The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1894-01-26
REVIEW OF THE WOOL MARKET.

REVIEW OF The WOOL MARhEI.
The prospect of early radical
reductions in the Mckinley tariff
law has paralyzed the wool bust
ness, closed the majority of the
woolen mills, thrown thousands OF
workingmen and women out OF
employment, and has checked the
sales of wool, the prices for which
are now only nominal. The tone
of the market is in buyers favor.
There are many holders of wool
wishing to sell, but owing to the
large number of idle mills, there
is almost no market for it. This
is in strong contrast with the con-
dtions of the woolen manufact-
uring business previous to March,
1898. Then, the demand for wool
was so great as to clear from the
market the clip of the previous
year, making the scarcity of this
staple apparent to everyone. Then
manufacturers were so actively
securing wool with which to fill
their large orders for woolen goods
that prices advanced from one to
two cents per pound above those
current during the previous month.
The wooden mills in the United
States had never before had such
a busy year. The demand for
wool was so great that it absorbed
the entire 333,OO0,000 pounds Of
the American clip of 1892, in ad-
dition to 16s,0O0,000 pounds of
imported wool-a quantity larger
by 80 per cent. than the imports
OF any previous year under any
previous tariff law, the quantity
imported being equal to 81 per
cent. of our own clip. This fact
proves that American manufac-
turers are in no way "Hampered
by lack of foreign wool for mix
ing.n The enormous quantity of
wool imported, even with the Nc
Kinley duties added, owing to the
heavy fall in foreign prices, was
relatively cheaper than the Amer
lean clip, low as the latter was.
But in less than four months after
the policy of an Immediate radical
change in tariff was declared,
the woolen mills, many of them
for the first time in their existence,
began to close, and employees
were thrown out of work, many Of
whom are now dependent upon
charity for support.
There are several ways within
the reach of the people themselves
to lift the shadow of want that ov-
erhangs so many American homes
to-day, if they will exert them
selves quickly. Under proper
conditions, the great agencies
which poured millions of dollars
of wages into the pockets OF
American workmen are ready to
resume their full activity and to
restore this nation to the prosper
Gus condition of one year ago.
which was a source of so much
wonder to other nations.
Could the American people re-
ceive the assurance that the Nc
Kinley tariff bill will be left un-
disturbed, this prosperity would
quickly return. The speediest
way to accomplish this is for con-
gress to strike out the enactine
clause of the Wilson bill. 1t is a
dangerous bill, and it will be i'm.
possible to amend it without still
leaving it destructive and harm.
full measure. Another effective
measure for restoring prosperity is
for the senate to pass at once one
of those resolutions already offer
ed by several senators, assuring the
country that tariff revision will mo-
be considered for period of a
least two years. If either of the
above acts are accomplished
within few weeks thereafter ev
cry factory will be busy; the bull
of the wool which now lies il
warehouses uncalled for will b.
wholly inadequate to supply tht
demand.
Remove the threat of destruct
i've tariff revision and the grea
prosperity of one year ago viii
return. The voters themselve
can do this, and it can be done b.
them alone.-Trade Bulletin.
Ex-PREsIDENT HARRISON will