The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-09-18

The Enplish took possession without
money and without price, and for many
years used it as n penal colony, but ID 1910
Captain Macarthur shipped u small guam
tity of wool from Sidney. Australia. TO
England. which attracted the attention OF
the government and OF all classes OF peo-
pie, because up TO that time it was gen.
crafty believed that ine wool could only
be raised in Spain, and the result OF tnat
small shipment of wool was that captain
Macarthur returned TO Australia with q
patent from the King for 10000 acres OF
land and four pure bred Merino sheep from
KingGeorge the Fourth's flock. the descend
ants of those received by the King from the
Spanish Cortes page Il A. >. and WI
From that day TO THE. a period OF ninety
years. the English government ana the
governments OF the various British COLO
MES In Australasia have fostered the pro-
duction of wool in that great continent by
every possible favor that the law could be-
stow. The details of this ninety years or
favoring legislation wonld require TOO
much time and space for this occasion. put
sll may be found in the publication before
referred to.
What interests us now are tho present
conditions, governmental and natural. sur
rounding the wool growing industry or
Australasia. as compared with Indiana.
From the statistics contained In the book
before referred to, "Australasian Sheep
and WOOL" lind that the governmental cid
given TO the wool grower IN AUSTRALASIA
10 IL DOb uhabCs Cq1o w Al 80
tax which he pays to our governments
when he brings his wool to this country
for sale. This governmental aid is largely
In free land and immunity from taxation.
The pasture lands of that country are still
owned by the government aud leased In
large tracts TO the 'squatters" at q nomi-
nal rental. and on sheep there are no taxes
for the support OF the local or general
governments. Hence. as compared With
the farmer of Indiana. the "squatter" OF
Australasia is relieved from the interest on
the value of his land and from oil taxes on
land or sheep. except the small nominal
rent on his land.
For a comparison of the capital required
In Australasia for land and improvements.
| take those items from O statement on page
107 of "Australasian Sheep and Wool" Civ
ing first outlay" for n station carrying
GO, COO sheep in 1892" l assume that first
cost of sheep and farm utensils Is the same
in both countries. and therefor omit them
In this comparison. The cost Of mproS &C.
ments on II 10000 acre station" In Austria
lasia, including wool sheds. homestead.
barn and hay sheds, shearer huts. ten pad
docks requiring forty miles of wire fence.
stock yard. and drafting yard. Is esti-
mated at t3.14o, SIS. 700 In our money.
One years interest on Sl5. 700 at 8 per cent.
is S942; rent on twenty thousand acres ar ii
cents per acre. Sf.e00; assessment, SOU; to-
tai interest. coet on land and improve
ments, sufficient for twenty thousand sheer
in Australasia S5,942.
For a comparison of cost of same items
In Indiana l assume shat one acre of aver
age land will support three sheep. and that
$40 per acre Is a fair average valuation;
thus, for the support of twenty thousand
sheep IN Indiana We require 1855 acres of
land. worth $40 per acre. equal To S266.64U;
interest on S-G6. $40 is Sl5. 99S. 40: tax
on land at 30 cents peg acre. s.. Coo. &C;
tax on 10000 sheep at 3 cents per head.
5000; total interest and taxes on land and
taxes on sheep in Indiana, SO, 264. so; total
in Australia tor same items. 8. 942-lesving
a difference In favor of the Australian
squatter of 81, so per annum. This diff
ference Is the result of governmental own
ership of land, the small rental and eXemD-
tion from taxation OF the wool grower in
Australasia. Similar conditions are not to
be desired In this country for many rea-
sons. and those conditions were not Inau-
gurated for the good of Australasia. but
for the benefit of English spinners. TO fur
nish them with cheap wool, regardless Of
the effect upon tho colonies.
Estimating the average clip of wool at
six pounds per sheep. the governmental aid
given the wool grower in Australasia is
equal 10 over II ceDts per pound. The ad-
vocates of "free wool" tell us that farmers
should turn their attention to mutton
sheep. considering wool a by-product.
But the same reasoning that would put
wool on the free list would place mutton
there too. and IN 1891 Australasia exported
TO Great Britain 1925 900 carcasses of
frozen mutton and 96,025 tons OF
frozen beef. (See page 113. same consular
reports.l And now it Is proposed TO sub
sidize the companies formed for freezing
meat for export (see page 1l2) in order that
they may increase these expectations.
With these conditions of governmental aid
to the Australian squatter. and with free
wool and free meat as the policy OF this
country. what will be the condition of our
farming interestsf The same policy In
England has ruined the farmers of that
country. and IL will surely do the same in
this country. The only safety for armer
as well as many other industries. is In adj
herence to the protection principles under
lying the lava We now have.
GEORGE MERRITT.
INDIANAPOLIS, Sept. 16.