Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1893-03-17
the PROTECTION OF AMERICAN WOOL.

THE PROTECTION OF AMERICAN WOOL.
"THB MoNTEzuMA, VI
LAS Vegas Hot Springs, N. M,
march 10. 1893. }
"The Santa Fe Daily New MEXICAN:
spray tell me what benefit the wool
growers have derived from the Mckinley
tariff, and oblige. Yours respectfully,
"a. 8. WENTWORTH"
To answer this question intelligently it
will be necessary to glance back at the
effects of low and high tariffs on our wool
product.
Previous to the civil war tho duty on
foreign wool was 30 low as to afford no
protection at all to tho native article.
From 1850 to 1860, under the low Demo-
cratic tariffs of 1876 and 1857, the annual
increase of our sheep was only 81 per
cent. In 1861 the first Republican tariff
levied duties of 10 and 10 cents per pound
and 10 and II per cent ad valorem and in
twenty years our increase was about A
per cent. In other words, sheep increased
from 22,5OO,OOO in 1861 to ALMOST 41,0oo,-
600 in 1880. In 1860 our annual clip was
60,OOO,OOO pounds, but IN 1884 it reached
3OS. 100000 pounds; the weight of fleeces
in 1861 was about two and one-half
pounds, but in 1884 the weight rose to
five and one-half pounds and under the
Mckinley act six and one-half pounds is
the average weight. In 1888 in obedience
to clamor for free wool tho protective
features of the tariffs of 81 and 81 were
repealed and in three years sheep had
decreased nearly 6,0OO, 900 head and prices
steadily went down. No relief was afford
ed our wool growers until the passage of
the Mckinley act, which Classics duties
as follows: Glass l, unwashed II cents
per pound, washed 20 cents per pound,
secured 33 cents per per pound; class 2,
unwashed IL cents per pound, secured 36
cents per pound; class 3, 80 to so per
cent. Immediately after the election of
Harrison, when sheep raisers became as
sured of protection, revival took place,
then the Mckinley bill became law and
sheep have again increased nearly 6,0OO,-
900. Here in New Mexico wool sold for
II cents per pound under the low tariff of
'S3, and last year, after the passage of the
Mckinley bill the same class of wool sold
for Is to 10 cents per pound. But look
at these figures from the American Econo-
mist:
"Production of wool in those countries
which principally supply the worlds
market has enormously increased of late,
as shown in the following table:
1889. 1891.
Pounds. Pounds.
Contin't of Europe
produced. .450,OOO.0O0 $4,000, 900
Australia prod. 450,0O0,O00 550,Oo0,000
Cape of Good Hope
produced. =. 100000 129,0Oo,0oO
Argentine Republic
about. ....... 2oo,oOo,o00
What wonder that wool should fall in
price! But in tho free trade London
market the average price Of all brands of
wool declined 81 per cent from January
4, 1890, to July 2, 1892, according to the
London Economist of those dates. Be-
tween the same dates the average price
of all the brands of wool quoted in the
protected Boston market fell only ~
per cent, according to the Boston Com
| mercial Bulletin. The Mckinley tariff
alone prevented American wool from fall
ing as much as wool in London FELL"
In 1890 under duty of 10 cents per
pound we imported 4,9so,s27 pounds of
shoddy; valued at s2,o52,o7s. The Nc
Kinley act placed duty of 30 cents per
pound on the filthy foreign stuff and in
one year imports fell to 215,714 pounds
valued at $5S,627, thus making demand
for nearly 100000 pounds of American
wool. We call our correspondents atten.
ton to the following resolutions which
passed unanimously in the wool congress
hold in Albuquerque last October:
"Whereas, We, men of all parties here in
convention assembled, firmly believe that
the wool growing and sheep raising in
terests of these United States can not be
maintained without protection, and,
"Whereas, We view with alarm the re-
cent attempt in congress to place wool
upon the free list as fatal blow at our
industry. We hereby unanimously pro-
test against it; and,
"Whereas, The continued political agi-
tation of the subject renders unsettled
and uncertain the whole industry, both
in its manufacturing and producing
branches; therefore,
'sResolved, That we ask that such agita
ton cease until tho present law has been
thoroughly tested; and BE- it further
"Resolved, That the present tariff Law
10 ths'best measure for the protection Of
tho wool grower and sheep husbandmar
that could be gained through the conces
sion of other interests and enacted into
law, and We hereby most emphatical.y en-
dorse the present tariff law and pledg
ourselves to stand by its msintainancs
until we can obtain better"