The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1862-10-30
&HEEP.

particularly In the Central and EASTER
parts of the State.
The high price of wool the grea
northern competitor of "King Cotton" =
which is greatly due to the immense ar
my demand, and the remarkable adapta
tion of our soil and climate 10 this bra incl
of stock raising, have naturally recon-
men,led the introduction Of sheep By GU
farmers in all parts of the State.
1t is stated by those who have had ex
perispce, that the sheep raised in low,
are very healthy, and in our dry climate
winter well, with a very little protection
The wolves are becoming pretty we'll OK
terminated n most pasts Of the State, and
the famous DOG Law" has disposed Of
a goodly number of canine depredators,
SO that farmers have every inducement to
engage in this branch of stock raising.
1t is well known, that with the present
high tariffs of freight, Iowa cannot well
compete with n number of the more East
ern States, in sending cereals to market.
Hogs, for which our splendid corn
grounds are so well adapted, huctuate
from 81 rs to $500 per cwt, and hog rails
ing i. so overdone that the farmer sees
small recompense for his labor in that d.
rection. Cattle and horses at this time
pay better, but most farmers are not pre-
pared for raising them extensively, and
besides, they will not compare with sheep
for profit, and for regularity and readiness
OF market.
Sheep can take very good care of them
selves in summer. in anv sort of pastur-
age; and in winter they are easily shell
tered by low sheds covered with hay or
straw, on high, dry ground,--so that the
care and trouble of raising and keeping
them is as little, perhaps less, than any
other kind ofstock. Their rapid increase,
and one to two dollars clipping each year,
will yield the farmer from thirty-three to
fifty per cent. profit on the money invest
ed, rewarding his labor better than any
other branch Of husbandry.
We see no reason for fearing that wool
raising will be profitable in Iowa for only
few years. Wool is light commodity.
and can be shipped with freigh,s which
are but triling per eentage Of its market
value. The high government tariff on
foreign fabrics will doubtless be kept up
for years. Cotton culture at the South is
crippled for years; SO that even with
speedy termination of the war. which can
not certainly be predicted, We may expect
wool to bear high price for long time.
The interest of the farmer is the inter-
est Of the State. We have long been an
importing when we should have been an
exporting State. This, it is true, is nat
ural to new country. Hereafter, how
ever, the balance of trade against us
should be constantly reduced, until we
hope at no distant day, we can say that
We sell more than We buy. When that
time comes we may look for our farms to
be covered with Aocks of cattle and sheen
Instead of mortgage, and orr produce,
instead of begging in Eastern markets,
finding ready sales and good returns a,
home. For, as necessary result of this
course on the part at our farmers, woollen
manufactures will spring up on our nu
merous streams. our laborers will find en-
ployment at home, and the capital Of the
State will be immensely augmented.
This, it seems to us is no idle dream,
and though it take time for its accom-
plishment, we look for it with confidence.
and we would regard the introduction of
sheep IN the State one Of the principal
agencies for bringing it about.
New Judge OF u. s. Court.
Hon. David Davis, OF Bloomington, I'll,
has been appointed to the Bench of the
Supreme Court Of the United States TO-
the District of Michigan, Wisconsin and
Illinois.
M The election in Illinois and sew
erai other States will come off on Tues
dao next, alter which it is to be hoped
there will not be SO much quiet on the
Potomac.