New-York tribune., 1918-05-05
1.155,00O, 900 Pounds in
Sight With Average Con-
sumption of 100000
600 Pounds
War Doubles the Price
Dr.. Mcclure Declares, How
ever, That $35 Suit Contains
Only Sc Worth Of Wool

SALT LAKE CITY, April 29.-An all
new-wool suit of clothes consumes
hut from s4 to Sc worth of wool,
and there is a potential supply Of
,,bs,o0o, 900 pounds of wool to meet
an expected consumption of 70O,-
100000 pounds during 1918, accord
ing to statement by Or. S. w. Nc
Clure, Of Salt Lake City. secretary of
The National Woolgrowers' Associa-
.;on. in answer to the general antici-
nstion Of wood shortage.
Or. Mcclure said that anticipation
nf wool shortage was the work of
alsrrnists and had no foundation in
fact There is plenty OF wool for
everyone. he said. and any increase Of
shoddy in clothes is totally unneces-
sary at this time Reports that civil
ians must be satisfied with but one
suit each in every four years were
pronounced unfounded.
DR.. McClure's statement says: 1.
~ see no reason why the American
seople should be unduly alarmed about
= famine in wool or why they should
cease to wear all-wool clothing, if they
desire to do SO. Agitators have been
sh0uIlQR WOOL 4d4iiiic, OuC VIC 4dCtS
do no. bear them out.
100000, 900 Pounds Needed
"The total amount of wool con-
sumed in the United States averaged
AO,0oO,oOo pounds per year in 1912
T3.14 Then came the European war
and we began exporting some woollen
goods to foreign countries and do
mestic consumption increased also. In
1917 we made large quantities of
woollen goods for our army and navy.
The result is that in 1915'16-'17 the
average annual consumption of wool
in this country was 600,000,000 pounds.
Of this amount probably 100000,00o
mounds went to clothe the army and
navy. Thus, it is fair to assume that
cur average annual consumption of
wool is approximately 5oo,000,00o
rounds, exclusive of army needs.
"The government estimates that it
REQUIRES 100 pounds of wool per year
to closhe each soldier, so that an army
Of 100000 men would require 200,-
100000 pounds of wool per annum.
Adding this to our annual normal con-
sumption, we will require total sup
ply Of wool for all purposes in 1918
Of 700oO0,000 pounds.
took census of the wool in the United
States on that date and reported on
hand 435,O00,0O pounds of clothing
WOOL The domestic clip Of 1918 will
total 100000 900 pounds. The govern
ment of Great Britain has released to
the United States for army purposes
100000 pounds of wool. In addition
to this the imports of clothing wool
for 1918 will amount to about 350.000,-
600 pounds. Therefore, we have
grand total supply of wool in sight for
1918 Of 1,155, ,000, 600 pounds. Our con-
sumption should be around 100000
pounds, SO that on January l, 1919, we
should have balance on hand of 450,-
100000 pounds, or about the same as
was on hand in January, 1918.
Price of Wool Doubled
Naturally, wool is high in price, and
1t must remain so during the war. The
cost of producing wool has increased
by leaps and bounds in the last two
years, so that wool growers are in no
better position than before the war.
The Advance in the price of wool has
not been as great as in most other
commodities. The average price of the
best fine, secured wool in Boston for
1916 and the eleven years that pre-
eeded was So cents a pound: the aver
age price of the same grade of wool
In 1917 was S1.70. Wool has there
fore, little more than doubled in
price. 1t will probably remain on the
present basis throughout the war. But
an advance in the price of wool hurts
the consumer less than in almost any
other commodity.