New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-09-12
THE CONSUMPTION OF WOOL.
,,,, ,,curpo1-RN.s VIEWS on THE pos
sIBIE SUPPLY on HAND.
To N. Editor Of The Tribune.

To the Editor OF The Tribune
sir: I read with interest w NJ. GrosVcno'
,,c,e nuhlishcd In The Tribune OF SEPTEMBER o.
...rains tine consumption Of wool within given
nar,ods and the possible supply on mana Inc
trade however Will no doubt disagree WI" NV
author on certain statements contaiheo '''''
In common with other agricultural P'o
&c extremely dificult TO solve the ION mana proo-
lam OF wool. For the last half-cen'urS s."US
,,o,ars have annually submitted estimates OF inc
amount OF wool on hand at given per'"us anu
the figures have varied In many instances '.'''
ten million TO three hundred million POUNDS ~
ufacturers naturally object 10 puoHs""e w
amount Of wool they have on hand ana doaleIs
and growers are equally cautious Inc ""Po''
ord domestic production Of wool are known 10
every one interested enough In wool 10 reIei l"
Government statistics. but all trace OF II i U.s.
after IL passes into the hands OF puYeis'
know the amount OF available WOOL IN oo""ou
warehouses; but this is always a small item ds
con,nared with the total annual consumption H.
however IL we're possible 10 obtain accurate es-
Inmates OF wool held by growers, dealers an" "''i'-
ufacturers there would be no doubt ana co"Se
ouently no argument on the question OF WOOL
supply. 49,
January T. FOR instance. three estimates OF the
oufvtitv Of wool on hand were given by prom
inent statistcians follows: Sp0po."" p"uh"S'
200 400 600 pounds and 0o0000 Taking me aNcidSe
Of the three have 5yoooG". Let MS assume ina.
on January last there 55oo1.oO POUNDS OF
sent the amount held over from lS'' cohs's'i"s
prnciuaIly Of wool imported in anticipation OF
higher duties For the eight months ending AueuS'
n last half OF this wool or 2'5,o'o"Oo pouhus' "ds
consumed leaving a balance OF %'o.v'"" po'""7'
To this must be added the domestic clip Of the
season estimated at 2S5,0Noooo pounds ana I'M
ported wool amounting approximately TO """"c
mounds This would make the total amount OF
wool in the United States to-day 62O.mo."D pounos'
a suficient amount to keep the machinery run
ming on ordinary time for twelve months. of inns
wears clip there still remains in the hands OF
growers reluctant TO dispose OF II at current rates
about 7ooooOOo pounds. besides so.o0oo~ POUNDS IN
bonded warehouses Deducting the total OF these
two sums from $40 eco pounds. we have Sso.Vv'-
900 pounds OF available wool. suficient amount
10 keep the machinery running on ordinary Time
only seven months Considering the curtament Of
woollen imports. II would require only six months
10 consume all the wool now In this country
THE EFFECT OF DEPRESSION.
The above figures are based on estimates of the
total supply of wool on hand January OF this year.
80 estimated by the three statisticians before re-
,.rred 10 two of whom estimate the annual con-
.umption Of foreign and domestic WOOL lhcIuu.
ing wool I'm foreign goods. at between o"V''o."V
ana s5oo00ooo pounds II IL true tnst "oo"e"
n,ors,ed and carpet mills are experiencing
urh, denression at present. but this has not
,n,or,sred with the consumption. The United
states Is consuming more wooIlen goons to-udS
TIA, ever before and our wooen mills Will eventu-
elly he called upon TO supply this demand FROM
present prospects the products OF WOODEN mus
will be larger during the next twelve months IMAM
during any like period in our history
Tbere Is a dispo.ition on the part OF some people
IN overlook the lesser imports Of wool during the
A.csl wear ~ 1895 while magnifying the heavy I'M
portaticns in anticipation OF change OF tarin pol
lev. We will tahe the average annual imports OF
wool during the years 1897 and 1893 and compare
them with the average annual imports dorihs 'ne
years 1890 10 1896 inclusive.
Amount retained for consumption nscd' year
~ Pounds
........ 247.424. 1872
1tpI ,....... $50. 1871