the date of the
passage Of the tariff of 1867 to 1887, the
general tendency has been to decreasing
prices, until in 1887 the best quality of
wool wa quoted and sold at 80 cents per
pound,
Nor is this all. Under the present tar
if, which the Republicans insist must
be maintained, and which it is claimed
is the shield and protection of this in
dustry, the number of sheep in the
United States has decreased from 50,OOO.-
600 in, r0und numbers in 1884, to 44,OOO,-
600 in 1887, Or a decrease of 100000 in
three years, and this under a tariff which
is conceded by the Republicans to be suf-
ficiently high. Had it not been for the
increase in the western States and Terri
tories, which are new fields. but recently
occupied, the decrease would appear even
more rem. t3kahje. liz the States east of
the Mis- s2lppi nd Missouri rivers,
there WEI .g Esand numbers in 1868,
100000 ,sa@ Of ,haep. In 1888 there
are only Il ~ head. This rate Of
decrease cont ed would, in twenty
years, leave the eastern States without a
head of sheep within their whole
confines.
In the light of these figures who can
deny that the sheep industry in this
country is in its decay? If protection
has this blighting influence upon each
industry under its wing, how long will
it be before we find ourselves penniless |
and a race of paupers9
This state Of facts is directly attribute
BILE to the influence of the tariff. In the
first place, Immediately upon the enact
ment Of the high tariff bill, many, ex-
exorbitant profits, embarked in
the industry, thus causing an over-pro-
of the character of wool pro-
luced in this country, and the tariff, act
ng as a valve, admitted the necessary
WOOL for manufactures, but would not
PERMIT the exit of the Over-produced
character, and as a consequence prices
necessarily declined. In the second
lace, the tendency was to decreased
'rices, for the reason that manufactured
voolen goods, after reaching the price at
which the same character of goods could
70 imported, could not be forced to
ligher prices, and, as a consequence, the
rice Of wool could not rise above the
rice of such goods. These goods were
manufactured from our own woods and
UGH other imported woods as were abso-
utely necessary for intermixing. There
ore the price Of the imported woods,
which were made high by the tariff, and
he cost of labor and the necessary pro-
i, must first be deducted from the price
{ the manufactured fabric. This inev-
forced the home wool down to
st what the manufactured article could J
ay, after deducting these necessary ex-
enditures, thereby leaving a small .
largin for the purchase Of the same, :
nd the result was that the home wool ,
'as, after all, compelled to pay the tax +,
syied upon the foreign product, not di-
aI