Exhibition Addresses. 159 



equally excellent, because equally adapted to the use for whicli tbey 

 are designed I have selected a particular case, but this remark has 

 a general application. 



This display of woolen ftibrics is instructive, as showing the great 

 advance which a comparatively short period has eifected, in the 

 diversification of our wool manufactures. Ten years ago, our 

 manufacturers had attempted scarcely anything beyond common 

 goods of the coarser kinds. Now they produce almost every variety 

 of wool fabric ip general use. Among those which are now success- 

 fully made here, but which are comparatively new as American pro- 

 ductions, I may mention lastings, bunting, worsted reps and serges 

 for furniture covering, worsted furniture damask, Italian cloths, 

 worsted poplins, mohair poplins, mohair lustres, cashmeres, merinos, 

 Astrachans, chinchilla cloakings, Scotch cassimeres, embroidered 

 table-covers, Axminster carj)ets. 



Tlie annual consumption of woolen goods in the United States 

 may be put in round numbers at $240,000,000. In 1868, for instance, 

 we imported woolen goods as follows : 



Cloths and cassimeres .* |G ? 956 , 449 



Shawls 1,559,999 



Blankets 28,196 



Carpets • 2, 766 , 291 



Dress goods 15 , 196 , 233 



Manufactures not specified 6 , 902 , 591 



$32,409,759 



The above figures it must be remembered, represent the foreign 

 valuation as expressed in gold. In comparing the value of woolen 

 goods imported with the estimated value of our home productions, 

 we must add to that valuation the customs duties, the premium on 

 gold, and the profits of the importer. With these all on, the value 

 of sales in first hands is fully double the amount of foreign valuation. 

 If now to $175,000,000, the estimate of our domestic product, we 

 add $64,819,518 for the sales of imported woolens in first hands, the 

 result is $239,819,518. Thus it appears that our manufactures 

 amount in value to nearly three quarters of the whole. 



Nothwithstanding the unquestionable and the generally acknow- 

 ledged excellence of our wool manufactures — a fact which this 

 exhibition fully demonstrates — those manufactures still suffer, more 

 or less, in the market, from prejudices and prepossessions which are 



