The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1898-03-05
WOOLCROWERS
IN CONVENTION
The Dl les Ex::,1i,i WED m
to the Visitors Within
Her Gates.
President Blai&eley Convened the Conven-
tion-Addresses of Welcome by Mr..
Wilson, Mayor Nolan and
Governor Lord.

St The first convention of the Pacific
Is Northwest Woolgrowers' Association
opened under most .auspicious circum
/ sta rces Tuesday afternoon, when at
y O'Clock Hon. G. e. Blakeley, presiden
,e of the Commercial Club called thi
meeting to order in the Vogt opera
house, where had assembled some BOZ
r. delegates and prominent woolgrowers
. from different parts of Oregon, Wash
J. ington, Idaho and Montana. Seated
on the platform. besides President
Blakeley, were Governor Lord, ex-
Governor Moody, Judge o. N. Denny,
DR.. Withycombe, Mayor M. ~. Nolan,
Rev. Jose ph De Forest and Mr.. Fred
W. Wilson.
Rev. Joseph De Forest invoked
divine blessing upon the gathering, the
people of the Northwest and the in
dustry in which those present are en-.
gagged, after which the Kinross Quartet
Club of Portland rendered a selection,
when Mr.. Fred W. Wilson, on behalf
of the Commercial Club. extended
hearty and cordial welcome to the
visitors. Mr.. Wilson's address was
most hearty welcome to the strangers
within the city, and extended to all the
freedom of the Clubs home. Mayor
Nolan in brief aud we'll worded ad-
| hahalf nf tho r,npnai no 1itu
extended greeting to the guests. and
closed by delivering the key of the city
to DR.. Withycombe, as the representa-
tive of the delegates, and insisted that
he use 1t in a way to make all feel that
in The Dalles they are perfectly at
| home.
President Blakeley then introduced
Governor Lord who extended q cordial
welcome to the delegates to the
state. saving in eject that the i'm
portance of The wool industry was
recognized in Oregon as one Of vast
Importance, and the people of the
state were ready to jim hands with
| those who resided in neighboring
territory in making it one of the
greatest and most prominent import
ance. Cooperation of those engaged
in all agricultural pursuits. the |
governor said, was desired, in that it |
must result in benefit, and especially |
was it desirable among those engaged |
in wool growing, since they had so
many Interests in common, in the |
matter breeding. marketing, etc. In
tel 'igent discussion of matters pertain
ing to wool-growing must result in
benefit to the flock master, and he
most heartily welcomed the delegates
from other States to Oregon, and took
special pride in the fact that this
state had oeen selected as the meeting
place of the first convention of the
woolgrowers of the Northwest.
The Kinross Club again rendered
selection, after which President Blake
ley apnouuced that Hon. 7. c. Powers,
president of the Montana Wool
growers Association. had been unable
to reach the city today, aud introduced
DR.. Withycombe. who on behalf of the
delegates, responded to the addresses
of welcome. DIR. Withycome express.
ed the gratitude of all visitors for the
cordial greering given them by The
Dalles, and in his closing remarks
paid glowing tribute to the city and
its hospitable people.
At the close of DR.. Withycombe's
address, another selection was render.
ed by the Kinross Club. when the con-
venticn adjourned to 8 o'clock this
evening. The election of temporary ,
officers will take pace at 10 o'clock to-
morrow.
The first evening session of the
Woolgrowers' Convention was well
attended, the opera house being filled ,
with a very appreciat:ve audience.
After selection by the orchestra, ,
President Blakelev introduced Hon.
John MiBto. Of Salem, the pioneer
woolgrower of Oregon, who delivered
quite lengthy address on forestry !
as affecting the sheep industry, or
rather, the effect sheep ranging in for
ests have upon the growth of timber. :
Mr.. Mimic, in his address. took the :
position that sheep are rather bene- .
ficial than detrimental to tree growth;
that their tramping the soil tends to
cause seeds to take root and trees to
grow. Mr.. Mimic has made personal
observation of these matters for many ,
years, and is convinced that the forests
are improved by being used for sheep
ranges, and is owstrongly opposed to
the government maintaining forest re- /.
serves to the exclusion of sheep
raisers. He also strongly favors
the ownership by the state of all ,
public lands within it's territory.
Prof. Leokerby, of Yakima, was the
next speaker, and took up the question
of grasses of the Northwest, and en-
many varieties common to this Sec
tion. He is firm in the belief that a
number of varieties can be made to
grow on the hills where the bunch
grass has been killed out, that will in
time take the place of the native
{ erasses, and prove even better for
feed at all times of the year.
At the conclusion of his address
number of questions were asked re-
garding grasses adapted to this ooun-
try, and much valuable information
was impaired.
WEDNESDAYS SESSION.
TIE convention was called to order
by President Blakeley at 10 O'Clock,
and the first order being the selection
of temporary officers, Prof. H. T.
French, of the state agricultural COL
lege was elected temporary chairman,
aud C. W. Dietzell, of The ,alles, I:
temporary secretary. The remainder .
of the morning session was devoted to
the discussion of matt t,rs brought out
by questions placed in the quo stion
box Grasses formed the principle
theme of discussion. and the morning
hours were very proitsbly spent.
At the opening of the afternoon ses-
sion, Prof. John A. Craig, of Iowa,
was introduced and took up the dis.
cussion of sheen feeding and breeding
His remarks were confined principalIv