The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1892-11-18
COMFORT FOR THE SHEEP MEN.


throughout the campaign that free trad
would bring down the price of thei
product to such a figure as to make tn
wool business precarious if not alto
gether Improbable.
Now that the campaign is over and tn
campaign liar is relegated to the base
mcnt with the other rubbish of the fight
it will be profitable to consider for
moment Just what the effect of placing
wool on the free list will do. In thu
first place, nearly everybody is aware
that woods are produced now in this
country at an actual cost price consid,
erably below 8 cents per pound. and the
sheep men themselves admit that even
at II or T. cents "A pound
which is the price in Canada
for common grades of wool at
present, there would he a fair margin of
profit This probably will be admitted
by all at the outset. 1t will be admitted
also that the Australian sheep grower
can produce his wool at IA figure consid-
erably lower. while he can lay his wool
down in the United States markets at
freight rates about IN a par with those
which the western wool-grower has to
pay to reach the scaboard markets. The
cost of production, therefore. would
seem to be somewhat in favor of the
Australian wool. grower but as a matter
Of fact this advantage is entirely over
come by the quality of the American.
and especially of the Montana woods.
Although the Australians have i'm
ported large numbers of the finest stock
sheep from this country and elsewhere.
there are climatic disadvantages which
enter into the problem that prevents
Australia from supplying a sufficient
quantity of high grade woods which are
required IN all fine manufactures. The
American manufactures therefore will
wish always to have the call on the en-
tire output Of American fine woods. and
as our markets are the best in the world
an immediate effort will be made by
manufacturers to produce goods equal in
body and finish to the best Of European
makes. Having their wool on the same
terms of free choice and devoid Of tariff
taxes, they can select exactly what. they
need for combinations to bring about
results equal to those now obtained by
the most skillful manufacturers in the
world.
From Il purely rational point Of view.
I will be seen at a glance that the
wool growers have no reason
or anxiety regarding the prices OF their
product. The mere fact Of placing wool
N the free list will not cause it to de-
'reasc by the fraction Of a cent. If we
AN succeed in producing :I0O,OUO.OOO
VI shall have at home then
bout onc third Of the wool needed to
upply the demands of the nation. Six
hundred million pounds Will still have to
re imported. and as the duties will also
re taken off manufactured wooden goods
/, a very large extent. there will be d de-
line in prices Of manufactured woolcns
'hich will be an advantage to all the
This will enable thousands of
mall children that are now wearing cot
IN, to be clothed in wool in cold
Gather.
The reason why the price of wool will
ut decline is because there will be such
n active demand for the American
rown woods because of the increasing
emand for wooden goods. and the aug
lentatiOn Of the number of factories.
lany concerns which have been closed
iii be opened and run at full capacity,
nd the industry Of wooden manufac-
are will lind new locations throughout s
country wherever population will
it. ,
The dar Is certainly not far distant ;
ndcr this beneticent reform when every ,
,o%rkingman will be able to clothe his ;
lildren in wooden garments. and have
al wooden blankets on his bed. II will !
= the dawn Of a new era Of warmth, and =
''nfort for the poor. :
Al