The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1861-04-20

Yours truly. j. b. Turner.
JGea SOn1iLLe, HI.
PRACTICAL VIEWS ABOUT SHEEP RAILS
ING IN KANSAS.
We publish below (says the Lawrence
JournoL) extracts from letter written last
September by A. S. Stephens, Esq, of Lee
compton, to the RuraL 1peW Yorker, on the
business of sheep raising and wool growing
in Kansas. We regard the suggestions of
Mr.. Stephens as eminently practical, and
just what every intelligent man at all accus-
toned to sheep husbandry will corroborate
as such, upon personal observation of and
acquaintance with our country and its eli
maze and capacities. The first portion Of his
letter we omit, because it is more particular
Iy devoted TO the drouth of las; season and
its effects, about which we are sufficiently
we'll &C qUainled without a review OF its uu-
pleasantly history. We quote:
This brings me to the subject to which
wish to direct attention, viz: Sheep Raising
and Wool Growing as the principal business
in Kansas. for home consumption, and ex-
port. Wool can be raised in Kansas, aud
the expense of shipping and selling in the
city OF New York, met with far greater
profits than now is, or can be done, in
Western New York. In the first place,
Kansas was made for sheep. The feed will
cost very little. Nine or Ten months in the
year, sheep need nothing for food but the
prairie grass they pick up. Here are mil
lions of acres of prairie unoccupied, all that
is wanted for those who are able to bring
on sheep aud occupy. The fact that sheep
here are non As fat. fine and healthy as any
in the world, without care or shelter, is
sufficient proof and encouragement to
pitch into' the business. All that is
wanting at present is place for family to
live, and sufficient help to take care of the
sheep. They need not be fenced in, but
watched during the day, and, probably
yarded nights. Yards can be made of rails.
Here sheep are ''corralled," which is done
by driving stakes into the ground at short
distances, in a circular form. and fastening
to them heavy cotton cloth, four to five feet
high. These have seen, and they make a
very convenient sheep yard.
AS to feed, in addition To grass, plenty oil
hay can be had for the cost oil putting up.
Corn will be raised III plenty. Last year il
could have been bought here for twenty
cents per bushel, aud now it can be bal 10
Illinois for from twelve TO fifteen cents and
if it costs twenty cents to ship it here, it is
cheap to feed, then. will suppose far
mer should come here with 5000 sheep, OF
more. All he would want would be to Sc
lect place where he could have a range OF
prairie, the necessary conveniences for a
family, and to provide help to take care oil
the sheep. II he wants to yard his sheep
during the night, and does not wish to make
fence, he can a iopt the plan of 'corralIing.'
Sheep, no doubt, should be sheltered during
the cold and stormy parts of the season
and as necessity is the mother ofinventiou,
there are many cheap ways of making shell.
ter here. One is. to go up on the edge OF
first slope of bluff. or high prairie, where
the stone crops out 10 quarries, and right
| where the stone lies build two parallel
walls about twelve feet apart-one wall seven
feet high and the other fve-for any length:
and, if the cheapest possible way is desired
put poles from wall to wall, and over these
put limbs of trees and brush, and over all q
heavy covering of prairie hay to form roof
leaving the ends open, with an occasional
''hole in the wall'' for ventilation. But, il
able on the start, the farmer can erect sheer
barns and sheds.
When the wool is ready for market, sup
pose the Kansas wool costs, to produce it.
one-half per pound less than it does to pro-
duce the same in Western New York (which
/ believe would be the case. or perhaps bet
u. in favor of the Kansas wool). then, il
8 Quo sheep produce. in each place. IL, OOU
pounds of woo., and il costs thirty cent.
per pound to produce it in Western Ne~
| York, il would at one hall, cost fifteen cents
per pound 10 produce it here and If It cos
two cents per pound more 70 ship and sci
Kansas wool in New York city than West
ern New York wool, il would make Kansas
| wool cost seventeen cents-leaving thirteen
cents per pound profit over Western New
/ York wool. This amount-12 ,OO0 lbs.-al
thirteen cents per pound, sums up 81 $50,
thus giving the Kansas farmer 81 $50 more
cash from the wool on 1000 sheep than the
w-steIn New York farmer from the same
number. have made the foregoing 6g-
| ures-Hhether correct or pot-simpIy 70