Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1894-10-04
BOOMING WOOL.


When the IntelLigencer has actual
wool sales at the advanced prices OF 9l
and % cents showed under its nose so
that it is forced to notice them, it gets
around the advance by limiting that II
was paid out of Democratic campaign
funds.
The Pittsburg Times, a similar cslam-
ity bowling Republican organ, treats
the similar advance in wool prices in
Western Pennsslvania in the same alb
surd manner, actually accusing Con-
gresham SIPE, the Democratic candi-
date in the Twsnty-fourth Pennsyl-
vania district, Of sending agents through
the counties, particularly Greene coun-
". who are buying up wool at ad-
vanced prices in order to humbug the
wool growers. The Times states Mr..
Sips's agents are Offering from to
ceats a pound advance In wool In order
to ''pull the Woo" over the farmers
ewes. AS the Times contemporary, the
Pttsburg Post, points out however,
''the district raises in the neighborhood
of 5000, 900 pounds OF wool, or did
before the blight Of McKInleyism fell
on the wool-growing interest, the con-
gresham would have to invest in the
district some $50, 600 In this extraor-
binary object lesson, which the Times
persists he is engaged in. He would
have to lay out in Greene county alone,
said to be the principal scene of his OPP
eratlons 10 wool, some $4,000. We do
not suppose the wool growers care much
who buys so they get the advance from
Mckinley prices.
Unfortunately for this brilliant dis
covery Of the Times, says the Post, the
advance in wool is not confined to the
Twenty Fourth district. Commencing
in London at the recent great wool
sales, it has extended all over the
world, in the wool. producing countries.
We hardly think Mr.. SIPE operates in
London or New York. Since the new
tariff law went into effect, putting wool
on the free list, il has advanced, both
in this country and Europe, between
: = and 10 per cent. The ugly fact for
the Republicans to get around is that
wool fell TO its lowest known prices
under the Mckinley law-that it COM
menced to fall as soon as that law
passed congress, and that it commenced
to advance in price as soon as the new
tariff law passed.
There are other points in the wool
question that DESERVE Rt'antinn- In
all the States east of the Mississlppi
river the number Of sheep has fallen of
under the high protection given wool
since 1860. There are not so many sheep
in Pennsylvania to-day as there were In
1850 and 1860, 80 and forty years ago,
when there was practically free wool.
And as to prices, under the Mckinley
law they fell off fully one-third from
the quotations under the Democratic
tariff Of 1s46-57. The statistical Alb
stract" gives the quotations Of washed
ohio fleece wool in New York in Octo-
Der. 1860, at 40 cents, and for the same
month in 1898 at p cents. In 1860 the
number Of sheep reported in Pennsyl-
vania was /, 621, 900. In January, 1894,
the number reported was 1,437, 900, So
much for 25 years Of high protection.
The story is one OF diminishing focks
and lower prices With the advent OF
free wool, prices commenced to advance.
The prosperity and progress OF Ameri-
can wooden manufacturers are the con-
trolling factors in the prices OF domestic
wool. Free wool will place them upon
40 equality with English and German
manufacturers. They will supply the
home demand, and in time, as now on
carpets, will become exporters. This
will make a steady demand for Ameri-
can woods, and with it will come further
advanced prices.