Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1864-12-09
History of the Merino Sheep
Mania.

mania.
In connection with the history Of
the Silk Worm mania, and the Rohar
\ Potato fever, the Mcrino sheep spec
ulation is well worthy to be recalled
because of its stupendous character
excelling every other humbug, prob
ably, except the Tulip Mania Of lol
land. There has always been enough
of men in the United States to lay
hold ofany novelty and make money
out of it, whether beneficial or other
wise to the community. But pre-
sent any thing before the public
which looks like a great benefit, and
| the Juror becomes intense for specula.
ton. Such was the case with the
Mcrino Sheep, first introduced into
| this country in 1915. In the summer
of that year half a dozen sheep from
Andalusia, in Spain, were imported
into Boston. They were immcdi-
ately invested with mysterious char
acter. 1t was said that their hceces
were of the finest texture, and that
the introduction of the breed into
this country would enable our wooden
manufactures, then in their infancy.
to produce broadcloths that would
'comp&e successfully with the best
European fabrics. Our farmers be-
came excited. Henry Clay was con
suited, and he Immediately gave the
opinion that the sheep were exactly
what was required to enrich both
our agriculturistS and our manulac-
turers. The mania spread itself rap
idly. The six sheep at Boston sold
for fifty dollars each; they cost, in
Spain, about one dollar. This mar
vellous profit famed the fame OF
speculation, and it was not long be
fore a fleet set sail from our shores
in pursuit Of the golden heeces of
Andalusia. In December, 1916, there
were one thousand Mcrino Sheep in
the United States, which were valued
at twelve hundred dollars per head.
In 1871 the importation and the
value increased. In the simmer of
that year select ewes were sold in
New England at fifteen hundred dol
lars. BY the close Of ISL the spccu-
Iation in New England began to de
cline on account Of the excessive i'm
portation, but it increased rapidly in
the Western u d Southwestern
States, and particularly in Kentucky,
in consequence Of Mr.. Clay's opin-
ions. 1t is narrated that in August,
}8l7, Samuel Long a contractor, liy-.
ing near Ashland, paid eight thous-
and dollars for a Merino buck and
eve and he believed that he had Sc.
,ured a fortune by the purchase
some Of the oldest inhabitants may
Samuel Trotter, who re
sided at that time in Lexington, re.
puted the wealthicstman in Kentucky
aud the controlling manager Of the
United States Bank. He owned al
Merino buck and eve which Long
was anxious to buy. Trottor offered
to give the Mcrinos he would build.
for him a certain house upona certain
site. The offer was accepted. AT
an expense of about fifteen thousand
dollars, Long built and finished a
four story brick house, about fifty feet
by seventy, and delivered it to Trot
ter for the two Mcrino sheep! In|
six months from that time the value
Of the Merinos had fallen to twenty
dollars. Long kept them until they
had fallen to the value of other sheep
when he killed them, made feast
Of the costly mutton, summoned his
friends, and, like the ruined We
nctian, thanked God that he was not
worth q ducat! He died soon after
Of a broken heart, as did many
others who had suffered from this cX-
traordinary Merino mania.