Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1909-01-22
National Wool Growers Meet
Wool Warehouse Plan Adopted After
a Long, Hard Fight

est and largest stock organization in
the United States, and owing to its
increased strength and the many
grave and important questions be-
fore il for discussion, this is the
most important meeting ever held by
this association.
The possibilities of the change Of
tariff duties on wool; the forest res
ervation; the leasing of public lands,
legislation to improve freight service
In the shipment of live stock and
the great central wool storage move
neS-e on account OF their vital rela-
ton to the sheep industry, are
among the great questions TO be dis
eussed at this meeting.
The revision of the tariff is the
most important of all these ques-
tions at the present time The ques-
tion is now before congress and
should be discussed in all its phases
during the present meeting. 1t is
now up TO this association to see
that a committee of the very best
men in our midst be appointed to go
to Washington. to give such informa-
tion to members Of congress as may
be necessary TO do justice to this
great industry, which ranks sixth OF
all the great industries of the United
States. A reduction of the tariff on
wool not only means much to every
wool grower but to every allied in
dustry in the United States.
There has been much SAID regard
ing the high price of wool as the
raw material in the makeup of the
clothing of the people of the United
States, which is misleading Wool in
the grease, which will shrink sc 2-3
per cent in cleaning, sells today at
an average price of zoe per pound.
This will cost the manufacturer 60c
per pound for the clean wool Three
pounds of this wool will make an
average all wool suit of clothes,
$50 is the full cost of
all the wool necessary to manufac-
ture such a suit as the people of the
United States are now paying $40 to
$50 per suit II the wool in such a
suit were given free to the manufac-
turers, under present conditions. the
price of an all wool suit OF clothes
could be affected but little. The
manufacturer of the cloth, the tailor.
The transportation companies, the |
wholesale and retail merchants. each I
and all get a percentage before the /
suit reaches the consumer, and with I
)ut doubt. the producer OF the raw 1
WOOL makes the least profit of all.
A reduction of the tariff schedules 1
IN wool, at this time, would produce
he same results as the placing of I
WOOL on the free list under the Will
on bill 1t would undoubtedly ruin
me of the most important industries
# the United States today.
During the life and effect of the
Wilson bill. from 1892 to 1897, ac-
ording TO government statistics, the
IumDer of sheep in the United States
decreased S.119.722, or about 22 u
'er cent of the entire number re-
orted in 1892 During this period
he price of sheep ranged from soc
0 81 per head Thousands of sheep
Eere thrown upon market so
lutted that the prices received for
lutton sheep would not pay the
reight. A return TO those condi-
Ions is simply awaiting lowering
I the tariff at the present time. for
costs more to produce a pound of
-Ool today than ever before. In fact,
costs nearly twice as much as il
id during the time that woods were
n the free list. At that time our
len were paid $40 to s25 per month,
18th the price of living considerably
,ss than now. Today we are paying
40 to $50 per month, and board.
hen the free range of the west
ntered as a factor Today most )f
he range is in the forest reserve
here a grazing charge is made
hich is TO be added TO the cost of
reduction. To lower the tariff on
i I
Continued on Pace Two.