The Somerset reporter., 1894-02-15
FARM. GARDEN and
HOUSEHOLD.
Wilson and DOL.
fron. ne rhiIodclphfr u@lalaelaref.

declared that in 1860 We produced a
home six pounds Of wool out oil every ter
pounds used by the people, while nov We
import six pounds out OF every nine thai
we consume. In the first place these ilg-
ures are not correct. In 1900 we pro
duccd 90 million pounds of wool aud con
snmed 50 millions. Thus the imports IN
relation to the quantity consumed were
as ( to 2 and not as 3 to To- In 1901
we produced at home 2S5 million pounds
and imported I29 million pounds. Thus
the imports then were not quite haltthe
home production, instead OF being as MIR.
Wi son asserted, twice the home pro-
ductou.
But, even as the figures given had been
correct instead of grossly incorrect, they
would not have shown the highly import
ant fact that under the protective system
which Mr.. Wilson declared discouraged
wool growing, the American wool clip
grew from 100 million pounds in 1867 to
900 million pounds in 1909. ESen these
figures, however, do not tell the whole
story, so carefully concealed by the Pro-
fessor's remarks In 1867 the average
weight OF an American fleece was I
pounds In 1902 it had risen to IS
pounds. The nurture of the industry
here by the protective tariff permitted i'm
provemcn, of the breeds of sheep with the
consequence that the wool production OF
each animal is more than doub'ed with
out any considerable increase OF the cost
of production Besides this, with sys
TEN in operation which Professor Viii
son declares is oppressive to consumers,
the per capita consumption of wool by
American people rose from 6.S4 pounds
in 1860 to q pounds in 1900. We impe ri
ed more because We used more. We sent
abroad for some of our wool because,
while we produce ones sixth of the worlds
supply, we actually consume under the
protective system nearly one third of the
worlds supply. That one amazing fact
gives a conclusive answer to the allega-
ton that the American people are forbid
den their fair share of wooden clothing by
the duties upon wool.
Professor Wilson also held that the
wool duties have not been beneficial to
the farmers, because the number of cat
tie. horses, and hogs has increased much
more largely than the number OF sheep
1t is a safe assertion that if men holding
Wilson's opinions had never been permit
ted to come into public life in this country
sheep would have multiplied as rapidly as
other domestic animals have done. If the
wool duties had never been assailed by
tariff reformer, free traders, and miscella-
neous Cranks, the sheep which increased
in numbers from 80 millions in 1867 to 50
millions in 1884 would probably now be
numerous enough to supply the total dom
este demand for clothing woods, and to
have reduced the price of all flesh food
for the people. The movement upward
of the number OF sheep was sharply check
ed by the reduction OF duties IN the 'atlii
,a;ng influence of the higher duties of
Re Hc KinIevac and if was aoain check
ed he tbe election of Grover Cleveland up
On !, nl,tform declaring for the extermina-
,;an r. tho industry THE destructive in
anence If hostile tariff legislation is de-
,nonstro,ed hv tbe sale Of sheep at thi,
moment in Western PENNSYLVANIA at
,wenty.6ve cents a head About one-fifth
Of H. sheen of the country have been
cent IN the SLAUGHTER house since Mr..
Cleveland was inauourated. Pass the
lvilson hill, and in FIVE wears sheep hus-
handr, vii, Inc nracticolly extinct in this
conn,rv
Th;s n III exnlain wbv the industry has
got No n,,Js bet,er Roadway. When for
a a1u a' under,,ke n comnete in this mar
!. Z, IN, A,,-r;car horses and cattle they
',,,,., ~ hrinn h;,ber the whole animals
W., ,har cor,nete with American sheep