SHEEP HUSBANDRY IN THE SOUTH. 103 



here say, that I learn with great surprise and regret, that an effort 

 will probably be made in Congress, this winter, to reduce the duties on 

 wool, or even to give us free wool altogether. I greatly deprecate all 

 such legislative action. Nothing could be more impolitic, or disastrous 

 to the sheep husbandry of this country. No section of the Union not 

 even California and Texas, with all their great natural facilities could 

 grow wool against the cheap labor and the inexpensive ranges of Brazil 

 and Australia ; to say nothing of our European competitors, the influx 

 of whose combing wools would keep, for many generations, the fair 

 Blue Ridge of the South without sheep-walks ; though it is by nature 

 one of the most favored spots in America for this class of wools, and 

 which also are now so much in demand, at home and abroad, for the 

 great and growing worsted industries of the world. 



To us of the South, especially (who are just waking up to the im- 

 portance and value every way, of an intelligent sheep husbandry, as 

 one of the most reliable and efficient means to aid us in the restoration 

 of our shattered fortunes), any such unkindly legislation would be 

 instantly and totally destructive. The capital of our farmers, now 

 invested to a limited extent hopefully and profitably in wool-growing, 

 their calculations and expectations being based on the permanence of 

 existing legislation, would be annihilated ; while the present encourag- 

 ing outlook for investment in this industry, from outside capitalists, 

 would be at once shrouded in gloom and indefinitely postponed. 



Respectfully yours, 



RICHARD PETERS. 



MERINO RANCHE, MORGAN MILLS, ERATH Co., 



TEXAS, Nor. 13, 1877. 

 Hon. JOHN L. HATES, Secretary of the 



National Association of Wool Manufacturers, Boston. 



SIR, I trust you will pardon the liberty I take in addressing you. 

 My excuse must be the obligation I am under, to yourself and the Asso- 

 ciation you represent, for many favors in the past ; and, very recently, 

 for the pleasure and profit afforded me by the perusal, in the July and 

 September issue of " The Bulletin," of your lecture on " Wool Pro- 

 duction and Sheep Husbandry." 



My only regret in reading it has been that your audience had not 

 been in Texas rather than Maine ; and here (will you allow me to say ?) 

 you are, in my judgment, 'doing the joint interests of wool-growing 



