b 



No. 216.] 263 



The United States have only about thirty-four millions of sheep, 

 and it is allowed by those conversant with the subject, that the clip 

 in the United States is about 100 millions of pounds, allowing three 

 lbs of wool to each sheep j as the price of wool varies yearly, its 

 value also must vary; 20 to 25 millions of dollars may however be 

 called its average value. From a report in the House of Commons 

 in England for 1845, Great Britain imported 65,779,534 lbs. of 

 wool, besides possessing 50 million of sheep. 



Sale of Wool and expectations of sale. 



Great Britain alone importing 65,779,534 lbs. of wool annually, 

 and France purchasing a considerable quantity, there is a chance of 

 large sales for a long time to come for the United States, as the 

 United States only raise three-fifths of what Great Britain alone im- 

 ports, and it would be years before the United States could reach 50 

 millions of pounds, and in the meantime the consumption of wool in 

 the United States is annually on the increase. The manufacturers in 

 the woolen trade largely increasing yearly, there is a considerable 

 manufacture of long wool for worsteds, &c. Since the tariff and 

 duty on wool, the aggregate importation of foreign wool has de- 

 creased in a single year from \\\ million of pounds to less than five 

 millions. 



In 1844, from the returns laid before the House of Commons in 

 England, the value of woollen manufactures exported from England 

 amounted to 40 millions of dollars; of which $8,750,000 was ex- 

 ported to the United States. Among the goods exported to the 

 United States were 8,947,619 lbs. of worsted yarn, all of which 

 ought to be grown here. 



These last facts must make every patriotic man wish that sheep 

 and wool should be raised, and show field enough for the employ- 

 ment of any capital and exertion, particularly on our prairies; and 

 is conclusive^that wool raising must be a profitable business. It is 

 calculated by evidence before the British House of Commons, that 

 the freight and carriage of Spanish wool from Seville to England is 

 estimated at about 3s. and lOd. per 26 lbs. 



Transportation of Saxon wool, including the land and water car- 

 riage to Hamburgh, and freight from Hamburgh to England, is esti- 

 mated at the least from 5d. to 6d. per lb , and in addition to that a 

 duty of £?> per cwt. has been charged upon it for permission to pass 

 through the Prussian states. 



