Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1894-09-20
Truth About Wooden Manufac.

Truth ABOUT WOODEN MauuIac-
lures.
1t is true that, because of "heavily
taxed wool and high tariff" Ameri-
can wooden manufacturers heretofore
"have simply dabbled in and played
With this great Industry" 1t is trne
that now, with free wool and low du-
ties, "American wooden manufacturers
are for the first time to enter the bust
nessG" The Dry Goods Economist of
this city says that these are truths;
but what are the testimony of official
facts aud flguresi
Wooden manufacture has been con-
Quoted i'm this country for much more
than one hundred years. In the eigh-
ty years from the formation of the
government down to 1860 the capital
invested in the business had grown to
be but S35, 900, 900 and the product to
have the value of $50, 00D,000. This
was during a period of intermittent
free trade and protection. From 1860
to 1890 there was continuous protection
for both wool and woolens. In that
period the capital expanded TO 1925
900, 600. Thus in thirty years under
protection the value OF the product
became five times larger than it had
become in eighty years without persis-
tent protection. The COUNTRY had
practical free trade from 1880 to 1860,
and the capital invested in wooden
manufacture increased in that decade
only to the extent OF So. 600. 900. The
country had high protection from
1880 to 1890. aud the capital thus in
vested increased by $l61, 900. 900.
What is the plain inference from the
comparison of these fgnresl That
manufacturers have been hampered
and discouraged by protection or by
the duties upon wool2 Surely not
Has wooden manufacture grown
more rapidly in England with free
wool than in the United States with
dutiable wool2 In 1860 the wool iin-
ported to the British Islands for use
i'm the mills amounted to 121, 900, OO(
pounds. In 1890 this consumption
had grown to 341, 600, 900 pounds. In
1860 the wool consumed in the United
States was 81, 600, O0O pounds. In 1896
it had increased to 405, 900, 900 lbs. The
British consumption in thirty year,
Increased not quite three times. The
American consumption in tie same
time increased nearly five times. It II
hardly doubtful that 10 the year 1892
two years after the Mckinley tariff
went into operation, American manu-
facturers produced larger quantity o
wooden fabrics than was produced IL
the British Islands, where wool paiC
no duty. Can ii. with reason, b.
urged that American manufacturers
making more woolens than their Brit
ish rivals, have been playing anc
dabbling" with the industryl Having
distanced the British manufactures
who started far ahead of them, 4
there any ground for the allegation
that American manufacturers are nov
for the first time entering the bust
ness2" These questions answer them
selves.
Have the American people as ,
whole obtained any benefit from tn,
promotion of the wool growing ant
wool manufacturing industries unde
protection2 The farmers gained, 70
IN 1860 they had but %, 600 600 sheep
whereas in 1885 they had 80, 600, 600
They improved the breeds SO mucl
that whereas the average weight o
the fleece In l840 was but 10 pounds
In 1891 IL was SIS pounds. The pres
ence here of these great focks helpet
also to cheaper the price of meat. A
the same time. the price of woolel
garments steadily decreased, and thei
use increased. so that, while in 1874
under free trade the domestic con
sumption of wool was four and hal
pounds for each person. in 1890 it wa
ten pounds, or more than three pound
in excess of the consumption In tn
British Islands, where wool is free
The Democratic tariff law is beyon,
successful dispute hostile to, not help
, full Of, American woolens, and woolel
manufacturers,a as well as wage Garner
in wooden industries, with substantial
unanimity recognize that fact.--M Y
Press