The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-15
CALIFORNIA WOOL.

The wool industry of the United States
suffered great setback when the present
tariff bill was passed. And wool-growers
are almost unit in the sentiment that
under a system of free trade the sheep in
dustry of this country cannot be profit
able investment. Feeding on the ranges of
California to-day are 700 900 sheep. Despite
the depressed condition of the wool market,
there will be no material cutting down in
the number of sheep, although sheep
owners are reducing expenses wherever
possible.
The wool clip of 1894 was $4,000 pounds,
and on account of the favorable season the
clip for 1895 promises to be considerably
larger. Ordinarily such year as TINS
would be called perfect season for sheep
raising Under a protective tariff this
would be a very profitable year.
In regard to the prices of wool, they are
Just about half what they were in 1892 and
1898, and even the present very low prices
are barely good enough TO enable domestic
wool to hold its own against lmportatlonS
of foreign wool. There seems TO be no
relief in prospect so long as the wool
market of the United States is thrown
open to all the world.
The question that now occurs to the in
quirer in this field is, "Can we of the Pa
cifc coast afford to build up Eastern man
fractures
we are doing to-day. A careful estimate
shows that fully four-fifths of the wool of
California is sent to Eastern States, and
there manufactured into clothing and
other WOODEN fabrics and shipped back
again to this coast as a market.
There is profit In wooden manufactures,
and home enterprise must find an answer
to the question just propounded, IN the
operation and support Of factories on this
coast that will convert our wool output
into fabrics for trade and commerce.
Every well-managed woolen-mill In Cali
fornia is doing well to-day. The mills at
Stockton, Napa and Marysville will serve
as examples. There is no reason why
woolen-m mills in California should not be
money making institutions. Proper effort
and good management are necessary to
success, however in this field as III Others
There are plenty of woods here adapted
to the uses of local woolen-mills. For the
manufacture of blankets, hannels and
tweeds first-grade woods are not used; but
it is a conceded fact that no woods are
grown anywhere better than in this State
for the purposes. The seven months Can-
fornia short wool is the best wool grown In
any country for the manufacture of fan
nels 1t is as cheap here as it is anywhere.
The Napa and Stockton mills are turning
out fannels as fine as any in the market.
The sheep industry of California is in
the hands of comparatively few men. II
the greater part or all OF the wool pro-
duced in this State could be converted into
manufactured goods here employment
would be opened to thousands and the vast
benefits of such home industry would be
felt throughout every business interest of
the State.
For years, it seems, prejudice has ex-
listed among California people against home
manufactured woods, but this feeling that
INae 1foo orr ri
ferior to the Eastern goods is rapidly being
dissipated. California manufactures wooden
goods equal in quality and as low in price
as the wooden manufactures of the Eastern
States.
Take, as an instance, the Stockton mill,
which turns out more goods, perhaps, than
any other mill on the coast. L. w. Neu-
stadter, who is interested in that MILL
stated to a CALL reporter that at the Stock
ton establishment none but Pacific Coast |
wool was used. 1t is manufactured into !
flannels, cassimeres and blankets.
''The mills output of fannels and cassi-
meres is largely made up into garments for
the trade right here in San Francisco"
said Mr. Neustadter at will be interest
portion of the Stockton product of fannels |
and blankets goes east of the mountains. |
In fact, they are actually sold to Eastern j
manufacturers, who, in turn, job them and |
retail them.
Il think that if people would make up
their minds to give the home manufac-
tured article the preference, when quality
and price are equal, there would be double
as many California made articles sold to-
day. The demand for articles of home in
dustry is growing. It's continued increase
will mean grand revival in this State;
for, after all, manufacturing is the thing
that will make this country truly prosper
Gus. At the Stockton mills and depend
ent institutions employment is given d.
rectly to 800 people"
The San Jose and Petaluma mills have
earned good regulations for their manu-
features. For nearly score of years the
'San Jose blankets have had a healthy
demand in the market What is needed
is more enterprise and energy in the bust
ness. As was observed at the beginning of |
this article there are big profits to be made
in wooden manufactures in this State. The |
spirit of home support of home industries |
is taking strong hold of the people of Cali
fornia.