Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1897-08-17
WHERE ARE THE DOLLARS,
LIVE STOCK INTERESTS.

To the readers Of the Maine Farmer,
who, Il seems, have neglected for q
long time, having left my early avoca-
ton Of dealing in live stock for other
operations, l wish to make some sugges-
tions on the present situation OF these
great interests. Ii will be admitted by
the fumers Of Maine that they never
were more prosperous than when they
were farming
TIE OLD FASHIONED WAY,
producing crops and live stock, feeding
all the hay to cattle and sheep, and de-
pending for cash receipts on the sale OF
fat cattle, wool and lambs. Tie depart
ure from this rule has been attended
with cslsmities. Selling hay has been
suicide with Maine farmers, as IL has
deprived the farm OF Its natural food.
Conditions change. and the farmers OF
Maine should catch On TO the advantages
of the times. For instance, in my deal
In live stock have seen
FOUR EPoCHs IN THE LAST THIRTY
YEARS
where sheep and wool went way down
TO unremunerafive prices, and have noted
the fact that within five years OF these
discouraging periods In sheep husbsndry,
the prices have doubled up on both the
animal and its fleece. l wish forcibly to
remind the farmers that the future now
holds out great promises In this partieu-
lar branch Of agriculture. The funda-
mental reason for these great changes IN
prices Is the great law Of supply and
demand. The long period OF low prices
OF sheep and wool has decreased the
worlds fiocks Of sheep nearly one-hslf,
till TODAY some sections Of the world are
nearly depopulsted OF them. The state
Of Maine has very un~isely gone out OF
sheep.
The United States now owns no more
than 35, 600, 900 sheep, where five years
ago We could boast Of an ownership OF
so, ,0O0, 600. Australia, the most perfect
home OF these animals, has recently had
the misfortune to lose nearly "a many
sheep ss the United States possesses,
about $4,000 900, by unprecedented
drouth. This and the high protection
placed on wool, snd the fact that the
entire world has been devastating Its
tiocks OF sheep
INSURE HIGH PRICES IN THE NEAR
for both mutton and wool. predict
that In less than three years wool will be
20 cents per pound In Maine. IL am
anywhere near correct Ia my prophecy,
uox Ia Just the time to go into sheep
business.
We see In some sections lack OF
thrift on the part of some OF our farm
ers. How often we hear, Earning does
no, paw at Is hard times for the poor
farmer" Now
THIS Is ALL BOSH
and needs correcting. The trouble Is
with the farmer and not the times, or
his ayocation. Go into any town In
Maine and point out man who has not
gone into specialties. such ss raising all
trotters, or all potatoes, who now owns
twenty good dairy cows, ten swine, fifty
good sheep, ten growing steers, one nun
dred hens and other fowls, and is raising
variety Of crops, and feeding out the
principal part Of his hay to bis animals,
and will show you man who Is pros
porous and happy, one that is doing well
and more than liable TO have snug little
sum In some savings bank. The farmers
Of the state Of Maine must dispel the
idea that everything Is going TO rack and
ruin, for IL Is not. No set Of men In the
last fifty years have had such rosy
hued future TO operate In as now. The
markets Of the world demonstrate the
fact that
BEEF WILL NEVER BIZ ANY LOWER.
This may be called q strong express
sion but it must be noted that our west
ern prairies are feeding the world, and
that the beef and mutton product OF this
vast section makes a price on these COM
modities for the world, that there Is no
section In the west not now occupied, ana
vet our cities are multiplying and inhso-
itsnts increasing. For these reasons
there need be no fears that live stock
v iii not be in fashion next year. NO
farmer can expect prosperity unless ne
operates. Merchants cannot make money
In trade unless they have goods to sell.
III the husbandmep Of Maine would
stock up and grspple the idea that the
last ten years have been trimming the
worlds supply Of farm products TO q
legitimate demand, we shall see greater
prosperity In the rural districts Of Maine,
and
GREATER RISE IN FARM PROPERTY
than has ever been known in this coun-
try. Keep in your mind one idea, that
the farmer who produces is king. He is
carrying the world. His avocstion Is
honorable and conducive 70 more happi-
ness than any other calling, and remem-
Der that the present time Is most pros
porous one to engage In larger operations.
The state Of Maine, through its agricult-
ural importance should make great
strides In the next decade. kuinous
prices and hard times have gone down 10
history to those who now attempt TO
help themselves.-l. c. Libby.