Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1870-12-06
gpirit Of gsffttsan,
LOCAL MISCELLANY.

IMPROVED. STocK. -Though no one OF the
large Ispdholdcrs of the Valley were more
hardly dealt with by the ravages and des-
truction of the war than our friend and fell
low>citizeu, james NJ. Ransom, Esq. yst none
has met the occasion with more becoming re-
sipnation or commenced the work of "recon-
struction" in more determined spirit
Realizing, at the termination of our slate un-
pleasantness," that all the fine stock of cattle
of which our county boosted had gone where
Fisk and his "woodbine twineth," he at once,
without regard to cost. procured herd of the
purest and best blood of short horn cattle that
Kentucky breeders could produce. This
stock and its progeny have now been on e1-
hibition to the public for the last three years.
and ELECTED the highest commentator. AT
the Frederick (Md. and Winchester (Va)
Fairs, the whole herd was the admiration and
wonder of the occasion, and received the most
substantial recognition it was in the power of
the associations to award premiums individ-
uaIIy and collectively This. however. has
not satisfied the desire of Mr.. r. in bringing
before the people of his native county a class
Of stock equal. if not superior to any other to
be found in the country, but he has in pros
pective cross from which he justly antici-
pates the best results. In company with
friend. il was our pleasure, few days ago. to
look upon an animal on his farm designated
as a Gait. and surely the largest it not the
most beautiful we have ever seen. Through
extraordinary perseverance. he has been but
recently obtained by Mr.. R. from Judge Shell
don, of Geneva, N. Y, man equally distin-
guished in Europe as in the United States, as
the breeder of the finest cattle.the world could
produce "Royalist" is now something over
seven months old-at six he weighed 493
lbs.-is of the celebrated Duke and Duchess
strain of short-horn Durham, possessing all
the characteristic marks of the herds of Judge
S.. regarded as the purest and best this coun-
try could produce.
1t was from this same stock, as we have
ample evidence to believe, that three heiters
were sold about year since for expectation to
Europe, for the sum of serc"tee" Mo"s"""
dollars. and other sales could be particularized
at correspondingly high figures. 1t is in
deed now universally conceded by all intel
ligcnt breeders of cattle, that this particular
strain Of short>horn is the Purest and best
that the country can produce, and "Royalist'
is the finest animal of the kind that ever stood
upon Jefferson soil. As Mr.. Ransom is devot-
ing his energies and liberal expenditure of
means tn the rearing of stock, he has reason,
indeed, to congratulate himself in having eff
fcctei SO fortunate cross with his pure and
beautiful herd. We hope there are many of
our Valley farmers who will evidence their
appreciation Of the public spirit and enter
prise of Mr.. Ransom by introducing these un-
rivalled cattle as crosses on their own herds
i. S-Since the above was written. we
learn that Mr.. r. has sold one of his young
short horn bulls. ''Jannary." for the sum of
S225OO. Mr. Geo. ". Eichclherger. one of
orr IN ,st energetic farmers. and iudicious dis.
eliminating stock >graziers, "rs the purchaser.