St. Paul daily globe., 1893-07-20


season. either through st. Paul by the
various railway lines or by way Of Du-
luth and other lake ports. at least 49,
000.000 and possibly 25.000,000 pounds OF
wool, an amount equal to one-eighth the
estimated product of the British Isles.
The great proportion of this wool, which
in its present condition is worth.
at prevailing prices, from $1,000
600 TO S3,500.000, will be bought
i'll at Chicago, New York or Bos-
ton, and there washed, secured. sorted
and distributed to manufacturers. The
Northwestern herder seldom washes his
sheep before shearing, and the great
bulk of this wool will 90 forward un-
washed. and to great extent unSorted,
to be sold as territory wool. 1t will
contain dirt, burrs, its natural oil, ''yolk"
or "suint," crude ammonia and potash
salts, to the amount of frcm GO to 20 per
cent, all of which is a dead loss to this
section in cost of freight, loss of labor
wages, economical products. and that
prestige which should be ours if we use
better processes and distribute higher
grade of staples.
: The securing of this wool one
should give us at this point in oss
nearly $500, 900. besides the profits ON
the sale or use of from 2.09Q O. to
$500, 600 podndS of potash salts. bout
S.000.00o to 100000 pounds-of - inu,"
from which a large quantity ot sod
sOiP' could be extracted, and rtas
amount of crude ammonia, all OF :, la
have a very appreciable market value.
This wool at the great centerS, and to
some extent at this point, is sorted into
at least eight primary grades, the finest
of which grows about the shoulders and
sides of the animal, and the poorest
about the shins and head. which parts
indeed furnish rather halr than Woolly
fiber. Were the original collections
made here, and these processes carried
to the point where the manufactures
would purchase, better prices Wonld be
paid to the grower, larger amount of
profit aud wages would remain here,
and the sheep-raising industry would
be given renewed impetus and prosper
ity.
The clip of the whole country is said
to have aggregated 333, 100000 lbs, and,
as Will be seen, scarcely One-fOdrteentb
of the whole amount is produced in the
North west. OF this large proportion
is of the fine soft wool, of which the
merlno is the general type. There is a
tendency to abandon this tppe for those
varieties which, while producing a
longer and coarSer staple, give larger
oI S1oo w hlC OdlCiiSlS WIZ NAlo gCaL
gives the sheep farmer his best and
readiest market. Mutton brings cash,
and the demand thus far has been
steady and remunerative, while. owing
the Strlngency of the money market and
the uncertainties which perpleX the
manufactures, sales for cash are sacri-
fees, and those who in former years
have shipped 10 commission firms
and secured from II to Is cents
per pound advance are now
unable to get more than
from five to seven cents. That this
state OF things is only temporary is un-
dOubtedly true, but the WOOL is already
ShOrn for this season, and many raisers
are obliged to sell. Buyers from Bos-
ton, New York. Chicago and other
points are found at all central towns
from St. Paul to the Pacific coast, buy
Ing this staple. loaded down with yege-
table, mineral and animal reIuSe, and
OF course pay corresponding price.
Freight must be paid on the whole
mass, and those products which could
be removed here, and sold at material
proht. are practically lost TO this sec
ton.
A strong company, having the neces-
sary capital aud plant, could control
this valuable staple. advance literally
10 the grower, sort ana scour the prod
uct at good profit, utilize the chemi-
Gals and sod oil. and make an original
market, producing many grades, each OF
which would be produced in sufficient
quantities to have recognized price
and standing in the market.
1t would seem that the success of our
fur dreSSers and dyers should encour.
age the business men OF st. Paul to
give due attention and encouragement
to the great and growing wool produc-
ing interest. The establishment of
such a concern as is here proposed
would in due time lead to other and
| perhaps more important industries IN
| the manufacture of woolens, worsteds
| and other textile fabrics, and would to
some extent encourage the growth of
tanning and currying works. That
| there is great, waStefuinesS in the pres
| ent methods pursued has been gener-
ally acknowledged, and is deplored by
| all connected with the interest through
out the Northwest, and this article is
offered in the hope that it may draw at
| tentlon to the opportunities which, if
| properly Improved, may make st. Paul
| the future center OF the wool traffic,
and possibly of the woolen manu-
| factureS of the Northwest.
| -zSR-