Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1893-02-25

the country. Livingston's shearings
were public affairs. At one OF the
meetings tae famous Jaron yielded II
pounds and ii ounces of wool.
Ex-President Thomas Jefferson and
President Madison caught the merino
fever. Both had estates in Virginia.
Mr.. Jefferson wrote to United States
Minister Erying at Madrid, asking
him to send over some merino sheep.
The Minister turned the matter over
to Consul Jarvis, who managed to get
twelve of the famous escurials on
board ship at Lisbon. Jefferson at
Monticello and Madison in the White
House exchanged letters congratulate
ing themselves that the merinos were
coming. Jefferson unfolded in de-
tail his plan to make the sheep per-
form the greatest possible amount Of
good. He scored Livingston roundly
for his lack of patriotism in accept
ing such high prices, Livingston had
just sold four of his meriDos for
$4,000.
"Since fortune has put the occasion
upon u.s., Mr.. Jefferson wrote to Mr..
Madison, "is it not incumbent upon
us to so dispense this benefit to the
farmers Of our country as to put to
shame those who, forgetting their
own wealth and the honest simplicity
of the farmers, have thought them fit
objects of the shaving art. No sem
timent is more acknowledged in the
family Of agriculturists than that the
few who can afford it should incur
the risk and expense of all new inn
provements, and give the benefit
freely to the many of more restricted
| circumstances.
That was pretty good doctrine.
Mr.. Jefferson then suggested to Mr..
Madison his plan. He proposed that
they give all the full-blooded males
we can raise to the different counties
of our State, one to each county, as
fast as we can furnish them"
Mr.. Jefferson in a letter to Mr..
Jarvis returned thanks to the Con-
sui for putting him in the way to
extend the improvement Of one Of
the most valuable races of our do
nestle animals" He repented his
intention to give each county in Vir-
ginia ram. In that and other ways
the ex-President disseminated the
new breed through the State. He
placed Virginia under debt to him
for a period of great prosperity.
Merinos became common. The bot
tom fell out of speculation.
This importation Of merinos from
Spain for Mr.. Jefferson and Mr.. Madi-
son was great diplomatic feat. At
that time SPANS policy was to pre-
vent, by heavy penalties, the sale Of
her sheep to go out of the country.
Consul Jarvis made several unsuccess-
full attempts. Then, all at once, the
opportunity came. Napoleon had in
vaded Spain. Europe was at war
By shrewd negotiations the United
States obtained the privilege of trade
as a neutral nation. From Maine to
Georgia the shippers loaded their
vessels with wheat, corn, Goldfish,
bacon, beans, rice and other stores.
They set sail for the Spanish PENN
sula. AT Lisbon and Cadiz flour sold
for SIT and Sl8 a barrel; corn for 81
and SO a bushel, other things in pro-
portion. Just at that time Spain was
in a distracted condition. Estates
we're being conflscat ted. Flocks were
being broken. The famous sheer
were on the market at Srom $40 tC
$50 each. Yankee captains, with the
proceeds from their cargoes of proyis
ions, bought whole hocks. These
sheep sold in the United States fol
800 and $3.50. The profits were enor
nous to the shipowners. Many sail
ing masters made fortunes in single
trip In just twelve months there
were brought over to this country
l8, 953 of these Spanish merinos
From the seaports the merinos were
distributed in every direction. Al
early as August, 1911, st. Louis pa
per announced that this valuabl,
animal is already introduced into Up
per Louisiana, where it promises tt
flourish in great perfection.
From Maine to Georgia ant
throughout the entire region east o
the Mississippi, merinos - full
bloods, half-bloods, and all degrees
were for sale. Merino lambs solC
for 81, 900 in the height of the fever
and came down to 81.
In the piney woods Of West Flor
ida and Southern Georgia, Alabama
Mississippi and Louisiana is one 0
the queerest branches of the indus
try sheep run wild They roam a
large in the pine woods and are self
supporting. When shearing tim
comes round the owner hunts up hi
lock, wreslles with IL for the fleece
and pays no more attention TO hi
property for twelve months. II
Jackson County, Florida, Mrs. Car
penter has a flock OF 1000 whicl
grew from seven sheep. In som
years Mrs. Carpenter has got as mucl
rs 1000 for her wool.
) To many people sheep Is sheer
+ aud that Is all. There Is as niue
difference in breeds OF sheep as ther
) IS In races Of people. Six centurie
40 some of the breeds % sheep II
L..slapd ,xara uo larver than rabbit