Morris tribune., 1889-12-11
Carpet WOoI--DeciSiVe TeSti-
mOny.


New York Tribune: Evidence on one
disputed point is accommodating rapidly
and, as usual, the facts when ascertained
go against the Free Trader. For years
it has been affirmed, and as positively
denied, that large part of the wool I'M
ported as carpet wool was in fact used
in the manufacture of cloth. Free trade
advocates have denied it, in order to be
able to say that the duties on carpet
wool were of no use whatever, benefited
no American wool growers, and could
be repealed without hurting any. The
Tribune has often submitted evidence to
show that wool thus imported was used
in cloth manufacture, but has been met
with insolent denials in the "You-don't-
know-anything" tone, and once or twice
with an array of figures pnrporting to
prove irrefragably that no imported
carpet wool could be 50 used.
To witnesses have just testified from
opposite sides of the ta1lff question.
Messrs. Justice, Bateman s. Co., wool
merchants, of Philadelphia, support the
protective tariff, while Robert Bleakie
q Co., manufacturers, at Hyde Park,
Mass, openly delare their desire that
clothing as we'll as carpet wool should
be made free. After arguing and occa-
sionally threatening for some months in
favor of free wool, "The American
Wool Reporter" of September 26 pub.
licly asked Mr.. Robert Bleakie, as a
manufacturer especially competent and
trustworthy, to testify whether any
woods imported as third-class or carpet
wool are used to displace first or second
class wool in the manufacture of cloth
for clothing purposes. His reply may
have been surprise, for he says:
In reply will state that am salts
fled that many millions of pounds of
third-class or carpet woods are used in
making cloth for clothing purposes.
Three years ago, the firm of Robert
Bleakie & Co., of which am member,
placed upon the market a line of Scotch
cheviot goods made from, domestic
clothing wool. We were surprised to
find goods similar to ours offered and
sold by Philadelphia manufacturers at
prices less than the cost of our goods at
the mill. Upon Investigating, we dis
covered that the philadelphia goods
were made from the fine edge of carpet
wool, that is to say, the finer sorts had
been taken from the carpet wool, and
the beautiful cheviot goods, for making
which Scotland is famous, had been de-
graded by the substitution of cheaper
wool to reach q price satisfactory to the
buyer of cloth. We were obliged simply
to withdraw the goods which we had
made from our domestic wool, and fol-
low the example of our more enterpris-
ing competitors, some of whom I know
to-day are making business of pro-
ducing clothing goods, using nothing
but carpet wool. Our firm has used Of
these carpet woods, during our last run
on cheviots, about 150, 900 pounds, equal
for cloth making purposes to over 200,-
600 pounds of Georgia wool, owing to its
lighter shrinkage.
This seems to be testimony not easily
controverted by closest theorists or free
trade organizers, and the statement that
some competitors now make q business
of producing clothing goods, using
uObulHS Uut CdIpeb WOOA, uoS6ENeS LnelE
especial attention. Meanwhile Messrs.
Justice, Bateman 81 Co., in their latest
circular to customers, remark:
One not engaged in the sale of low
grades of American woods, such as are
known rs one-quarter blood and COM
mon, cannot realize the extent to which
carpet woods are being used for clothing
purposes, to the exclusion of the low
rradns nf domarf.c 0un.u11arfar hlnnd
woods that brought from.20 to 81 cents