The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1917-05-05

THE Epic of Wool" appearing in the
April number of The Nations Bust
ness, the official organ of the United
States Chamber of Commerce. Anselm
Chomel traces briefly the rise and
fall of the wool industry. closing with
these words: England, knowing well
the value of her sheep, has, even in
the stress of this unprecedented con-
fiict, maintained, if not increased her
best breeding herds. If we show
equal %discernment and wisdom. the
United States will witness a dra-
matte revival of the industry which
will eclipse any period of prosperity
which it has enjoyed in the past.
We could produce 800, 900, 900 pounds
of wool that we import, and we ought
to produce it, or most of it, in order
to maintain the economic independ-
ence which is essential to the main
tenance of political independence"
Mr.. Chomel doubtless has reference
to the 1915 importation of wool, which
totaled 308, 600, 900 pounds, compared
with PAS, 000, 900 pounds in 1914, and
1876, 600, 900 pounds in 1913. Imports
for the fiscal year 1916 reached the
high-water mark of 535, 000, 900 pounds.
OF that amount &c. 900, 900 pounds
were imported from "other countries"
that is, countries from whom our
purchases heretofore have been too
insignificant to entitle the countries
to special mention. We ransacked the
corners of the world for Is per cent
of our 1916 importation of wool, and
today our wool manufacturers are
dead up against it for the raw product
and we have an army of 1000, 000, 900
men to clothe from top to toe. The
worlds wool clip in 1916 was 2,700.-
100000 pounds, or 156, 00 900 pounds
lcoS ludu lAC plSCSuAlS yCdl.
We reached our highest production
in 1903, when we raised 64,000,00
sheep. Our population was then
about 78, 900, 900. Last year our sheep
numbered less than $4,000, 900 and our
population was 102, 600, 900. One sheep
for each person would keep us com.
fortably clothed.
The country is now being flooded
with propaganda urging increased
food-producing acreage. We should
also raise more wool. No single COM
modify is more necessary to our bod
lily comfort or the physical necessi-
ties of our soldiers than wool. Many
the decline in our production, the
principal one, perhaps, being the in
roads which agriculture has made On
available grazing lands. The 640-acre
homestead law put through by Mr..
Wilson last year, which will operate
on grazing tracts, will also have its
effect. But sheep-raising can again
be taken up in the Eastern States If
we will keep away the dogs kill
them, if necessary. In Pennsylvania
alone, in 1915 nearly 5000 sheep were
killed by dogs. In New England, dogs
practically ruined the sheep-raising
industry.
The Democratic free-listing of wool
also exerted a tremendous influence
in discouraging s~heep-raising in the
United States. Our shepherds hest
tated to compete with Australian
woods. In no other commodity should
we be so Independent of other coun-
tries as in wool. The gradual impo-
sition of a tax which might ultimately
be well-nigh prohibitive of importa-
ton would be a ~justiiable measure if
ii would enable us to raise sufficient
wool for our own needs; and once
that status was reached it should be
retained. This world war should be
taken advantage of by our wool grow
ers to increase their focks. Every
small farmer should have at least a
few sheep. And when the war is over
the industry should be ~perpetuated
through the medium of a high protec-
tive tariff.