The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1894-02-24
The Sheep Industry.

a
Editor TINEs-MoUNTAINEER
Permit me to call your attention 10 a
p letter in the Statesman OF this date, writ
e ten from Washington City by Hon. T.
= Mcconnell, a delegate by the wool grow
ing interest of LalifornIa to appear before
the U. 5. senate committee on finance In
opposition to the pending Wilson bill be-
coming law. Mr.. Mcconnell writes re-
monstrants have been denied hearing
before the committee, so, under the aus
pices of the National Wool Grower asso-
citation, will act by memorial, which will
be published in a lew days, and suggests
that citizens of oregon write to their del
egation in congress for copies OF ltese
documents.
l would add TO that the suggestion that
wool growers apply also for copies of tie
'Report of the Bureau of Animal Indus
try ON the Sheep and Wool of the United
States for 1892" 10000 copies of which
are printed Tor distribution by members |
OF congress. l know Senator Dolph is
desirous to place the copies at his dispo-
sal amongst wool growers, and presume
Messers Mitchell, Hermann aud Ellis are
no less so. A line on postal card with
address Of writer is all that is necessary.
There is, in my judgment Mr.. Editor,
no probability of stopping the Wilson
bill, and the alaLity that comes with it
to American industries have, l greatly
fear, got to be tasted to the very dregs by
bitter experience of which the foretaste
is with US even now. But our day will
crme again, and we ought not TO sleep. at
our posts of watchfuilnes., but be ready
for opportunities,
A recent communication to the Orego
nian by ex-senator J.,H. Slater indicates
a line of misrepresentation by free-trade
Democrats in support of their cause, and
J think 1t should be met now with the
truth of history What allude to is the
monstrous assumptions made by MIR.
Slater that there were 100000 sheep in
the United States when the tariff law of
1851 passed and that there were 100000
sheep slaughtered for their pells and tai
low by American farmers within three-
years thereafter. The fact Is there was I
depression and apprehension occasioned
by the extraordinary amount of wool and
woelens left on the market by the close
of the civil war, and the Morrill, tariff of {
1861 being deemed inadequate protection,
the law of 1867 was passed IN time, as /,
the commissioner of agriculture reported,
10 prevent such annihilstiou as MIR. Slater :,
asserts did take place. To get the sheep :,
lor his assumed butchery Mr. Slater has y
% assert an increase of 2000O,0O0 head bt i
sheep from stock of 22,OUO,0O0 in 1860, II
within seven years-four of which were Q
covered by the destructive civil war. rhe y
acts are(and they are proved In thespecial v
'eports, on wool and woolens prepared by ot
he .. s.. treasury in 1857 the Increase
vas more steady and greater id proper !.
ion between 1860 and than between 1
$40 and 1850. The aggregate increase of "
heep for the two decades was 8006,676 NJ
rom 1860 10 1870 and 6,7l4,ll9 between bt
$50 and 1880; l2,72O,747 in the twenty m
ears under protection, against 3,l59,9Ol is
Increase during twenty years of low tarit us
'om lS40 TO 1860. But. this contrast of o. o..
fleets of tariffs on this industry is more
rong by comparing the almost station
~ condition of the industry during the E"
n years of the Walker tariff from 1850 n
ls6O-from 81, ,725,220 to 22.47l 215, the M
crease was but 74S,055 Compare this Ks
i.h increase from 3S,l62,O74 in 1850 TO plu
l,626,626, from the latter date to 1854 in no
usivc; that is 15,434552 increase in the 20
re years. This is the rate of increase
at MIR. Slater, bV his vote, (dgalnst the
trrest of his constItuents) helped to ''H
Dp. and did in fact so reverse that With w.
five years from that fatal tariff tinker nv
g the decrease aggregated 100000
.ad ln''
Some Of your readers doubtless remem-
r Mr. Clevelands first message in favor .,
free wool and its effects in prices in .@'
IS. Some Of them may remember that N4N
e chances of his being elected then
used some to quit breeding their fiocks W ".
ID sell their ewes for mutton That was '-U
-, - and
peated now when it is, possible to be
oided. 1t is very dark outlook just
w, but can the sheepman do better with =
her horses or cattle or grain raisingg ''''
OF much. PIONEER.