Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1893-02-16

which would be useful to his fellow
citizens, especially in agriculture.
Up to that time Spain had made the
rest of the world believe that merino
sheep could be raised advantageously
only in that country. She had put
the rest of Europe under tribute to
her for this precious commodity.
France, however, had begun to ex-
pertinent. Livingston saw, as he
thought, great opportunity. He
became convinced, after studying the
merinos, that they would thrive in the
United States. Through his influence
as Minister he secured two couples of
merinos in France and sent them home
to the United States. He followed
up this beginning with other ship
ments. But on his return to the
United States in 1907 he was aston
ished to find that the subject of
merinos had attracted very little
notice. He set to work to enlarge
the number of his merinos as fast
as possible. He wrote articles tell
ing of the wonderful increase in the
amount and quality of the wool which
the merino cross insured. He was a
sanguine man, and soon had his
neighbors wild about the new breed
of sheep. The mania started, Liv-
ingston began to sell merino lambs
at $3.50. Merino wool was made into
blue cloth superior to anything that
had been produced in the United
States. Samples were sent through
the country. Livingston's shearings
were public affairs. At one of the
meetings the famous JarOn yielded l l
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 Erving at Madrid, asking
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
5000.
"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 SEN
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 i'm
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 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 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
DUdUCS ODUdIuCu. UIlC Pr FI1CSC VI VI t1dC
as 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 ST and SIS a barrel; corn for So
and So bushel, other things in pro-
portion. Just at that time Spain was
in a distracted condition. Estates
were being confscated. Flocks were
being broken. The famous sheep
were on the market at from SO to
$50 each. Yankee captains, with the
proceeds from their cargoes of proyis-
ions, bought whole flocks. These
sheep:sold in the United States for
800 and $50. Tue profits were enor-
NOUS to the shipewners.s Many sail
ing masters made fortunes in single