The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1894-06-15

months previous would have readily brought
from $40 to SIS for the Texas or the West
ern trade. With wool from to 10 cents q
pound, less than one-quarter of the usual
number OF lambs are being raised this year.
Mr.. wood writes that IL wool Is to go on
the free list, the Michigan farmers must
kill their sheep; for it is useless to try to
compete with Australia and South Africa,
where land Is cheap, and labor is a small
item. The pasturage of sheep In Michigan
Is worth two cents per head per week for
six months in the year; and five cents per
head for six months, making Sl.S2 year.
1T takes an extra good grade OF flock to
average ten pounds of wool which at pres
ent prices is worth between seventy and
ninety cents. Thus there is loss of over
so per cent on raising wool, and this means
simply slaughter of the sheep. Even the
expectation of free wool has quite wiped out
a majority of the 1ocks of fine wool sheep.
"Mr j. Evarts Smith, the treasurer of
the Michigan Merino Sheep Breeders Asso-
citation, states that he has flock Of thorough
bred merlnos which he started about thirty
years ago by the purchase of fifty-eight
ewes, for which he paid thirty dollars
each. He has given his best efforts to the
improvement of his flock by judicious selec-
dreds of dollars. Previous to the last cleo
ton he was doing good business in supplying
the ranchmmen of the West with the
means to improve their f1ocks and was
building up good trade with Australia and
South America.
SHEEP KEPT AT A LOSS.
''Since last November trade has been at
standstill; and this they say Is raw material.
Very fine wool sheep in Michigan today are
being kept at an absolute loss; and it is
only the disinclination to sacrifice what it
has cost so many years to perfect that has
spared any of the flocks.
Last fall" Mr.. Smith continues, Il sold
about one hundred ewes for eighty cents
each, that would have sold readily few
years ago for $25 each. have saved few
for seed and my course is what nearly
every breeder Of my acquaintance has taken.
l write as a breeder of a stud flock, but
what l say will apply in some degree to
every man who owns flock.
'Mr. Ii. ID. Plat, of Ypsilanti, man of
wide experience in all that pertains to farm
ing, gives his experience with Shropshire
down ewes, which he keeps for their wool
and to fit their increase while lambs for
market. The sales of wool and lambs for
the past three years are given as demon
stration of the effect of free wool on the
business of the farmers of Michigan.
I'm 1892 Mr.. Plat sold his wool UNI
washed for 26 cents pound and the lambs
for cents a pound. In 1898 he sold his
wool for % cents pound to a free trader
who sold it later in the season for Is cents.
The lambs sold for cents. In 1894 he
sold his wool for Ia cents and his lambs for
cents.
''These figures show that since the cry of
free wool has been raised the price of wool
as the price of the best mutton Qamb) has
decreased, and if the threat of free wool
is fulfilled the flock masters of the north
west will have to go out of business.
"When the Mckinley bill became law
the wool growers of Michigan were to have
at least living chance with the manufac-
turers, but with free wool and protected
woolens there is nothing but the ruination
of the wool industry, and this will in turn
effect every farmer in the state.
''Mr. President, l shall support the
amendment offered by the Senator from
Kansas as well as any other amendment
which will tend to the protection of this
great industry"