The sun., 1905-09-19
SHEEP AND iIYOOL.

SHEEP AND WOOL.
attention to a matter which should be OF
interest to American farmers. He says
that "the world is eating up its sheep Its
focks have been declining for three decades,
and that decline has become perceptible
In 80 many countries that 1t is regarded as
the most remarkable agricultural move
ment Of our times" He shows that the
total number Of sheep in the world to-day
is something like o., 900 900 less than 1t was
thirty years ago. II this reduction con-
anues, one Of these days sheep will become
as precious a commodity as hogs would
have been IL the late Col Mulberry Sellers
could have engineered his proposed corner
In porkers. There will be more distinction
In owning flock Of sheep than in owning
steam yacht.
The number Of sheep owned in the United
States shows a considerable fuctuation In
the reports which cover years in which the
size Of our hoclts Is estimated. For census
years, when the f1ocks are presumably
counted, the figures tell different story.
They appear as follows:
Head.
lo9O ~ SSoWz
oss'Voo
During this time the number Of our
farms, the number OF persons engaged in
agriculture, the value of farms and farm
property the value of farm products and
the number Of cattle, horses, mules and
swine have all been practically doubled.
-
better breed Of animals, our wool clip has
also nearly doubled, increasing from
100 600 900 pounds in 1870 to a reported
POI ,7s3 ,o32 pounds in 1904. But the number
of sheep remains almost stationary. The
market prices of wool show steady decline
from 1870 to 1895, and a marked advance
since that year. Imports of wool during
the last thirty-five years show wide and
sudden f1uctuation, in which the notable
feature is the enormous increase during
1861, which were years of free wool.
The imports Of 1897 (350, 1852 ,028 pounds)
doubled those Of 1903 and also those of 1904.
During the last fiscal year there was
jump to 25O,0oO,OO0 pounds.
Should Congress consider revision OF
the tariff with view to busineeslike
adjustment of some of its items to the COM
mercial needs of the day, wool would doubt
less be one Of the subjects Of keenest strug-
gle. The old contestants would fight their
old battle over again. The farmer would
argue the destruction Of his industry, while
the manufacturer would argue the develop
ment of another and more valuable in
dustry, As the matter stands, the case Is
against the farmer. Already protected, and
with wool at amply remunerative prices,
he has failed to supply the requirements
of the home market. During the last twenty
years the American clip shows year to year
fuctuation, but no increase. 1t was not
notably decreased by the free WOOL years,
and has not been notably increased by tho
restoration of the tariff on the imported
article. In 1904 the domestic clip gave
pol 600 900 pounds, and l73,000,000 were
imported under conditions favorable to
American producers.
Our total annual consumption Of raw
wool, domestic and imported, estimated
by weight shows an increase fairly COM
with our national development.
The number of our wooden mills has fallen
from 900 in 1880 to 1,035 in 1900 The
capital invested increased from 500 900 900
in 1880 to S131 100000 in $780, and fell to
sl24, 900 600 in 1900. The number of hands
fell from $500 in 1880 to 10000
in 1900 The total wages paid remained at
about s25 900 900 per year during the entire
period. The cost of materials used fell of
$50 ,OOO, 600, and the value of total output
fell s42, 600 900. These figures all refer to
The production OF woolen goods as such,
and do not include such wares as carpets
and worsteds, in both Of which, particularly
our output shows q gratifying
increase.
So far as this matter affects the farmers,
it is apparent that in view of the present and
prices Of wool and mutton it
would be good money In their pockets to
double the size of their focks. So far as
the tariff is concerned, the conditions of
he worlds wool supply appear to be such
as to justify a reduction or even u removal
Of the present tariff Our wooden manu-
interests would be stimulated,
and it seems probable tlat 10 loss
would accrue to the farmers, through
of the tariff, which would
not be more than compensated by re-
duction in the cost OF the carpets, cloth
ng, blankets and other articles made wholly
Or in part from wool which farmers as we'll
rs others must buy.
Our importation of wooden manufactures
$ no very great matter anyway. We al
ready manufacture the greater part of our
and our total imports last
year of carpets, clothing, CLOTH knit fabrics,
&C., we're valued at little less than SIS, ,OOO,-
,OO Even under present conditions our
manufacturers fairly cover their field, but
our farmers allowed other lands last year
% supply us with $50 600 900 pounds Of wool,
valued at sac, 100000.
Boston Architect Proves Earth Is Plane.
From the Spring pnoid Republican.