Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1902-02-12
:" """'"- CONVENTION
Continued from Fifth Page).

blankets.
For skilled labor the company pays
the same price as eastern manufactur-
ers. but for weaving by the piece the
are eight cents per blanket in
the east and ten cents in Montana.
As the average weight of the eastern
blanket is four pounds a pair and Of
the Montana blanket six pounds, the
cost of weaving a pair is 3 1-3 cents
a pound in Montana against 4 cents
In the east, or a difference of 4 cents
pair in favor Montana.
The Big Timber mill also has the
advantage of being in close touch with
both producer and consumer of wool,
and can buy the best clips. The diff
ference in value between the best and
the average clip offered at Big Tim
Der last year was six cents per pound
ir the dirt. This is a saving Of As
cents on each pair of six-pound blank
cts. or 1871 cents a pound. The pro-
duct is superior to that Of the east,
because it is as cheap to use Atwood
as to ship in cotton or shoddy.
The difference in freight on wool
eastward and on the finished produce
back, Mr.. Clark said, is more than
enough to make up the extra cost of
manufacture. This difference is SO
cents on each six-pound blanket, or
s per cent on the gross sales Of the
factory. He cited the growth of cot
ton-spinning in the south and the re-
moval Of New England mills to that
section as a case in point, although
there is no dirt in cotton to increase
the saving of the Southerners. The
Big Timber company also sells direct
to the retailer, while the New Eng
lander does business through a job.
Der and thus the Montana mill saves
the jobber's profit.
The Big Timber company finds its
capital too limited to build up its
business and hopes during the next
year to sell a large part of its unsub-
scribed stock. as the market for its
goods is mostly in the fall and 1t is
necessary to carry through the sum
mer a stock of both wool and
blankets. The company wishes to de-
velop its water power, and machinery
to increase it's production and build
cottages for its employees.
Mr.. Clark declared that the interest
of the wool growers and of the wooden
mills r mutual and invited subscrip-
lions for the balance of the capital
stock. He also said the company had
placed its blankets on sale in nearly
all the large towns in Montana, but
had a large stock on hand, for which
he solicited orders.
The program on the third and last
day of the convention was a full one
and comprised many interesting ad-
dresses by wool growers from differ.
ent sections of the country and a pa
per on Live Stock Sanitary Legisla-
ton" was well received and listened
to with intense interest.
When the morning session opened,
President Power announced that H
Fl. Nelson of Cascade, who was to de-
liver an address upon the Valuation
of Sheep, as Compared with Other
Property, for the Purpose Of Taxa
tion," had been called out of the city
and that Wesley Paul, representing
the Protective Woolgrowers' associa.
ton of Boston. would address them.
Mr.. Paul told of the origin of the
association and said that 1t was form.
ed by Frank P. Bennett, first Vice
President of the National Woolgrow'
ers' association. He pointed out to
the sheepmen the evils of shipping
their wool to the eastern commission
houses and advocated placing 1t in the
hands of the association. He said
that the commission merchants were
spectators and argued that the sheep
men were cheated out of so much on
each pound of wool.
A long series of resolutions were re
ported by the committee on resolu
tons, the n which provoked most
discussion dealing with federal in
spection of sheep. This reads:
Whereas. Federal inspection has
proven of great value to the sheep in
terests of the Northwest Pacific states
and has been largely instrumental II
inducing the suppression and eradica
ton of scab among sheep, be it
Resolved, BY the Northwest Paci
fc Woolgrowers' association. that 4
is the sense of this association that
the powers and duties of federal in
spectors which at present are mad
equate, should be SO extended al t.
include re-inspection at any point o
destination. and that congress be re
quested to make sufficient appropria
ton to enable the carrying out of sucl
regulations in full; and, be 1t
|. Resolved. That the federal law b,
SO amended as to impose upon tn
owner, shipper or dealer in sheep al
fected with scab a severe penalty
and If within the power of congress
Il can be so enacted, such scabb.
sheep by the department of agricul
ture or it's agents to disposed Of II
such manner as in the opinion of tn
secretary of agriculture meets the e,
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