The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-01-30
GREAT IMPROVEMENT IN
WOOLLEN INDUSTRY NOTED
Products of American Woollen Mills Now Being Sent to
All Parts of the World, While Home
Demand Has Increased.

N's Ah'a ~ ' Nt
taritfs of defence In 1916 and 1924 gave
some encouragement again., hut the
wooilen schedules were i'll contrivcd or
inadequate, and though native American
men and women worked at spinning and
weaving eleven hours a day for from
w TO 50 a week. wages in England were
lower still and equal competition was i'm
possible.
To British manufacturers In those
early years the American market for
WOOL fabrics was worth more than all
the other markets of the world and the
most desperate efforts were exerted TO
retain II. Tho British wool manufac-
lure mad been for two centuries the
most rigidly protected industry In exist
ehce. Not only WIS IL fostered through-
out this period by the highest tariff rates
but after Arkwright's development of the
factory system heavy fines and long Inn
prisonment were imposed for the export
OF textile machinery to any foreign land.
the purpose being frankly "to preserve
as much as possible to his Majesty's
British subjects the benefits arising from
these great and valuable branches Of
trade and commerce This policy was
Vigorously enforced until lS45. As a re-
suit all textile machinery used In the
United States had to he devised and
produced herc-for ever plans and
models could not be smuggled out Of
British ports. II was necessary. there
fore. to create the textile industries in
the United states from the very slightest
and rudest beginnings. while the power
ful influence Of wealthy British manu-
facturers and importers. dominating the
American market. fought every effort to
secure actually protective laws.
The tarif of 1872. one result Of the
Wing victory Of "Tippecanoe' Harrison,
contained a 10 per cent. dutv on woollen
goods. and for several years the indus
try grew and prospered. only to be
struck down again by the revenue only
tariff Of 1876. in which the South took
revenge on "abolitionist" manufacturing
New England. Thus the wool manufac-
ture was not in any true sense an ade-
Quate national industry until the new
and long lived protective tariff legisla-
ton that came in just before the civil
war.
Always before that time protection. II
any. had been nominal or too brief, or
the relation between the duty on raw
wool and the duty on Manufactured
goods had been unsatisfactory-in the
law OF lSi6 the adj valorcm rate was
actually the same on tn. most highly
finished products as on the crude ma
terial n actually higher on the wool
Itself than on 'arnels and blankets. This.
OF course. was intended to cripple and
destroy Northern manufacturing In
the protective tariff laws Of lSSl-iSS1
substantial duties were placed uDon RI w
wool. but the manufacturers wer. prop-
erly compensated hy the duties on the
finished products. This IS tho secret az
the subsequent immense growth of the
wool manufacturing industry in the
United States-and the secret, also. OF
the violent attacks upon the industry
that characterized tho years from 1909
TO 1918. Unlike the cotton and the silk
manufacture. tho woollen Industry had
its basic material du,iable. and this a.
a relatively high figure. The special rat q
Of duty provided I'm Compensation for
this made the total tariff rate on woollen
goods appear disproportionate and ex-
cesSNe. but as a rule the political as
saults upon the industry have been made
up OF malice and OF ignorance in egua
parts. The Taft tariff board OF 1912,
composed OF two Republicans. two Demo.
Gratis and an excellent and impartial
professor OF political economy from Yale
University. cleared up much 81 the AIS.
understanding that had beclouded the
celebrated Schedule X" and was
promptly dismissed on that account 10y
the present national administration.
When the first Morrill, protective tarin
was enacted, In 1861. practically onr-halt
OF the woollen fabrics consumed in the
United States We're being imported
chiefly from Great Britain. There wer,
only three worsted factories in this coun.
try. and the worsted duties OF the pre-.
vious tariff law had bcen fixed AT Tn.
demand of British manufacturers. Amer
lean woollen mills OF all kinds. many
OF them well equipped and ably man.
aged, were struggling for "A mere exist
ence. The total capital invested in ia,
American wool manufacture in 1860 wa.
S42.s+e.932. and the, value Of the out.
put was s0.73&.606. In 1910 the tota
capital invested in the American woo
manufacture was s506.205,5s and tn,
value OF the output was s507,lS6.7lO
No great American industry can boas
a more constant. wholesome and signifi
cant growth.
II is not a mere matter OF "biCness
There has been remarkable progress /,
efficiency. The chief importer OF Eng
lish woollen fabrics of New York, who Il
now also "a large seller OF high clast
American fabrics. T.. II. Van lngen, Ia.
said
There are no more expert manufac
turers anywhere than the best OF thos,
in this country, They are wonderful,
quick to catch ideas, 10 modify, alter
improve and to meet quickly the eve,
changing demands Of fashion and fancy
They produce As great a variety U