Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-04-09

better authority" Here the oleo side Of the
mouse ho~led. From that on the country
butter and the nnti-couutry butter factions
carried on q warfare of words.
In the evening Congressman Stone made a
speech on protection to the wool indus
try. He was well received, and impressed
his constituents very favorably. He said:
Sheep From q Historical Standpoint.
Ever since the world began sheep have
been the companions of man. Able was a
keeper Of sheep, and Jacob served seven
years as a shepherd for Leah and Rachel
they have supplied the wants of man. Their
wool and hide hep to defy the frost OF win
ter, and there is no industry upon which so
much depends as the wool-growing business
OF the world.
"Sheep can be grown in most any climate
Ten sheep can be kept for what one cow
would cost. Even ut the present price OF
wool, and it's very low, more net cash can De
gained than from any product of the farm.
As a general thing there are five pounds of
wool to each fleece and sometimes they run
as high as 10 or l.. Suppose a man can keep
eight or ten COWS; at the same ratio he will
maintain 100 sheep.
"a new industry has sprung up, which
very seriously interferes with the farmers
butter. 1t is that of manufacturing oleo.
1t has reduced the price of butter. Here is
where sheep growing is in the superiority
over cattle. You cannot initiate wool, nor
tine spring lamb. Since it is impossible to
always be good.
The Protection of American Wool.
'The principal thing I wish to speak to
you of is the protection OF the industry. l
do not want to touch too much on the politi-
cal side, but simply show you the profitable
ness of the industry under protective tariff.
Ever since lsl6 we have had duty on wool.
Al some time it was higher than others, SO a
little review of history is neces.
Tn In oil i,o sod
the duties on wool. What was the result of
the tariff laws passed in 1867? 1t takes from
one to five years before the effect of a tariff
is known. From 1871 to 1885 the sheep in this
country increased from 81 900 600 to 80 000, 600.
In 1883 the duty was reduced. In 1885 the
effect commenced to be felt, and the number
OF sheep decreased to 4, ,oo0,0O0 This shows
that the industry is most prosperous under
high tariff rule. In 1890 came the present
tariff. During the year OF 1891 the fleece
yielders OF America increased l. 100000.
The Farmers Only Market.
''The only market the farmer has is with
the manufacturer. The looms and spinning
wheels have long since been banished with
the relics of antiquity 1 doubt whether
there is a loom in all OF Allegheny county.
The farmer can sell and buy cheaper than
though he were his own manufacturer. To-
day the farmer buys most everything he
uses, even his food. In olden times his only
purchases were little coffee and
sugar. He must devise some scheme to
produce cash, and it seems to me the most
profitable method is i'll the growth of sheep.
ave are told that if the duty is taken of
wool, lower price in cloth will be attained.
To-day, with all the great steamship lines of
the Atlantic it is cheaper to land wool in
Boston from European countries than it is
TO bring it by rail from the Missouri river.
Wool can be grown cheaper in Australia
than it can in the United States. The argu-
ment then is free wool.
Good Prospect for Wool Growers.
"The factory investmento of America is 1884,
O00, 600. These manufactures will construct
clothes out of foreign wool just as cheap as
out of American. L hold that it is necessary
to the farmer that he keep the duty on wool.
Ii it comes off there might be reduction in
the price of clothing, but the wool industry
would be destroyed.
There is still large supply of wool on
hand, and the tariff laws of 1891 have not had
a chance to show their effect Soon the
price of wool will go up. I say again the
wool industry can only flourish by proper
protection