The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1890-04-18
FREE RAW MATERIALS.
HOW THE WOOL GROWERS WOULD
BE AFFECTED BY FREE WOOL.

1
Intiustry--DifFerent Conditions I'm Differ
b. snt Countries-Free Wool Would De-
stroy Our Industry and Raise Prices.
No one phase of protection to raw
materials has provoked more recent dis
cussion than that arising in connection
with the wool production Of our country.
The present magnitude Of the wool grow
ing industry, its general distribution,
and the possibility Of its further extern
sion, make its consideration of especial
interest. To appreciate what has been
the growth, and what is now the condi-
ton of the wool industry, we need only
to compare the present production with
the production in the past.
Fifty years ago, in 1889, the wool pro-
duction of the United States was 81, 802,-
| ia pounds. In 1884, when our wool
clip reached its maximum, the prOduc-
ton was 303, 000, 900 pounds. In the lat
ter year the number of sheep was 3d.
826, 62G and the value of the clip SOL ,16S,-
900. The industry shows general dis
tribution. Texas in the south, as well as
| Maine i'm the north, furnishes her share.
| The eastern, western and central states
alike have a 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 1888,
there has been decrease in the total
wool clip and in the number of sheep
kept. In 1884, with home production
of 30S, 900, 900 pounds, we imported 49,
350,651 pounds. In 1886, when our home
production was 100000 pounds, we
imported 129, 0S4, 058 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
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 cult
walton.
The chief foreign wool growing coun-
tries are Australasia, Russia, India, the
Argentine 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
if we would understand the wool indus
try in all its bearings.
With us, sheep are largely kept in COM
paratively small flocks. They are grazed
alike on cheap and high priced lands.
They must be shielded i'm 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 to be considered, and on extensive
ranges capable OF grazing large numbers.
Their shedding and winter food on an
average are not SO expensive. The Ia
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
pete successfully with the foreign pro-
ducer. The question to be considered,
then, is the effect which free raw wool
would have upon the labor and industries
of the United States. The first effect,
evidently, would be to 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 to wool growing, and who
has perhaps been thus able to utilize
lands unavailable or Improbable for 9TH
er purposes, and to economic his labor,
must now turn to other fields of employ
ment. The labor which has found en-
ployment in this industry must look to
other lines of activity. With this loss
70 the farmer and the laborer their effect
i've demand for the products of other
branches Of industry is lessened. If 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
to procure the products of manufacto-
ries and mines. They will sell less and
buy less, aud less commercial activity
will result.
Free raw wool means the decay. if not
the extinction, of tho wool growing in
dustry, The destruction of this industry
means that those who find employment
in it 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 to
the full demand of the market, and
consequent stagnation in those indus
tries. From a comprehensive view Of
wool growing it would seem to be wise
policy of government to encourage our
growers Of wool by restraining the inn
portation Of foreign woods.
The objection most urgently advanced
against protection to raw materials Of
manufacture Is, that, entering as they
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