482 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc. 



REPOET OF THE COMMITTEE ON WOOL AND TEXTILE 



FIBERS 



By A. L. McKIBBEN, Chairman 



In the year ending 1910 there were 57,210,000 sheep in the United 

 States, having a total farm valuation of $233,004,000 or a valuation of 

 $4.08 per head. The Increase in total numbers during the last de- 

 cade was 30.0 per cent.; in total farm valuation 90.4 per cent, and 

 in valuation per head 35.9 per cent. Increase in numbers and in- 

 crease in relative value per head being practically the same. The 

 total number of sheep in the world in 1910 was 005,050,853, the 

 United States ranking fourth, with Australia, Argentina and the 

 Russian Empire leading in the order named. 



Totally, the world's production of wool in 1910 was 2,985,000,000 

 pounds, representing an output of 4.9 pounds per head. While rank- 

 ing fourth in number of sheep, the United States ranks third in 

 production of wool. In 1910 the total production of wool in the 

 United States was 328,000,000 pounds; in Australia, 718,000,000 

 pounds; in Argentina, 414,000,000 pounds and in the Russian Em- 

 pire, 238,800,000 pounds. The fact that 3 pounds of wool represent 

 the production per head in the Russian Empire and 5.7 in the United 

 States explains our higher ranking. (Pounds of Wool per head is 

 considering hereby the total number of sheep and not by the number 

 at shearing age). 



Imports of sheep in 1910 were 120,152 head, valuation being |5.52 

 per head. Decrease of 218 per cent, in imports, and an increase of 

 54 per cent, in valuation was shoAvn during the last decade. The 

 exports of sheep from the United States totaled 44.517, and the price 

 I)er head was |4.09. During the past ten years exports decreased 

 182 per cent, and valuation decreased 24 per cent. 



Year ending June 30, 1910, the total . imports of wool into the 

 United States were 203,938,2.32 pounds, having a total valuation of 

 $51,220,844. Of all the imports, including animals and animal by- 

 products, excepting silk, wool is the highest in value. The United 

 Kingdom leads in importation of wool into the United States with 

 91,000,000 pounds; Chinese Empire ranking second and Argentina 

 third. Mainly first and third class wool is imported. (First-class, 

 clothing; second-class, combing; third-class, carpet or blanket). 



The total production of wool in this ccmntry is 281,400,000 pounds 

 exclusive of 40,000,000 pounds pulled wool. Every state in the Union 

 produces wool. Pennsylvania ranks thirteenth with a production of 

 0,300,000 pounds. In 1910, this State had 1,030,000 sheep of shear- 

 ing age, pounds of wool being the average weight of fleece. The 

 shrinkage of wool was 48 per cent., while that of the United States 

 was 00 per cent. Pennsylvania ranks thirteenth in production, 

 eleventh in numbers, twenty-first in shrinkage and twenty-fourth in 



