The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1892-02-06
Springer aud Free Wool.


II 1t over passes the House will do so
under the spur Of the party lash, GER
tainly not to benefit the wool growers
OF this country, nor oven the manu-
facturers of woollen goods. But the
Democratic party has promised to do
something with the Mckinley tariff
and has to keep its word. 1t matters
not that the greatest prosperity has
crowned the country for the year the
Mckinley bill has been in operation, |
the Democrats in their wild opposition
predicted the ruin of tho business OF
the country, and they now have to
make show at least Of sincerity.
No doubt Mr.. Springer would gladly
abandon all attempts to tinker the
tariff II he could only do SO with con-
sistency, but as this cannot be done
som ething else must be done, and So
wool, the article that he and his com
mittee know the least about in its re-
latipns to the tariff, il selected to re-
ceiye the targets of the free-traders.
They will find the wool embankments
of the nation as impregnable as the
British found General Jackson's cotton
breRstworks at New Orleans III 1874.
In the senseless raid, however made
upon wool and the wooden industries
of the nation, it would be we'll for
far ers to be posted in tho facts OF
the case so as to be prepared to meet
the enemy's arguments.
II Is true that the price of wool has
fallen during the last fifteen months
and the free traders point to this as the
res ult of the Mckinley bill. They do
not, however, tell the people that wool
has fallen in price during all tho last
century, and that this cheaponing Of
wool has come through improvement
OF breed, vast extension in the sheep
raising area and consequent increase
In wool production through as the
world. Upon this subject the "A,aerl-
can Economist which has been gath
erlng up statistics, sheds immense
Light and gives the following figures:
4 TN 1900 all Europe produced 4l9.-
ea5, 600 pounds OF wool; In 1880 its pro
dlction was col, 6jS, $50 pounds. The
United States grew Z, 925 $40 pounds in
1900, 27l 842, 200 in 1890 an Increase OF
$500 per cent. In the game tine the
e production of the Argentine Republic
rose from 1000 Coz pounds, to POS, la2
3D0 pounds, an Increase of more than
2e00 per cent. while Asia's went from
by, a9S, $50 pounds TO 263 500 go pounds
q growth oil 800 per cent Not Till 1880
do we find record Of any Considerable
wool production in Africa In thai
year 1t was z, 600 pounds. In l61(
II had grown to So, lS5, 7SO pounds, OF
300 per cent. Even that world.re.
1owned wool producer Australia
Goes not appear In the records till 1880
when II was credited with paltfy :,
$50 600 pounds. In 1880 it produced
4p0, s79,240 pounds, growth of Is, 400
per cent
While this great increase in WOO
production has been going on the In,
crease in the worlds population ha.
BEEN less than threa-fOll. No wollIcI
prices have fallen, But whila tbs gen
oral average production of WOO! la
shown wonderful increase, it is II,
less instructive and Interesting to far
mers to note tls improvement il
breeds OF sheep and weight Of tn
fleece obtained from each animal III
Economist again comes 10 o4I hci
with the following figures;
In 1910 ls5 pounds in 1850 2
pounds. IN lN61.2 Is posnie; in lS1D
Rs! pounds; in l.eJ, 4fa pounds, i
1ooT. . pounds II 1871, G.6 pounds.
Tl,f. ~ q
eass for mutton has beon improve
and the science OF sheep raising pe
fected, and sheep raisera though IN
on every hand b. sharp eotnPatitio
and compelled to Accept diiniiHsAc
prices could SSH Their product fro
year to year for less per pound with
Out diminishing their profits,
1t was never a Part oftAr Ia.a5sc
the Mckinley OF any othar taTltf
prevent having Biouty Of Wool at 10
p ices and all must admit that 1t is
priceless boon to humanity to ha,
wool, an article 10 necessary To heat
and comfort. placed within reach
the poorest.
The steady increase In the weight
the American lleece is indicative Of [
science an art in wool growing I'll
has taken place in these United stat
so highly favored with protection.
this respect the United states has |
K the world, why should itga traders I
TO change tile Industry Into d coui
that would probably iea4 ~ its ruin