Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1911-11-23
A Hint to the Wool Men
THE EVENING TELEGRAM.

course there is plenty of discuss
ion regarding the ways and means
by which the woolmen S interests
may be advanced. Naturally
there is bound to be some high
tariff tall, that always occurs; and
there Is Bound to be discussion
concerning transportation prob
lens as they are presented in the
matter of freight rates, and also
of the action best to be taken
which will lead to the widening
of the market or the creation of a
new market. For such purposes
do the wool men gather lin conven-
ton. and there is no doubt that
good results ensue from such
gatherings,
But, if a lay opinion may be ad-
vanced with apology, it seems
evident to us that the wool men
and men interested in the wool
business in this state of Oregon
have persistently overlooked the
most promising opportunity that
exists in the line of new market
creation. That opportunity lies
in building the woolen mill where
the wool is grown, just as they
built the cotton mills in the South
where the cotton is grown.
There would be this difference
between these two developments
if such enterprise in Oregon were
to be conducted as it ought to be,
namely, the difference between a
low-grade cotton product in the
South, which has proved an i'm
mense success from the manufact-
uring standpoint, and a high
grade woolen product in Oregon,
that would be a greater success,
as soon as its reputation was once
established.
The wool interests in this state
are victimized by indulgence in
economic folly. We raise the
wool and send it East and pay the
freight. In the East it is manu-
factured, mixed with cotton and
shoddy and sent back to US in the
shape of cloth or clothing, and
again we pay the freight together
with all mercantile, manufactur-
ers and brokers' profits; and we
keep right along at this sort of
business in apparent contentment
Just as if there were no other
hope nor prospect. So long as
we continue this arrangement
and neglect the simple, economic
opportunities which are provided
to our hand, wool producers and
wool consumers in Oregon, will
be deprived of advantage they
might just as we'll enjoy.
There is a big community
interest in the development of
woolen manufactures in this state
and it is true also that that
interest ought to develop along
extraordinary lines. This phase
of the subject has been reviewed
in this paper many times before;
but emphatic reiteration is not
amiss. We can make woolen
goods in Oregon better than they
are made anywhere in the world.
We have the wool, and the power
and the water and the climatic
conditions which expert manufac-
turers say are not to be eXcelled |
anywhere. We also have the
market, and if not in full demand
for the entire Oregon product, it
is developing rapidly to that.
Upon the opening of the canal,
that sort of development is bound
to be stimulated, probably more
than most of us imagine. The
state of Oregon and the Pacific
Coast will people more rapidly
than we have ever dreamed they
would. Consumption for wooden
goods will be created where Ore
gon woolgrowers, through the
agency of Oregon manufacturers,
can supply the demand without
paying freight to Boston plus the
charges incident to the conduct
of the Boston woolbuyers' bus
mess. Again the consumer
should be saved the freight across
the continent on the finished pro-