92 SHEEP HUSBANDRY IN THE SOUTH. 



A mil! will) a capital of $100.000 will manufacture, say 90,000 yards of 6-4 cloth, which 



will bring i. market an average of S I 50 per yard, or '. $233,006 



To get these cloths into cash (for they are sold at 8 mouths, and are charged 

 with commission of 5 per cent., and other charges equal, in all, including in- 

 terest, boxing and transportation, to 12 per cent \. . .$lfi,200 



Cott of 225,00(f ibs. of wool at 30 cents 67.500 



3.300 gallons sporm,and lard oil at $ 1 3,300 



Soap, soft and bard 3,500 



800.000 teazles 1,000 



Dyeing materials of all kinds 11,500 



Fuel 1,000 



Paper, tape, twine, nails, lumber, cards, caudles, &c 3.000 



Labor, $5,000 per quarter, or JsO.OOQ 



.. Insurance 2,000 



Total $122,000 



If I were under oath, I do not believe I should alter any of these items or, at least, I should 

 add as often as I diminished, I have no doubt. You may think SI 50 a low average for cloths, 

 but it must be a very fair cloth to bring that sum, I assure you. You may also think 12 per ceut. 

 a high charge for getting these cloths into cash. &c., but it is scarcely what we pay. And the 

 .records of our wool book will show that 30 cents is the cost of such wool as we worlf. And our 

 books will prove that it has taken, for many years past, 2J Ibs. of wool to make a yard of broad- 

 cloth. There is 13 per cent, left for prolits here, because 1 have not allowed one cent for repairs 

 or taxes, or for the agents' salaries, which will swell the expenses fully up to $124,500 within a 



fraction of swallowing up all over 10 per cent Well, I admit that 10 per cent, is a great 



business ; but you speak of 15, and that is going too far 



Very respectfully your friend and obedient servant, S. NEWTON DEXTEIL 



If, will be seen from the foregoing" letters : 



1st. That where their machinery is adapted to it, manufacturers are will- 

 ing to make and sell goods of the same amount of stock and style of 

 manufacture, with Welsh plains, out of domestic wool for 40 cents per 

 yard ; and that manufacturers of perfect pecuniary responsibility are ready 

 to contract so to furnish it. This (apart from the small item of transporta- 

 tion) is twenty -five cents per yard, or about thirty-nine per cent, cheaper 

 than you now obtain these cloths : and an article manufactured from do- 

 mestic wool would, by reason of the far superior strength and felting prop- 

 erty of the stock, be much stronger and more durable than the foreign 

 goods. 



2d. It will be farther seen that a skillful and responsible manufacturer 

 would furnish cloth, corresponding with Welsh plains, at 37 cents per yard, 

 could he procure the same quality of wool now employed in the manufac- 

 ture of those cloths at a price proportionably low with domestic wools, 

 calling the latter 25 cents per pound. 



Blankets are manufactured at equally exorbitant profits ; and the 

 Chelmsfords, paying less transportation and no duties, approach the same 

 standard of profit though, judging from your samples, I consider them 

 the cheapest goods. 



I have given Mr. Dexter's undoubtedly fair and candid statements in 

 the premises my object in these letters being, as I once before have 

 stated, to arrive at truth, and not to support a favorite hypothesis, or to 

 maintain, at all hazards, preconceived views. 



My own estimates and those of Mr. Dexter, of the actual cost of manu- 

 facturing Welsh plains, it will be seen, differ but not so materially as 

 would as first appear, when the advance of wool, soap, oil, &c., are taken 

 into consideration. I have no doubt that, in making his estimates, he had 

 his eye more on the better and more elaborate machinery of his own mills 

 the more expensive arid perfect performance of the various manufactur- 

 ing processes common in .that class of establishments, than on the cheaper 

 machinery and processes necessary in the manufacture of coarse goods. 

 My estimates, or rather statements of cost of manufacturing sheep's gray 

 you will recollect, were given on supposed actual knowledge of what a 

 manufacturer of these goods had made tliem at. To ^hese Mr. IX seerns 

 *o take no exceptions. 



In relation to the shrinkage of wool, Mr. Dexter undoubtedly bases his 



