West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1903-11-19

Thus, while the value of cotton man
ufactures has more than kept pace
with our growing population since
1880 and has almost kept pace since
1870. the value OF our wooden manu-
factures has not half kept pace with
our population since 1890 or 1880 and
has barely half kept pace since 1870.
This means that the per capita value
OF woolen goods produced In this coun-
try is declining from year 10 year. Is
less now than In 1890 or 1880 and is
20 per cent less than In 1870. the de-
cline being from S5.17 per capita In
1870 to $3.50 in 1900.
Could there be more whitening
criticism of our protective system than
Is shown by the sad results OF this In
dustry? The attempt 10 compel the
people TO pay nearly twice the normal
price for woolens has resulted % I'm
blighting the industry that was to be
protected and built up; (2l in prevent
ing the people from wearing warm.
substantial clothing; (3) IN forcing them
TO wear sloddy and cotton clothes
The doctors and undertakers who
treat or bury the victims of improper
clothing are the real benefciaries OF
taxed wool and woolens.
Nor~ao we get better results II we
consider the effects OF "protection" up-
on the prices OF wool or upon the wool
growers. According 10 the census re-
port, the average cost of secured wool
declined from 5000 cents per pound In
1880 to 1886 cents In 1890 ana to 37.71
cents In 1900. This same report tells us
that the per capita consumption Of
wool declined from $50 pounds In 1880
and S.75 pounds In 1890 to 5.07 pounds
In 1900. And this decline has occurred
In spite OF the fact that we imported
more than three times as many pounds
OF raw wool In 1900 as in 1870. PractI-
paliy oil OF the reduction in consump-
tlon Is due to the reduced production OF
domestic woods. And here again the
reduction In the home supply of wool
has occurred In spite OF the great in
crease In the amount and proportion Of
coarse woods and OF mohnir Qncluded
with wool In the 1000 census) to the
fne woods produced AS matter OF
fact, the number OF sheep east of the
Mississippi river and north of Mason
: and Dixon's line, which included the
nne wool section whom high protection
was first applied. r. now less than one
half what II was ia 1867, and their VAL
ue Is probably only one-fourth what II
was then
The following extracts from the 1900
census, complied by Republicans and
protcctionIsts, tell part Of the sad
tale OF this tariff demornllzed industry;
The year 1000 was an unfortunate
one for an Official Investigation OF fhe
wool manufacture. The ma
chinery IN many mills was only IN par
tioi operation or run on part time.
Like the preceding year. II
fyns marked by unusual conditions
both MS to the chief raw material mud
manufactured products The
sudden changes In wool prices and the
strenuous competition for business led
70 tiie tsiiure OF many large and until
then prosperous concerns.
'Tho quantity Of wool consumed In
wooicn mills in 1900 was only nine.
ienths OF the quantity consumed IN
1890 and was about 10000. 900 pounds
less than was used In 1880. .
The quantity Of shoddy used In these
mills was 06s55,105 pounds. The pro.
portions OF clean shoddy and clean wool
used were respectively 315 and 48.1
per cent Of the raw material consumed
in the card wool manufactures.
Tho use 90 sboddy has made possl.
Die greater supply Of warm clothing
than could have been obtained without
~ while the mixture Of cotton and cot
ton yarn with wool has made possible
the production Of soft Hight weight
fabrics well adapted for uee where
lghincss, moderate warmth and low