Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1886-07-03
Depression in the Sheep Industry
What Can be Done to Remedy 1t!
F. d. Curtis, in Country Gentleman.

It is my belief that the wooden interests
in this country should receive all the
fostering care and protection" which the
government can furnish. This protection
should be wisely adjusted for the greatest
good to the greatest number. No one
branch of this great industry should
control legislation, and shape its
action for the advancement of one interest
to the detriment of another, or even to the
neglect of another. The manufacture of
wool and its production should be closely
allied, and those interested in the two
branches should work in harmony to
promote both sections of the business.
When this is done, there will be united
prosperity, and the looms may run and
the hills be made more verdant. Any
kind of cut-throat selfshness by either
party will kill the business.
I am sorry to see the manufacturers
disposed to separate their interests from
the wool-growers and make a fight
before Congress for themselves, regard
less of the sheep breeders. It is short
sighted wisdom. The destruction of the
hocks of this country would bring great
disaster upon the whole country, and the
manufacturers would get their full share
of the trouble. The poverty of the wool
grower would prevent him from buying,
and goods would pile up without Gus
toners enough to use them up. Other
branches of farming, now full to a reple-
ton of production, would be overdone by
the accessions made necessary from the
former owners of the sheep, and so a
general excess Of production and stagna-
ton would naturally follow. It is the
business of statesmen to prevent these
disasters as far as possible, by prudent
counsels and wise legislation. They
SHOULD sit in judgment over the acts of
those engaged in selfish and unjust
efforts, and regulate events for the best.
When they are swerved from this patriot
ic purpose by party prejudice or personal
gain or lack of brains, it is time for the
farmers to demand change.
Now, while it is true that national
legislation may help to promote the in
terests of the flock masters, it is equally
true that the farmers and those more
directly interested are not doing all they
can to help the cause. An active demand
always stimulates the supply. Our
people should wear more wooden goods,
and those of home manufacture. This
will increase the home market for wool,
or ought to, and help to keep the manu-
factories running. The production of
wool has been leading feature in this
country Of sheep husbandry. The carcass
has been neglected, or rather the attention
paid to it has been more damaging than
otherwise. The aim has been to get as
much weight of fleece as possible on the
least amount Of body. This line of
breeding, quite general, has made the
mutton inferior, and if Americans ever
had general taste for it, they have lost
it. The emergency Is now too great to
spend much time arguing where the
responsibility rests, or who is to blame,
but rather let us accept the unfortunate
fact that Americans, as class, do not
eat mutton, and so fully half interest
in sheep husbandry is paralyzed and
almost dead weight which the other
half-the wool-must carry. This is all
wrong, and we shall never see full
measure of prosperity for sheep husband
~ until it is righted.
Legislation for the protection of wool
cannot make up in these days for the
lack Of sale for the mutton. Here is a
chance for a great deal of patriotic mis-
sionary work-to educate our people to
help wonderfully in the prosperity of this
country, by eating more OF the flesh of
the sheep. Strange as it may seem, the
city people eat all the mutton. They are