Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1894-02-23
THE MATTER OF WOOL.


A Correspondents who 10 Posted Kx-
presses His Views.
Samuel Pearson writes to the Portland
Oregonian 80 follows: In your yester-
DAVIS issue notice an article copied from
the Walla Walla Union stating that q
large woolgrower there had shipped 2911s
tons OF wool to Boston, and Melted 81
cents per pound. This statement is .
fair sample OF many others that have ap-
peared from time to time from the poor
woolgrower. Will you permit me to say
a few words from manufacturer stand
point touching the merits OF Oregon and
Australian woods?
In a dispatch published by you some
weeks ago, 1t was stated that the wool
auction sales had just come off in Lon
don. The price paid for Australian was
AID per pound, the lowest, and the
highest 91s per pound in the grease In
our money this would be equal to cents
and 10 cents per pound.
As usual, there was moderate amount
bought by our Eastern manufacturers.
At the sales the 14th day of last month
600 bales, weighing from 600 pounds to
800 pounds each, were purchased by
them. According 10 the above figures,
the average price would be IA cents per
pound in London. Add to this 10 cents
duty and 8 cents freight and commission,
making the total q cents landed in Bos
ton. The Boston Commercial Bulletin
gives rgures 80 TO 40 cents per pound,
according to quality.
Now, in the face Of those figures, does
it not prove conclusively there Ia some.
thing at fault with Oregon wool? We
cannot for a moment suppose that the
American manufacturer would 60 over to
London and pay such prices without
cause. 1t is generally understood that
Oregon and Washington possess as good
wool as either New Zealand or Australia.
here l wish to say few words from ex-
perisnce acquired in the factory The
wooden man looks for Q good, eound, fine
fiber, length two to three inches, and the
fleece put up in clean condition, that
is, free from heavy tags and dung locks
The worsted man looks for length,
strength and fineness combined, the
longer the better, even to fifteen inches.
And it is right here where the Australisn
wool excels all others. Its soundnese
and length give the greatest percentage
Of top" and consequently the lowest
percentage of "noil." Oregon is the re.
verse it cannot stand the severe tension
OF the comber, but breaks and goes To
"noil." 1t must be understood that
the manufacturer bases all his cAlcula.
tons ON the cost of top"
In your issue Of December 26 it wal
stated that warp woods were hard to finG
in Boston. 1t is the top that we make
the warp from, while the noil is used fol
blankets and other common goods. Ii
your issue of the I'd instant, in reply t.
an article from Tacoma, it WAS STATED
that Oregon and Washington woods coulG
be used to good advantage for blankets
cassimeres, etc. 1t will be seen from
this that we have a superabundance o
poor wool that the bulk Of it is too ten
der in fiber. What the cause is thu
farmer should know.
Now, one word as to condition. II il
notorious fact that the average shrink
age is sixty-fve per cent, showing tina
the grower pays more money to shiI
sand and grease than actual weight o
wool. A few men in this state hav
made big effort to improve the grade
of their sheep, and they certainly ough
: to be needed and emulated more.