Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1890-01-02
Carpet WOOL decisive Testimony.
New York Tribune I

the Free Trader. For years it has
been affirmed, and as positively denied,
that large part of the wOolimported
as carpet wool was in fact used in the
manufacture of cloth. Free trade
advocates have denied it, in order to
he able to say that the duties Oh car
pet wool were of no use whatever,
benefited no American wool growers,
and could he repealed without hurting
any. The Tribune has often sub
mitted evidence to show that wool
thus imported was used in cloth manu-
facture, but has been met with insO-
lent dehials in the "You-don't-knOw-
anything" tone, and once or twice
with an array Of figures purporting to
prove irrefragably that no imported
carpet wool could he so used.
Two witnesses have Just testified
from opposite sides OF the tariff ques-
tion. Messrs. Justice, Bateman K Co.,
wool merchants, OF Philadelphia, sup
port the protective tariff, while Robert
Bleakie Il Co., manufacturers, at H. de
Park, Mass, openly declare their
desire that clothing as well rs carpet
wool should be made free. Aftera argu-
iIiS anu threatening ioi
some months in favor oi free wool,
"The American Wool Reporter" OF
September 26, publicly asked Mr.
Robert Bleakie, as Il manufacturer
especially competent and trust worthy,
to testify 'whether any woods i'm
ported as third-class or carpet wool
are used to displace first or second
class wool ia the manufacture of cloth
for clothing purposes Ills reply may
have been IL surprise, for he says:
ain reply, will state that am sat
isiied 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 x Co., OF which ] am member,
placed upon the market u line of
scotch cheViOt goods made from
domestic clothing wool. We were sur
prised to find goods similar to ours
offered and sold 10y Philadelphia manu-
facturers at prices less than the cost
of otlr goods at the mill. Upon inves.
tigation, we discovered that the Phila
delphia goods were made from the fine
ede OF carpet wool, that is to say, the
Timer sorts had been taken from the
carpet wool and the beautiful cheviot
goods, for making which Scotland H.
famous. had been degraded by the
substitution oi cheaper wool to reach
a price satisfactory to the buyer oi
cloth. We were Obliged simply to with
draw the goods which we had made
from our domestic wool. and follow
the example OF our more enterprising
competitions, some oi whom | know
to-day are making n business of pro
ducing clothing goods. using not hing
but carpet wool. Our firm has used
of these carpet woods, during our last
run on cheviots, about 100000
pounds, equal for cloth making pur-
poses to over 2oO,oOO pounds OF
Georgia wool, owing to its lighter
shrlnkage.'
This seems to he testimony not
easily controverted 10y closet theorists
or free-t rade organizers, and The ST ate
ment that some competitors "nOw
make a business OF producing clothing
goods, using nothing but carpet wool, F"
deserves their especial attent ion.
Meanwhile Messrs. Justice, Bateman
X Co., IN their latest circular to Gus
TONERS. remark:
cone not engaged in the sale of low
grades of American WOODS, such as are
known a. one-quarter blood and com
mon, cannot realize the extent to
which carpet woods are being used for
clothi purposes, to the exclusion OF
he low grades of domestic. One
quarter blood woods that brought
from 80 to 81 cents in June, are now
difficult to sell at 2j to - cents. In
canvaS~ing lac mills with samples OF
American one quarter blood wool, the
fact is revealed that in almost every
direction the better grades of carpet
woods are being used for clothing ptir-
poses The descriptions most used
are Baslad, East India, selected por-
tions of Turkey, Syrian and Persian
woods. 1t l. the custom abroad to
sort out the better grades OF these
carpet woods, such as are suitable for
eliot hing purposes, ship them to Amer
lea ana enter them at the carpet rate
vi duty, the coarsest portion being
/ left IN Europe and resold there. The
large Use OF these woods in clothing
causes American one-quarter blood
woods To he neglected, and the decrease
IN the sheep in he United States dur
/ iug he last few years has been almost
exclusively in those yielding coars,
wool; they are what are known II,
mutton sheep, and the decrease il
/ these loek> is thus also decreasing tn,
/ food supply oi the United States
This IL the testimony oi u seller o
/ the raw wool, who finds that tn.
manufact urers do use lin almost
every direction wool imported ~
carpet wool for the production o
cloth. The testimony OF two sucl
witnesses, one n seller and the thei
IA manufacturer. both speaking iron
personal experience and knowledge. i,
enough To settle the question for can
did men There can still be argument
regarding the eNpediency of protect in,
] American growers of one quarter bloot
and common wool, but among peopl,
who respect thctruth there can hardl,
be argument in future on the quest ioi
whether such wool is in part displace,
and driven from Use by the use of i'm
ported thlrd-clasS or carpet wool il
the manuiact ure OF cloths for clothin.
purposes.
The words "common wool tell ;
n story by themselves. 1t is tn
common wool OF this countr,
which is most affected by theseiraudll
lent importatIonS, and yet the Ere,
Traders insist that no wool is or cai
he grown in this country which serve
the same Use as the imported carpe
woods. Clearly enough, the wool calle,
common j. grown to some extent
Since the change of duties in 1883
from 3 ana a cents to 2i and ) cent :
IL 81