Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1884-03-16
2.siL.M

requires in all cases; but will suffice for
three or four flocks.
Some other Experts,
Mr.. Mckenzie began the sheep bust
ness in Maverick County, Texas,
In August, 1875, with $40, for which
he secured 500 Mexican ewes.
He procured the best Merino
bucks and commenced grading up his
flock. His first years yield Of wool was
1000 pounds Of low grade, and sold for
l2l cents, or $l25. The second year he
found his flock had increased about 81
per cent, and that the lambs were OF
much better grade. The next year the
increase was about the same, and 1t has
been annually repeated, until he now
has about 10000 sheep, and during the
eight years to 1888 had sold over S3O,OOO
worth Of wool and over $1,000 worth OF
mutton from his flocks. This Is the re-
suit of an investment of $40 in sheep
eight years ago.
Two OF the largest flock masters in
the State are the Hon. n. G. Collins, q
member Of the State Senate, who owns
about $1,000, and the Hon. Santos Ben
evides, member Of the lower house OF
the Legislature, vino has about the
same number. Both are millionaires,
ard their wealth has come entirely
from their fiOcks.
The Original shepherd.
The first man to engage in sheep cult
ure TO any great extent IN the State was
q Mr.. Kendall, who was formerly the
editor of the New Orleans Picayune,
but gave up his desk anu came to Texas
10 emb bark in sheep culture. He settled
in a region of country then on the from
tier, on the upper waters of the Guada-
lupe river, now known as Kendall
county, the county taking its name from
him. For a number Of years he had
trouble with the Indians, his shepherds
a number OF times being killed by them,
but, with his interesting family he
lived in a strOug stone house in con-
tent, defying the Indians until the
country about him began to be settled
up, and be was no longer molested by
the savages. He amused large for
tune by his enterprise, and when he
died was the largest aud weslthieSt
sheep-owner in the State.
There are men all over the State now
counting their money by hundreds OF
thousands, who came from the North q
Of them started by taking care Of other
peoples sheep on shares; that is, TAX
ing chsTge of herd and becoming re-
spOnsible for it for One-half OF the wool
aud Of the increase; and as many of the
herds breed and are sheared twice
year, these persons soon become large
owners. Others, coming with small
capital, invested in Mexican ewes,
which can be bought at from 10 cents
to n per head; then they put in some
good merino rams. Ia q few years
time, by this process, they have been
enabled to dispose of the original stock,
retaining a surplus OF improved sheep,
valued all the way from - to s. per
head. The lands upon which these
sheep are fed are, as rule, either
school lands, rented of the State for a
small consideration annually, or land
rented Of the different railroad corpora.
tons.
The estate Of Mr.. Jones Griner, who
died some time ago at San Felipe, about
seventy miles up the Rio Grande from
Eagle Pass, comprised over forty thous.
and head of sheep, with q considerable
herd Of cattle and number OF horses.
Mr.. Griner fifteen years ago started out
in heworld with capital not exceed
lug Sl,JUO.
Some OF the Advantages.
The great advantage of sheep culture
is that it can be conducted by farmers
on very small capital in connection
with agricultural pursuits, and at q very
small cost in trouble or expense. In
every township there Is more or less
10 10 na
that are not adapted to agriculture, and
a small boy with q good dog can herd
flock without any difficulty, and at
merely a nominal expense. y few
hundred sheep, increasing at ratio OF
50 per cent. per year, soon numoer
thousands, and the proceeds OF the sale
of wool more than pay all the expenses
of herding and shearing, thus leaving,
the increase clear profit. 1t does not
require large range and large amount
of capital as in the cattle business, and
the profits are propOrtionately greater.
ia man wants to go into the sheep
business on large scale his pasturage
does not cost him from S25 to SO an
acre, as is the case in the Northern
States; but he can buy all the land he
wants from the railroad company at
from 81 to - an acre, and have six
wears to pay for 1t. There Is q vast
amount OF State land to be had at about
the same prices, but it must be paid for
ia cash. \ man with q few thousand
dollars can acquire pasture Of 10000
acres aud q flock Of 1000 sheep, which
will not only pay for themselves and
the land in few years, but will afford
an income Of from 40 to so per cent. per
annum besides.
where to Go In Texas.
The question Is naturally and prop
erly asked, Where should q man go
who wants to make home and for
time i'm Texas, The answer depends
upop many conditions. II you come to
Texas we'll provided with means, aud
with q view to settle on an improved
farm, surrounded by all the conve-
niences Of modern lite, visit the north
ern and northeastern portions OF the
state. Here you can farm with mod
crate and almost certain success, grow
fine fruit with profit, raise improved
cattle on a small scale, and enjoy all
the social advantages peculiar to any
well. settled neighbOrhoOd in the Older
States. Lands are OF course somewhat
higher in price than in many other
parts of the State.
Ifyou must make new start, aud
that with limited means, you may have
to forego some of the comforts of life at
first; you can, however, expect reason
able success as former, cattle-raiser,
or wool. grower in western Texas, in the
counties west of WeatherfOrd, on the
line Of the Texas and Pacific railroad.
Land in this portion of the State Is
very cheap, and sold to new settlers on
long credit. Ifyou want to raise wheat
and other small grain, cotton, vegeta-
bles and potatoes, the range OF coun-
ties from Parker to Martin offers an ex-
eellent soil, q mild, healthy climate,
and seasonable rains, together with
good local markets. You can here adj
Santageously combine sheep raising
and wool growing with your farming
operations, and still be within easy range
OF good towns, where you can mske
your purchases, sell your produce and
educate your children.