The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1892-04-20
WHY WOOL SHOULD BE FREE.
The Growers Would Be Benefited by
Repeating the Duty.
1Chieago Tribune-rep.l

A Galesburg correspondent doubts the
correctness OF the assertion OF this paper
that the free admission of the mixing
woods would increase the demand for and
add to the price of American WOODS.
A few facts taken from the census report
of 1890 on the wooden manufactures of
this country NAV induce him to change
his opinion. There were used in the CEN
sus year in the manufacture OF wooden
goods of all kinds 2l5,00l ,Sl3 pounds OF
secured wool. There were also used
163, $50, 93S pounds of other materials, be-
ing cotton, shoddy, animals hair, mohair,
etc. 1t appears, therefore. that the WOOL
ems and worsteds, carpets, etc, made in
1890 were 81 per cent. wool and 10 per
cent. something else. OF the wool used
one-third was imported. In 1850 the
wooden goods were Of per cent. wool and 50
per cent. adulterants OF the wool used
only one-quaTter was imported.
IL follows then that the result OF ten
years of duties on foreign woods was to
lessen the per centage of wool used and to
increase the per centage of wool imported.
The production OF American wool in
creased very slightly. There was no OBJ
ject in raising more, for there was no
demand for it. There was no demand
because the woods to mix with it could not
be imported unless consumers would con-
sent 20 pay high prices for the goods.
Consumption determines production in
the long run, and as woolens 90 up the
demand Tor wool goes down.
The Galesburg correspondent may claim
that the trouble isnot thatther are duties
on wool, but that they are too low. Sup
posing they were thrice what they are, and
the importation of foreign wool practically
prohibited. Sill the American wool
growers wonld not be benefited, and the
production of wool in this country would
not increase materially. But that of
shoddy would, and so would the conSump-
ton of cotton for mixing purposes. Can
not the correspondent see see that cotton
is more dangerous because a cheaper
rival. than the foreign woods he breads?
The use of cotton in the wOolen-mil!s in
creased 30 per cent in the ten years from
1880 to 1890. Cotton constituted one-hfth
OF the woolens made two years ago. II
tho wool duties are left as they are the
next census will show one-third cotton.
one-third shoddy. and one-third WOO and
the price of American wool will he less
than 1t * now.
Shoddy is cheaper than some kinds
of wool and dearer than others.
Let in the cheap foreign woods
and there will be less shoddy
and cotton used-0ot less American wool.
There will be greater demand for wool on
the part of American manufacturers and
this country viii produce more, for pro-
ductlOn increases with the demand.
1t present American wooden fabrics are
43 per cent adul:erants - per cent. for
eign wool and s. per cent American wool.
That Is the result OF about thirty years oil
WOO! duties. Is not 1t time TO try another
tack and endeavor to increase the percent
age OF domestic wool which the present
system is reducing? The correspondent
fears that the price of the latter will fall
II the duties are removed But the duties
have failed TO raise or keep up the price.
They have forced the substitution OF
adulterants. Foreign woods do not COM
pete with so much IS supplement Amer
lean woods. Their free admission would
enable greater quantities of domestic
feeces to be used and an advance in their
price would follow inevitably.