The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-11-29
Wool.

J. P. Hume of Hulme & Hart was very
decided on the question.
Wool is lower to-day than ever before
in the history Of the State" said he.
''There can be no doubt that the fall in
prices which began about the middle of
April, is due to the accepted belief that
Congress would touch the tariff on woods
and woolens. The uncertainty has re-
duced the milling business to a standstill.
l am a Democrat, but l feel that prices
will not be satisfactory with wool ad-
mitted free of duty. A great many mills
are idle. great many more are running
half-hauded or on half time; in cOnse-
quence raw wool is piling up. The market
will not be much. II any, relieved before
the spring clip of 1894 will be thrown
upon it and the severe conditions, which
will meanwhile have deprived the grower
of the power Of holding the clip for a
rising market, must have the effect of
leaving the trade at the mercy OF BUYERS,
whose interest will lead them TO keep
prices as low as possible"
J. NJ. COstigan Of COstigan, Cohen & Co.
said: "CalifOrnia cannot compete with
Australia or South America in the pro-
ductlou OF wool without the protection of
duties. The trade knows this very well.
Free wool therefore means a substitution
of Australian lOw-grade woods for Califor-
Ma IOh-RIdue WOOlS, dUu III tue COID polf-
tion which would enSue if the change be-
came law the market would be much dis
ordered, and California growers would
have 20 take what they could get pending
retirement from the business"
Thomas Denigan of Thomas Denigan &
Son said: 81 dare say 40 per cent of the
mills of this country are closed and others
are working on short orders. The grower
will be so badly cramped this winter that
there will be an unhealthy dependence on
buyers. Congress should have acted
months ago. The tightness is not entirely
due to this delay. probably, for there ap-
pears TO have been touch OF hard times
all over the world. Partisanship may in
sensibly lead some growers to take too
severe a view of the depressing effects
Of the tariff middle"
"What are the wool-growers of the coast
doing in anticipation of free tariff on the
stape?" was asked of Mr.. Mcclellan, the
wool-scourer.
Nothing, absolutely nothing" was the
reply. "Our wOOl-growers seem to have
lost all spirit since the market has devel-
Oped such lack of animation as has been
the prevailing situation since the season
opened. Prices at present are fully 90
per cent less than those of year age, and
the prospect ahead has nothing chearing TO
its general tendency. There is not being
consumed in the country at this time one
half of the usual quantity Of WOOL and
only in0Se IaDTlcS are Delng man u1actureQ
that are of quick sale and offer o chance
Of accumula ton.
SIT would SEEM" continued Mr.. Nc
Lellan. that as the great proportion of
wonls grown in the United States are
raised on the Western slope. our
wool-growers would meet in convention
and formulate a vigorous protest against
the removal of the duty; but l fancy they
are too discouraged. and our representa-
tives seem to have but little Influence in
Washington, anyway. except, perhaps.
Mr.. Geary, and be is too busy in looking
after raslns and fruits to pay any alien
ito q TO sheep or wool"