Daily Kennebec journal., 1897-07-16
The Outlook for Wool.

The report that the conference com.
satisfactory in the main to both the
wool growers and the manufacturers
augurs favorably for many farmers II
this State who found a flock of sheep !
source of profit in the years preceding
the free wool hlunder. 1t is a fact vel
Understood by thrifty farmers that 4
flock Of sheep will do much to renovate
worn out pastures, will dispose profit
ably Of the coarscr and cheaper folders
and in the spring by means of lambs
and wool afford an income that is
greatly appreciated at that season. in
deed is an almost indispensable item in
farm economy. Under the Wilson bill
all that was changed. Many sold then
small flock while others held them in
the hope of better times.
Some have several years clip of wool
on hand waiting for better market
For the latter the recent reports of inn
portations have been somewhat dis
couraging. The treasury department
reports SHOW that impOrtationS of raw
wool at the principal wool ports, Bos-
ton. New York and Philadelphia, which
enter about 80 per cent. of all wool i'm
ported into the United States amounted
during June, to 33,2S1 .T75 pounds. TO-
e61, $40 pounds less than in the preced
ing month, but 27,965, $50 pounds more
than in June 1896 The recent heavy
movement in raw wool began with
March, 1897, during which month the
total importation was 54,G76, ,S32 pounds
During April the largest importations
We're made; then the quantity imported
reached 90, 559, ,9S3 pounds. May followed
with 43,943, 6S5 pounds and the importa-
tons for the month just passed brings
the total for four months up to 227, ,462 :
225 pounds. The same months in 1876
show importations amounting 10 As
,911 pounds. The raw wool importa- =
ton for the whole year 1896 at all ports
was 230,9l1, ,413 pounds, which exceed al
the importations at Boston, New York
and Philadelphia for the four months If
March April. May and June of this
year by only 3,349,24S pounds. The
number of pounds imported during the
first six months of the calendar year
1896 was 100, III ,1s0. and forthe same
period of the current year 1852, ,1o.,
an increase of 176,S94,92
Notwithstanding these excessive i'm
portations in anticipation of the new
tariff there is the certainty that fair
protection will be afforded the Ainer-
can Wool grower for years to come and
at the ssanle time the conditions will be
favorable to having that wool manu-
factured in this country. This Of itself
gives confidence and warrants the
farmer who had sold his sheep renew
ing again. Indeed the price of wool
throughout the world has advanced a
little, partly due, probably, to the ex-
|cessive demand of importers for foreign
woods, as the foreign market under the
existing conditions governs the price.
There has in the year past according -
the American Wool and Cotton Report
er been an average advance of nearly
25 per cent. But when We think that
this increased price does not afford
inducement for the extension of wool
growing, an industry which in the
great wool growing states of Oregon,
Utah, Washington, Idaho and Montana
Ia GaI hp1 h., off ,f
the Wilson German tariff law, the need
of a change ought to be apparent tn
even the dullest
While the excessive importation;
threaten delay of the full benefits of
the new wool tariff for nearly two
years, nevertheless it is gratifying II
note that the conditions all over the
world are favorable for better times in
this branch. The editor of the Wool
and Cotton Reporter says: That wool
has lately been selling below the cost
of production, has been evident, not
only in America but in Australia and
the Argentine Republic. In the rural
districts of New England the usual
price to the farmer of the medium
woods, like those of Maine. had never
fallen below 20 cents until 1892, since
which time Is cents has been sonnet lines
difficult to obtain. AT this last named
figure, most farmers have sold THEN
flocks, and some have abandoned theil
farms. AS the laborer is worthy of his
hire. and the intelligent farmers and
ranchmen of the United States will not
do business continuously at loss, the
advance in wool must be maintained