WOOLLEN MANUFACTURE IN THE NORTH-WESTERN STATES. (From a letter to the "English Independent.")

North Otago Times, Volume XI, Issue 372, 15 December 1868, Page 3

WOOLLEN MANUFACTURE IN THE NORTH-WESTERN STATES. (From a letter to the " English Independent.")

One striking illustration of what we can do in this direction is now under my eyo here in this wonderful centre of trade and growth — Chicago. The woollen manufacturers and wool-growers of the North- West have undertaken, by an " Exposition," to show what they are doing and can do. The raw material and goods exhibited are from theso seven W orth-western States. In 1860 they had a little over 200 hundred woollen factories, with an aggregate capital of a million a half. They have now five hundred and fiftyseven factories, with a capital of five millions and ahalf. This being the first Exposition, bufc ninety factories are represented, A but the variety, excellence and beauty of the goods are astonishing. Manufacturers from New England States can hardly sufficiently express their wonder and admiration. For example, irom Baraboo County, Wisconsin, which within twenty years was a raw Indian wilderness, the most elegant and richly-colored " Afghans" I ever saw in America or Europe, are sent. The American tapestry carpets, for fabric, richness of patterns, and coloring, excite the astonishment of all. These North-western States do not produce all the cloth they consume, but it is evident that within five years they will do muuh more ; the production of yarns is already far in excess of the consumption. It is but a very few years since the small wool-crop of all this region was sent to the Atlantic States for manufacture ; the cost of transportation, with the freight on the manufactured goods when brought back to us, together with the loss on our western meats and grains sent east to feed the manufacturing laborers, amounted to twenty-five per cent, of the whole value, or, as some estimate, much more. Later, it was deemed a great advantage that our wool could be manufactured as far west as the state of Ohio — some five hundred miles east of the flocks which produced it. To-day woollen mills are springing up in sight of all our sheep pastures ; the feeding of the operatives creates an increasing grain and meat market at home, and by this means gives our food producers better prices on that pot tion of their products which go to the Atlantic ; while cloths of all sorts, blankets, yarns, &c, are incomparably cheap — so cheap that there have been doubts whether the manufacture could profitably go on, but it does, and those engaged in it thriue, and constantly enlarge their operations. Meantime our farmers were never so generally out of debt, and never were borrowing so much on the security of unencumbered and fruitful farms as today. I wear these western goods myself, made from Iowa wool, and clothe my boys in Iowa casimeres as fine and soft as the French casimeres, that used to cost us iruch more money. All theories of political economy aside, it is plain that we shall have no need and little motive to go out of our own land ot our own vicinity hereafter for clothing materials " fit for « king," and that it is a wise public policy which provides them here ac home of such excellence and cheapness, even though it cuts off the pouring of immense quantities of our vast cereal crops into the lap of Europe in exchange for goods far costlier and no more servicable. You will hardly expect us to sustain the doctrines of Bicardo, and Senior, and Mill, and keep up commercial changes and international " solidarity" of ho little value and avail to us in a great crisis like the rebellion, at a cost in the expenses of living and in the profits of American labor felt in every household and in every pocket.

The Presbyterian Church on Bell Hill is being rapidly proceeded with. The basement has been constructed of blue stone, obtained at Port Chalmers, and the walls, which are being built of Oamaru stone, have been raised several feet. The building will cover an area of 170 ft. x 90 ft., and when completed it will be one of the most elegant specimens of Church architecture in Dunedin. It is being erected in the Gothic style, and there is to be a handsome spire running up to a height of 185 ft ; Accommodation will be provided for fully 1000 persons. The building, which was commenced nearly twelve months ago, will be roofed-and the interior prepared for divine worship in about eight monhts. Mr Lawson is the architect, and the tender of Messrs D. and J. Hunter, the contractors, amounted to LI 4,000. — Daily Times. A nugeret 8 lbs. in weight has been found at the Gipsy rush, Dunolly.