The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-01-06
Prominent FlockmaSter of WyO-
ming Says Reduction Would
Mean Disaster.
COMPETITION TOO KEEN
FROM FOREIGN COUNTRIES
Standard of Animals and
Fleeces i'm America Is Con-
stantly Growing Higher.
necisl To The Tribune.

OGDEN, Jan. 5.-Thc reason why the
present tariff on wool should not be low
cred was discussed today by one Of the
most prominent sheepmen in the west. f,
:. King of the sheep firm of F. S. King &
Bros. Of Laramie, Wyo., in the lobby
Of a local hotel, had something to say
about the tariif.
Mr., King declared that if the tariff
was reduced the United States would be
wiped off 'the economic map by the
wool producers of other countries. South
American republics and the South Afri.
can states, said Mr. King, were bound
TO come into this country with millions
of pounds of wool and undersell the
American grower, who has to contend
Kings views are shared by wool pro
duccrs generally.
Views Of Growers.
Mr.. King spoke in substance as fol.
lows:
The Increased cost OF production OF
wool Is far greater in the United States
than in any other country, the main rca-
son being that most OF the western
sheepmen lease their ranges. Also. an
by the forest preserves. All OF these
Items OF additional expense are COM
pardtiNcly new ones some or them haF
Ing developed into menacing proportions
within the last ten years, while most OF
them have sprung up within the last five
years.
The west is running stun of better
grade; and IT, therefore. costs much more
money TO purchase. Wages are much
higher than they were In the past, and
the cost OF feeding our men has prac-
tically doubled. The freight rate on
been so much more stock run on the
range that the cost OF wintering is
much higher, because of the necessity
for buying hay and grain In large guam
titles during the stormy periods.
The average value OF sheep under free
trade would be 81 per head and down to
only IS cents on lambs. The present cost
averages from SllO to 81 per head, which
Is more than the total value OF the
animal. including wool and meat, under
free trade.
The present schedule certainly is not
too high on wool, In fact. those United
States senators and congressman best
versed In the industry even demanded an
increase on South African woods.
Of Economic Map.
South America. South Africa and Aus
tralia would crowd western American
sheepmen of the economic map In case
the wool schedule were lowered by con-
gross in this session Those countries
import little or nothing from us in re-
turn, and there is small reciprocal COM
merce on their side.
The Argentine Republic. our most dan
gerous competitor, buys most OF It's stun
from Germany.
The mutton market. especially feeding
lambs is source OF immense wealth to
the farmers OF the western states.
The consumer must consider this ques-
ton from q logical viewpoint In order
In Va thn oil
of the reasoning on their side. For In
stance getting down 10 cold. hard fig
ures, four pounds of secured wool makes
a suit OF clothes, which means seven
pounds OF wool In the grease, or rs the
wool comes off the range. The protsc-
ton on the raw material does not In
crease the cost OF suit of clothes to
any appreciable extent For example.
1rst-class suit OF all-wool goods, requir-
ing seven pounds OF wool in the grease.
averaging % cents per pound, costs sl.5I.
which is the total value OF the raw ma
terial, and all that the sheepman gets
out OF it. But where the increased cost
To the consumer does come In is by the
higher wages paid by manufacturers who
conclusive that n any reduction were
made In the wooden schedules II ought
TO be made In the manufactured wooden
goods, and not on the wool,
If congress would put a prohibitiye
duty on shoddy, the sheepmen could
stand the lowering Of the tariff on wool
because the consumption would hold wool
prices UP 10 their proper value The
competition that the shcepman is most
afraid OF today is the substitution OF
shoddy. made from the rags Of Europe
and sold 10 American citizens as real
wool,
What Tariff Has Done.
The tariff has caused the sheep Of
America to take the premier place In
the markets OF the world As an ex-
ample. ! might cite the fact that at
the time the Columbian exposition was
held In Chicago the ambouillet sheep
was practically unknown outside OF Ger
many. But under the beneicent in
tiuence OF the tariff In encouraging the
uplifting of the standard, the Rambouillet
floc6s OF the United States today lead the
world. So II Is that South America
South Africa, Australia and Mexico all
come 10 the United States TO get their
ewes and rams for their nocks.
As with the Rambouillet so has the
tariff developed the high American stand
ard IN I'll other breeds.
II -H western state is there n promi-
r"i. .aIu"ss man. hardly. especially a
DCuAc., who Is not heavily Interested IN
| ,lIc production OF wool and tho growing
OF sheep \ blow at the sheep business
would strike at the very heart of the
financial standing OF the great west. and
would lead 10 disastrous results and re-
tard the development OF the best parts of
the United States for perhaps half a