El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-05-24

time was nearly 100. coo, 000 While the
population and demand for woolens are
increasing. the acrea sc of land does
not increase, and with the growing
population, the necessity for land for
other purposes becomes greater. And
the grazing land Of the last year be-
comes the cultivated field of this, and
so on.
while the total number of sheep in
the world has decreased in the past Is
years. as stated 10000, 900 head, yet
statistics show that the number OF
sheep in the United states has in
creased during the same period from
less than 5000. 600 head. worth but
$50. 900, 900, to over 57oO0.0 geo, worth
more than s233.000, 000-this during
period of a protective tariff-thus
showing an increase in number 90 per-
cent, and an increase IN value over
$50 percent, and this, too, notwlth-
standing the uncertainty Of the tenure
OF protective legislation ever present
and never more so than during the
year last past.
Decreased Under Free Wool.
THE sheep in Texas decreased Gnder
free wool from 3,336,257 worth $3.50
per head in 1893, TO 1.S92.273 in 1897,
worth s1.25 per head, ard wool fell
off in price from an average OF 10
cents a pound in 1892 to an average OF
Z cents per pound in 1897. as IS set
forth by statements heretofore gwen
from the three large wool markets OF
Texas, covering a period dating pacK
from 1888 to the present time
Specter Stalks Again.
eTodav the specter of 1894 to 1897
free wooD stalks abroad in Texas-
Since the agitation for free wool De,
gun by this congress, stock sheep anu
mutton in Texas have fallen off IN
price one-half, and there are no oI1er-
ings on wool at any price. IN ouI
Judgment. the free wool agitation mas
already cost the skeepmen OF fexas
$4,000. 600 and the sheepmen OF the ma
ton 500, GOO, 600. Again, it is CONTEND
ed that. the II cents specific DUTY on
mohair. should be removed beyonu
the remotest vestige of a doubt TINS
would utterly destroy this much need
ed and important industry. me 1arH
ers of schedule K unquestionably mace
a mistake when they placed mona.f
in the same class with wool. Monalr
resembles wool precisely to the same
extent as does silk. In fact, Hionai.
is at present greatly dlscrlmlhdteu
against for the reason that secured
wool carries a duty of 33 cents, ana
mohair only IL. Now, one 9ounq Oh
mohair in its natural condition Will go
nearly as far as one pound OF seou.eu
wool. owing to the fact of there being
no grease in mohair. This being the
fact-and it cannot. be controverted-
the same duty. as that placed upon
secured wool should have been given
mohair. Especially should this be en-
phasized when it is considered that the
mohair industry is an absolutely new
one and in need of protection ana en-
enlargement So new is it tnat only
10 or 10 years ago there were only
few scattering punches OF goats IN
west and southwest Texas.
To-day Texas is supplying over one
half the mohair Of the United States
There are millions of acres OF noun
tain land in the United States at pres
ent bringing no revenue to the owner
which could be made to pay revenue
by placing goats thereon The goat
Will thrive on the brush. where other
animals would perish. Mohair goods