Telegram-herald., 1890-04-15
FREE RAW MATERIALS.
ron r-E .coL esOnesS WOULD
&C AFFScTEo sf FREE .oOL.
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ssr~s O.F L424sk<s $50 k4As~ FFssss-


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No ons ph1se II pgotectiOa . rs~
materials Las provoked more recent Gls-
oslssioD than that arising IN eonnectisn
With the wool Production of cur country.
The Prssent nagE1tuds u the wool grow
ing industry. iss gsnsrsl distribution
snd the possibility OF 10 further exten-
slon, make lEs consideration Of especial
intSr~st- To appreciate What hzs been
ia growth, and ~hzG Is no~ TIE oondi-
tioa Of the wool industry, We need only
% compare the present production With
the production IN the past.
Fifty years ago, IN 1889, the wool pro-
ductlon OF the United States was IS, s02,-
Ia pounds. Ia 1854. when our wool
clip reached lrs maximum. the produc-
ton was SoS, 90, 600 pounds. La tae lat
ter year the nUIIn Der " sheep was So
e2o. sd and the value Of the clip s9i les,-
0oO. The industry shows a general dis
tribution. Texas N the south, as we'll -
Maine IN the north, furnishes her share
The easte-n, western and central states
alike have goodly number engaged in
the industry and large capital invested.
Not taking into account the value OF
mutton produced. the annual wool clip
alone Is OF greater value than either the
gold, silver or iron produced in the
United States IN any recent year. and
above one half the value Of our coal pro-
ductIOn- Since 1884, on account OF the
disastrous reductions made in the duty
on wool by the tariff revision Of 1883,
there has been a decrease in the total
wool clip and ia the number OF sheep
kept In 1884. with home production
OF 300, 900 900 pounds. we imported rs
$50 ,65l pounds. In 1856 when our home
production was 2s5. .OOO, 900 pounds, we
imported ls9, ,oS4. .s5s pounds.
Such is substantially the present situa-
ton Of the wool industry in the United
States. The general value OF this indus
try TO our country is great. Rough and
rugged sections which cannot be advan-
tageously cultivated, and which afford
food too scanty for the successful graz
ing OF other animals, may be profitably
utilized as pasturage for sheep. Hilly
lands, which, under long cultivation and
the incessant washing of rains, have lost
their fertility, may afford fair return
To the wool grower, and at the same time
be themselves enriched for further culti-
vation.
The chief foreign wool growing coun-
tries are Australasia, Russia. India, the
Argentins Republic and the British colo
MES OF South Africa.
The conditions of production in these
and the United States are widely differ
ent, and need To be carefully examined
il we would understand the wool indus
try in all its bearings.
With Us, sheep are largely KEEP: in COM
paratively small hocks. They are grazed
alike on cheap and high priced lands.
They must be shielded III winter. pro-
vided with expensive food, and are tend
ed by labor which commands fair re-
turn.
The foreign countries named grow their
wool on lands whose market value is
hardly 70 be considered, and on extensive
ranges capable Of grazing large numbers.
Their shedding and winter food on an
average are not so expensive. The la
borers who tend the sheep subsist on
cheap food, have few wants and low
wages.
With such conditions Of wool produc-
ton at home and abroad, the wool grower
OF the United States cannot hope to COM
ft,fl ~
ducer. The question to be considered,
then. is the eject which free raw wool
would have upon the labor and industries
OF the United States. The first effect,
evidently, would be 10 cause the transfer
of labor and capital now engaged in the
production OF raw wool into other lines
Of employment.
The farmer who has devoted part of
his attention % wool growing, and who
has perhaps been thus able 20 utilize
lands unavailable or Improbable for 9TH
er purposes, and 10 economic his labor,
must now turn 10 other fields Of employ
ment. The labor which has found en-
ployment in this industry must look 90
other lines of activity. With this loss
10 tic laIAHci anu VIE laDOIcI Lutlf ci4cCl-
i've demand for the products OF other
branches of industry is lessened. IL the
wool growers must abandon their indus
try and suffer the consequent losses from
depreciation Of lands and capital invest
ed, they will have less money with which
70 procure the products of manufacto-
ries and mines. They viii sell less and
buy less, and less commercial activity
will result.
Free raw wool means the decay. IL not
the extinction, OF the wool growing in
dustry. The destruction Of this Industry
means that those who find employment
IN u for either their labor or capital must
look to other fields Of investment and
employment. This will occasion an IN
creased production in other lines Of
/ Industry which are already producing 20
the full demand Of the market. and a
/ consequent stasnatiOn IN those indus
tries. From q comprehensive view q
wool growing it would seem to be wise
policy Of government 20 encourage our
/ growers II wool ~ restraining the i'm
/ portstion of foreign w00is.
The objection most urgently advanced
against protection % raw materials Of
Sanufacturs u, that, entering az thev
7 do into 40 many processes q nanufact-
urs, the price Of the finished article is
/ Increased % such At extent that We car
not successfully compete with foreign