The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-02-03
STATE WOOL GROWERS.
An Address from Governor Porter
Election OF Officers.
Suggestions Regarding the Tariff Wool
An Historical Paper BY Hon. Robert
Mitchell.

An Historical Paper BY Hon. Robert
Mitchell.
AT the morning session of the Wool Growers
Association yesterday, a paper was read by
Urah Privitt, of Greensburg, upon tue number
of sheep that may be prohtahly kept to the acre,
giving it as his opinion that twenty-five to each
100 acres would produce the best result. he es-
timated that in Indiana this would give 5000
900 of the 50.000,O0O pounds of wool now au-
uuaIly imported. In the general discussion
which followed the reading of the paper, il was
thought that thirty sheep could be kept on eighty
acres with more profit and as good results
GOVERNOR PoRTERs ADDRESS.
Governor Porter addressed tho association
briefly on matters relating to the sheep-raising
anu woOl-growing Interests, stating in the course
OF mis- remarks that "Tndiana is not one of the
great wOOl-grOwing States yet the production OF
sheep for their wool and their leshis steadily In
creasing. In 1880 the number of sheep in the
State, according to the United States census, was
1929, 27O; in 1882, according to the report of
our Bureau of Statistics, the number was ,u92,-
7Ol. The wool-clip in the State was, in 1879,
3,S91,I25 pounds; in 1880, 4,S36,6lS, and III
1882, 5,OS5, 159. This shows a gratifying growth
of this Industry. The leading sheep-growng
county is Steuben in which, in 1892, there were
3S,3l9 sheen. Lagrange had in that wear 33'9 ~
-t'f''-f
In taking any considerable number of years as IA
standard, it is believed that no industry furnishes
better returns than sklful shee P-grOwing. While
food and raiment shall b. wanted, there VIII be
demand for mutton ana wool. Highly I'M
proved our breeds OF sheep have become,
there is none that satisfies all the conditions de-
sired. We want a breed that will unite great
weight and n fine quality of flesh with increased
weight ana excellence of fleece. We want 1t also
TO possess the quality OF hardness, ami, while
not tlOurishng under great neglect, not to re-
quire quite that nicely of care demanded by
some of the most select breeds. We want what
Is best IN the MerinO, the COtSwOld and the South
down combined In single stock. EXertion Will
not stop until such breed is produced"
''Hhe great demand abroad for American beef
and pork should, would think, incline us to
raise sheep more for their flesh than we have
ever done. We should produce a mutton that
for superiority of quality would create IL large
demand for it abroad. And 1t would seem To me
that near our cities IL would be profitable TO
raise our sheen with more particular reference
to superiority of flesh tnan in the country dis
tricts. We cOuld soon create n demand for South
down mutton that would place It's price III our
city markets much higher thar the flesh OF tho
common sheep. The trouble ls now that so little
of it ever reaches our Indiana markets that our
tastes are uneducated, and foundation for IA
proper discrimination has not been laid. Mr..
Webster, il is well known, was fond of the pleas
ures of the table. AT his dinners tue best cuts of
SOuthdowu mutton always figured conspicuous
~. And remember once having heard Henry
Winter Davis say that, though he had often
heard Mr.. Webster speak, he had never heard
MIN speak so elOQuently as When once, at u am
ner given by Mr. Webster to Mr. Clay and other
distinguished guests Mr.. Webster held upon MS
fork the choicest hit of a Southdown roast, and
dlscOursing upon the history OF the SOuJhdOwn
breed, and upOn the choicest parts for the table,
he passed, with "a lofty grace, to Mr.. Clay the
choicest biz all. Let there be placed in our
butcher shops THIS superior quality OF mutton,
and il will not he long until the public palate will
be cultivated to the point of paving the price for
1t That will repay the farmer for the cost and
pains of producing it."
THE remarks of the Governor upon the inferior
quality Of mutton presented on the market led
to a general discussion OF the matter, and sew
eral members OF the association stated only the
third-cass sheep were purchased by the butch
ers for the home market, while the best were
exported. Governor Porter participated in the
discussion, and questioned the members of the
association upon matters relating TO the sheep
raising interests. Morris Rowland gave it ms his
opinion that cross-bred sheep the hest for
general purposes, hut Robert Mitchell was OPP
posed to crossing and favored, instead, South
down hrCOds.
DR.. Jonathan Conkle, of Castleton, read Il
paper upun the question, SIS 1t Profitable to
Pasture Wheat with Sheep2' giving it his
opinion that under favorable circumstances, iG
desirable.
The schedule Of the tariff commission fixing
The tarlh on wool was opposed, after "A pro
longed discussion, ana a resolution WAS adopted
requesting the Legislature to amend the dog
law, making 1t penal otfense for any person not
to report the number and sex of dogs owned by
them.
me erection Oh olufefS TOT Lne next year re-
suited as follows: president, Fielding Beeler,
city; vice president Alex NJ, Hanna, city; sec
Rotary, J. w. Robe, Greencastle; ana treasurer,
S. W. DUNCAN, johnson county.
The names of S. ). Richie, Cal Darnell and j.
l.. Thompson were proposed as experts, with the
request that the State Board Of A griculture
would select one OF the number to Judge tbs
sheep and wool exhibit Of the forthcoming state
Fair
Messrs. @. Pricc, Morris Rowland and c..
Mathews were appointed committee on pro
gramme for the next annual meeting, ana at 3
O'Clock the association adjourned To meet ON the
last Tuesday in May, 1888,