The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1880-04-29
The Angora Goat in America.

Inc AnS0rl Goat In America
The readers of the South have already
been many times pretty fully informed
upon this subject. But the story merits
repetition until it gains practical recog-
nition. Hence, it is but proper that we
should repeat somewhat of "distin-
guished arrival" from the Boston Daily
Advertiser.
1t is thirty years since the Sultan of
Turkey, as an act Of gratitude to an
American citizen, the late DR.. Davis, of
South Carolina, sent to the United States
half dozen fine specimens OF the An
CORA goat. There have been, since that
time, dozen importations of few ami
mails each. These, with their progeny,
are scattered over all sections of the
country, in and south of the middle
States, and in some of the Territories
and California, but seldom in heards of
over a few hundred-the object in the
minds of all the owners seeming to be
the raising of animals for breeding and
not in focks for fleece. There have been
one or two exceptions; notably that Of
the Hon. Richard Peters, who, on his fine
stock rancho, among the foothills of the
Blue Ridge, at Calhoun, in northwestern
Georgia, has, from the original stock,
maintained flock of greater or less
number in their original purity.
"With all the interest that has been
manifested in these animals, the practi-
cal, profitable results from Angora goat
husbandry have been but meager and
unsatisfactory. With the experience of
flock masters in Australia and South
Africa as examples-which have been of
the most satisfactory and profitable char
acter-i is certain that the goats, with
proper treatment, will thrive and be prof
liable outside of their native habitat in
Asia Minor. Fifteen years ago the mo-
hair clip of the Cape Of Good Hope had
value Of 1850. This year its value is
S650,0OO. Sir Samuel Wilson, of Mel
bourn, Australia, one Of the very first of
English colonial breeders, says: The
Angora industry is full Of promise for
this section;' and he has published the
very best practical treatise on the subject.
Mr.. j. B. Evans, of Scorsteenburg, St.
Elizabeth, South Africa, who has ranch
of 100000 acres, says: "The Angora
goats are among the best members OF my
hocks and herds, which, among other
species, has a flock of 800 ostriches.'
"It is not unreasonable that fiber
which for fifteen years has sold at double
the price of the best combing wool, should
have great value, and compel the atten-
ton of the capitalist and farmer to its
merits and possibilities for the future,
here, where the variety of climate, soil
and vegetation is so great. All who are
interested in any attempts to develop the
resources of the country must welcome
the efforts now newly being put forth to
provide an American growth of mohair
for increasing the manufactures of the
country made from that material. The
best judges of the case say the want Of
success in this country is based on the
two causes of wrong location of hocks
and lack of careful breeding. Careful
attention to these conditions has given
success elsewhere, that should, with our
unlimited resources, have been readily
gained here. All the Appalachian range,
from Virginia south, is held by these par
ties to possess the needed qualities for
success in this industry, and we are glad
to be able to state that the attempt is to
be made with better prospects than here
tofore.
"There are now in this city some fine
specimens of breed of Angoras never
before, save in one case, exported from
Turkey. A pair of these animals went
last year to Mr.. Evans place in South
Africa, of which we have heretofore spok-
en-. The animals now under considera-
ton arrived here day or two since, in
the steamer Dorian, from Constantinople,
and were imported by Col. G. W. jerks.
They are to form part of the famous
flock of Mr. Peters, in Georgia. They
were brought some hundreds of miles on
mule back to the coast from tho province
Gercdeh, in the interior of Asia Minor.
The Angoras heretofore received in this
country have been from provinces near
the coast, and are smaller, with heeces of
four, FIVE and six pounds. The Geredeh
| breed is larger, with feeces eight, ten,
LWeifS, duu, III SiulC SdoCoJ AitCOu PooAoo
in weight, of very fine and silky mohair,
lock of which lies before us, with pho
tographs of animals of this breed. Mr..
jerks informs US that he has traversed
! hundreds of miles in the Blue Ridge
mountains of North Carolina and Geor-
| ria, the altitude, climate and vegetation
| Of which are transcript Of those of the
goat districts of Asia Minor. Thus Mr..
Peters and his associates, with this new
and most valuable addition to their facil-
tiles, propose the recommencemeuto of an
enterprise that has in it not only the
growth of fiber for goods known as
mohair, but the product of a staple that,
if like the sample before us, will displace
raw silk for one-third of its consumption,
and grcyn at one-quarter the price paid
for the product of the silk worm, while
for the uses referred to, in strength, fine
ness, luster, or other needful characters
tics, it is not inferior in any sense. We
wish the industry and its promoters great
| success.-Yhe South, Meao York.