Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-09-16
THE WOOL BUSINESS.
A National Sheep Exposition
Proposed Views of Western
PENNSYLVANIA WOOl-GrOwers.

1t has been proposed to hold Ma
tional Sheep Exposition at the Perma-
nent Exhibition in Philadelphia year
hence. Mr.. George Riley, OF Westmore-
land county, President of the State
Wool-Growers' Association, in calling
attention of some members OF that so
Ciety the other day to the Importance OF
sheep raising as one OF our national in
dustries and its bearing upon the inn
ports and exports of the country, stated
that during the five years prior to July
|, 1873, we imported wooden goods S2l7,-
So, ,O97, namely. in 1874, S5S,033, ,494;
1879, S5S,6S0,S43; 1876, S4l, 49,
'425; 1877, S3l, $50, ,666: 1878, S33, ,592 500.
Alluding to the fact that IN 1867, the
date of the last statistics he had, Great
Britain owned and fed 35,6l7, ,Sl2 sheep,
while the United States IN 1870, three
years later, owned only 23,417 ,S5l, he
said that there must be something wrong.
If it is possible for us to utilize our great
western plains, he thought We ought to
do so at once. We should call the at
tention Of our people to the facilities for
extending the cultivation OF wool and
the importance OF 1t in a commercial
point of view. In this connection he
instanced the fact that the exports from
Great Britain in 1867 were 1857 ,lSS.
Mr.. John MacDowell, of Washington
county, who was appointed a member
of Committee by the State Fair held at
Harrisburg last year, said that his re-
sponses to inquiries all indicated that
breeders of the different varieties OF
sheep were in favor of the project. The
exhibit at the Centennial was not as
satisfactory as could have been desired,
and hence the demand for new one.
What was wanted was the wool-growers,
the mutton-ralsers, and all interested in
sheep-farming to come together for
comparison of views as to how to make
the wool finer, the meat healthier, and
lands more productive.
Mr.. Archer, of Washington county,
said that forty or fifty years ago sheep
were more numerous than now. This
was the case in the hills of New England
and in some parts OF our own State,
particularly in the east. In the western
counties they have also diminished, and
in New York in the vicinity OF cities
and towns. This he thought due to the
absence Of legislative protection, which
did not include this species OF property.
In five or six years, in this State alone,
if there was the same protection a. given
to cattle and horses, there would be an
addition of 100000 sheep, affording
cheaper and more nutritious article of
food, to say nothing of the value OF
the wool in cash or for clothing
for the farmers family. He urged
that dogs should be declared by law
public nuisance when off the premises
of their masters, and should be treated
as wolves were in the Olden time. He
felt that sheep breeders throughout the
Union would be glad of the opportunity
to meet and discuss the subject of sheep
culture. There were societies OF wool
growers in one or two New England
States, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania,
West Virginia, Wisconsin and Michigan,
and those whom he had conversed with
favored Pittsburgh or Philadelphia. He
thought the Permanent Exhibition
building possessed many advantages for
a large exhibit and the proper distribu-
ton of premiums.
Mr. Mcdowell is chairman of the
committee having the subject Of ma
tional sheep fair in charge.