The Somerset reporter., 1894-05-10
About Wool.

Wool stands out as the seventh largest
agricultural Industry in the United
states. The striking down of this one
great industry means greater loss to the
lie wool growers than the ordin 'ry citi-
zen comprehcnds at the present time.
1t will not be necessary to understand
that low tariff on wool has "A direct
result upon the increase in the flock Of
the United States. From 1880 to 1850,
under the low tariff of lsi5 and 1851,
the increase in tile number of sheep in
the United States was only 3 IL per
cent, but between 1850 and 1870, with
only three years of high tariff, sheep
increased from - 900. 900 to 2S,O00, 900,
or y per cent, and between 1870 and
1850, from .. 900 900 to Al 900, 900 or II
per cent, and in 1851 our sheep brought
SOL G2j, 626.
The wool tariff of 1883, by combine
ton of Republicans and southern Demo-
Gratis, was reduced 10 10 cents per pound
or the entirc feature of the act of ls61
Was destroyed.
lit three years. including lsS7, under
the operation Of the tarit1 of 1883. our
sheep had decreased over 100000,
when, if we would compare the rate of
increase from 1867 To 1854, there could
have been an increase of 6,10O,000.
This change must therefore be noted "a
equivalent to Il loss of about l2,0O0,00
OF sheep to the common wealth, not less
than $30, 600 900. In 1855 the number of
,heep in the United States had declined
from $4,000, 900 to i2.600,0 900 a loss OF
II 900, 900
The election OF 1888, which gave the
Republicans control of the National
House of Representatives, promised
some relief in the shape of Il higher tariff
ON wool. lnsequenlly the number of
sheep increased from $4,000, 900 in lSSS
to tG,300, 900 in 1890
Under the stmulant of the Mckinley
bill, which increased the tariff ON GER
tain grades of wool and also increased
the duty on woolens. the number of
sheep increased, rs shown by the report $
of the Department of Agriculture, more
than 5000, 900; and further fact is
also shown, that under the operation of
the Mckinley bill the price of wool,
which declined from cents to 10 cent
per pound in Europe, only declining
about , cents per pound in The United
States until the beginning of tariff
tinkcrng under the present party in
power.
As many people are credulouS as to
he cause of the tlucluation in the price
of both sheep and wool, it will be ncces-
sary to show how tariff legislation, or
even proposed legislation, has its effect
upon this great agricultural industry.
On the first of December, 1887, a New
England firm had stored in Boston
100000 worth of wool, for which they
were negotiating sale with certain
manufacturing people. The difference
in price of Il half cent per pound pre-
vented the contract from being closed.
On that day President Cleveland sent
his famous message favoring a reduction
of American duties to Congress. The
| owners of this wool at once wired the
buyers for the same that they would
ACCEPT the price offered, to which they
received reply that they too had read
the Presidents message. and were not
buying. That 100000 worth of wool
was sold within the year for 10 per cent
less being an absolute loss of 5000 IN
cash.
The effect of putting wool on the free
| list would be to make wool-growing
Improbable. 1t would render unpro.
duclive the rough and poor portions OF
these seven hundred Thousand farms
now used for grazing sheep; it would
decrease the value of the sheep and OF
the wool clip; it would decrease the
Wages paid to the employees and de
prive the farmer of his profit. We hav,
seen this loss put in this way.
| Depreciation of the value of land
$3.50 per acre 1870 600 00(
Depreciation of the value of labor 81, 900, 00t
Depreciation of value of sheep % 600 0ot
Depreciation of wool. 25 O00 coz
Total ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. s355 600 OO(