Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1889-08-08
somnrHINa ABoUr WooL.
by n Trade Journal which Makes
n specinlIY of nc.


The following article appears editorially
in Wade's Fibre and Fabric, a staunch pro-
tectionist journal:
"In the examination of any question, dis
cusslon that Ignores the facts IN the case Is
of little value. The effects OF the tariff on
wool and woolens Is no exception TO this
rule. IL IL this treatment of the matter by
so many wool growers. ana some manufao-
tuners, that haa done 90 much to confuse
themselves and the public generally In re-
gard to the whole question. Let us get ut
the bottom facts II possible, and perhaps
we may learn II there Ia anything wrong In
our system. and II SO, the most practical
methods OF applying proper remedies.
What Ia the condition In which We lind this
country to-day In regard 10 the supply OF
and demand for this great staple, wool
"Q.) There Is not One.hllf The quantity
OF wo1i grown In this couutry that would
be required for making, from pure, new
staple. the fabrics our people demand ana
| Consume.
'(2) There is no surplus production or
accumulation Of wool Ia the world, not
| withsiaudiIg the enormous aud almost
constant increase la the quantity during
the pAst 80 yesls, OF fi4e woods especially.
| "(3) There is no danger of any surplus
for years TO come under any possible in-
| crease; because wool 1. the best staple the
world has yet prnducsd for tne ssrVios OF
/ mankind, and even Ia our own country
There l. not yet half enough used for the
bars comfort OF our people.
a rhs variety IL the Qualities Of wool
4. almost inhLite. Not only Is quality
affagtei by ths breed Of sheep. but By care,
feed, location, soil, and climate. A change
IL eitner OF ihess conditions Will usually
make marked change In the character OF
the staple. 70 considerable extent, the
quality Is subject to the control of the
sheep breeder, Uut In some respects IL is
beyond his power 10 produce certain quail
ties without an entire change OF Locality
aud conditions which no otunot command.
"(o.) Every Kind of wool mas useful
purpose, aud, Us rule, one to which 1t Is
better adapted than any other. l. Is "a bad
or partial waste Of material to attempt its
use for the purposes where 1t will not pro.
duce IT, bsst effects.
60 Every kind o; wooden fabric requires
csftsin qualities III rhe staple 10 produce
cartai8 A-st;eu effects. They cAnuut we'll
b. pTodueei by u staple iRckiag these quail
itle-. The required eifbct cannot nj all
times be found In any one quality, and the
manufacturer Is Obliged to resort to mix
ture in order to get ths llght combination
NJ quality and to enaple MIN TO produce
II, goods at ptica that consumers will
pay
"a 1t Is idle 10 talk of any one section
OF country producing probably ali quail
Ties u wool III quantity TO H. tue require
| !
writer's who for political effect, or Hho by
their faith or pride In tns Douudless re-
sJutces VI the country, are led TO claim
that we eau grow all the wool Wa want do
not know WhAr tEey are talking about.
They have evidently had very little exp1ll-
enee In manufacturing the various fabrics
that our people insisa upon having. We
might as we'll claim that Massachusetts can
; grow all the food and timber It's people RS
quirt. The oniy way TO accomplish such a
result In either case wonli be to bring the
watt Of the people down 10 The supply, 10
entire opposition 10 the spirit OF thu age.
rs phe history Of tha pH4t so Ntart
proves that price. for OUT homegrown clil
have never heen improved by Increased
duties upon the imported raw material
+ that the effect has Tatner been to curtai
} the demand from our own mills, the onlI
I customers they Can possib have under tn,
, adjlstment OF duties now In fCrce.
"(9) Toe present turin Is not only
most unjust In Its distinctions and restrlc
tions, but practically II is prohibltory on
large portion of tao most desirable wool
: which are available TO our foreign competi
tors free from tax. II Is protective tu tn
: European manufacturer, and only N nam
I to tho home wool. growers.
'(tO) These prohibited woods after beinl
! manufactured abroad, are exported TO thi
: country, paying comparatively low rat
of duty, decreasing IN proportion to tn
2 labor expended upon them. This lie dis
{ couragenent TO the Improvement OF Amer
. team fabrics, aud On ths finer grades give
n the foreign mills monopoly In our ow
h markets.
1.-The above we believe to be facts, no on
Of which can be lsngred II We could have
settlement Of the question in the interel
OF wool growers and consumers, which II
: clndes, or should iuUiude, everr mar
" woman and child ia this country. Can W
d expect legislation equal 10 the occasion