The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1849-04-24
The Msrino Sheep Speculation of 1s1s.,17

The merino sheep speculation was one of the
most extraordinary bubbles that ever was known
| in America. 1t had its origin, in the year 1915,
soon alter the treaty OF Client; and, at time when
! thousands of our people We're actually under the
influence of manufacturing mania
In the summer OF that year, a gentleman of Bos-
ton imported some half dozen sheep, from one
OF the Southern provinces of Spain, whose feeces
were OF the finest texture, it ~ said, and such
undoubtedly was the fact, though the sheep were
SO thoroughly and completely embedded in tar,
and every other offensive article, that it would
have been very difficult to prove it, But the yerv
offensive appearance of the sheep seemed to i'm
bue them with mysterious value, that rendered
them doubly attractive. 1t was said that the in.
PRODUCTION of these sheep to the United States.
would enable our manufactures, then in their in.
fancy, to produce broadcloths, and other woollen
fabrics, of a texture that would compete with Eng
land and Europe. Mr.. Clay was consulted in re-
ference to the sheep; and, he at once decided that
they were exactly the animals that were wanted
The first merino sheep sold, if recoect right
for fifty dollars the head. They cost a dollar in
Andalusa! The speculation was too profitable 10
sop here; and, before long period had elapsed,
small fleet sailed on sheep speculation to the
Mediterranean.
By the end of the year 1916, there probably were
one thousand merino sheep in the Union and,
they had advanced to twelve hundred dollars the
head.
Before the autumn Athat year had passed away,
they sold for fifteen hundred dollars the head ;
a lusty and good-lookng buck was worth two
thousand
In New England, in the year 1877, the specula-
ton, in consequence of the surplus importation,
began to decline but, it steadily and pdlv ad,
vanced throughout the western country. Ken
tucky, in consequence of the influence of Mr..
Clay's opinions, was especially benefited.
In the month of August, 1917, saw merino
buck and eve sold for eight thousand dollars and
even that was deemed very small price for the
animals. They were purchased by Mr.. Samuel
Long, householder and contractor, who fancied
he had, by the transaction, secured an immense
fortune.
This Mr.. Long was actually rabid with the me-
rlno fever and in proof of it, it is only necessary
to relate single anecdote. There resided in Lex
ington-and not more than mile distant from Mr.
Ciay's villa of Ashland-a wealthy gentleman,
named Samuel Ssptter, who was, in fact the
money-king of Ket1Acky, and who, to a very great
extent controlled the Branch of the Bank of the
United States. He had two sheep, buck and an
eve, and Long was very anxious to possess them.
Long often bautered Trotter for the sheep, with
out success; but, one day, the latter said to the
certain lot of land as shall describe, you shall
have the mernos.''
Draw your plans,' said Long, " and let me see
them." The thing was done; and Long eagerly
engaged in the enterprise He built for Trotter a
four story brick house, about fifty feet by seventy
the middle of an acre of land finished it in the
most approved modern style, and Enclosed it with
costly fence, and handed over to Trotter for the
two merino sheep The establishment must have
cost fifteen thousand dollars.
Months before the establishment was completed
the price of merinos declined gradually and six
months had not passed away, before they would
not command twenty dollars!
Mr.. Long held on to them, till they had reached
the par value of any other sheep, when he killed
them made barbecue, called all his friends to the
feast; and, whilst the "goblet went its giddy
rounds" like the ruined Venitian, he thanked God
that he not worth a ducat! He was ruined
and, soon after died of broken heart-N. Y.
Sunday Atlas.