The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1903-11-27

Thus, while the value OF cotton man
ufactIres has more than kept pace
with our growing population. since
1880. and has almost kept pace. since
1870, the value OF our wooden manufac-
lures 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
wooden goods produced in this coun-
try is declining from year to year. is
less COW than in 1880 or 1880. and il
rs per cent. less than in 1870, the de-
cline being from $5l7 per capita. in
1870. TO $3.50. in 1900.
Gould there be a more whitening crit
icism OF our protective system than
Is shown by the sad results of this in
dustry?
to pay nearly twice the normal price
for woolens has resulted Cd in blight
ing the industry that was TO be pro-
tected and built up; 90 in preventing
the people from wearing warm. SUBJ
stantial clothing; and CD in forcing
them to wear shoddy and cotton
clothes.
treat or bury the victims of improper
clothing. are the real benefciaries of
taxed wool and woolens
Nor do we get better results IL we
consider the effects OF protection"
upon the prices of wool. or upon the
wool growers. According TO the CEN
sus report. the average cost Of scour I'd
wool declined from $3.50 cents per
pound. in 1850. to 45.4s. in 1890. and to
377l. in 1900 This same report tells
us that the per capita consumption OF
wool declined from $50 pounds. in
1880. and SIS. in 1880. to 597. in 1900.
AL 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 1879. Practically,
then. all of the reduction in consump-
ton is due TO the reduced production
Of domestic woods. And here. again.
the reduction in he home supply has
occurred in spite of the great increase
In the amount ard proportion of coarse
woods and OF mohair Gnciuded with
wool in the 1900 census), to the fine
wools produced.
As a matter OF fact, the number OF
sheep east of the Mississippi river and
north of the Mason and Dixon's line.
which included the fine wool section
when high protection was first APP
piled. is now less than one-half what
IL was in 1867. and their value is prob
ably only one-fourth what 1t was then
The fundamental facts in the wooden
industry are ~ that many varieties
of woods must be mixed to produce
substantial well-finished and market
able goods. and CD that no one coun-
try produces all varieties of wool
These facts are recognized by nearly
al governments except ours. which is
the only one that taxes raw wool.
Protection having proven a nat fall
ure. both as 10 the WOOL grower and
as to the wooden manufacturer. the
republicans of the agricultural de-
partnent at Washington are now ad-
vising the farmers to try TO raise An
CORA goats as a substitute for sheep.
They are telling New England farmers
thai these goats are just the things to
reclaim the many abandoned farms in
their territory. The republicans have
already begun to call the hair Of this
goat tmohair) wool. and TO include IL
with the genuine article in their sta
tistics. But for this statistical fic-
ton our wool figures would make a
worse showing thar they now DO.
Will calling a goat a sheep make II
one? How much longer can the re-
publicans fool the farmers,
SYRoN W. HOLT.