The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1899-12-21

buy for So ton. and this amounts TO II
big saving, when it is considered that
here the price is from 81 up. Some
of the sheepmen feed from three to ten
tons of hay day, and will do so for from
three to five months. One flock OF 3OOU
has been taken to Ontario for wnterng;
two others to point near Mineral, while
other owners are contemplating moving
away within the month. This means
that the sheep will be wintered and shorn
elsewhere, and finally shipped from an
other point. resulting in considerable loss
10 this city, but an hundred fold more to
the farmers, who will not, it is asserted,
be able to dispose of their hay. unless
indeed they come down in the price. The
sheep owners are not especially pleased
at the present state of affairs declaring
that If they find good feeding grounds
elsewhere. they will stay away. This is
matter demanding attention, as it
means much of financial importance to
the people of this county generally.
The above indicates very clearly
the influence that overshadows it and
all papers of the same kidney, and
that is, submissive devotion to any
thing in the form of monopoly or
protected interests, and directly OPP
posed to institutions that are not.
1t is not necessary to point out the
many ridiculous statements and in
constituencies contained in the article
We only wish to allude to the fact
that the opulent farmers of Washing
ton county are brought to the bar
and openly charged with being ex-
tortionists, guilty of combining to
inhct hardships on the impecunious
and suffering flock masters, who
have the misfortune 10 own sheep
that have to eat hay. For nine
months out Of twelve the public pas
ture has been at their service, and on
the grassy mountain sides they could
roam at their own sweet will accum-
ulating fat and fleece, and market re-
ports indicate that the average sheep
is worth about SO and his coat from
10 to 20 cents per pound Here, in
the meantime, the extortionate farmer
has been irrigating, paying good
round price for water, and finally
not less than dollar ton for put
ting up his crop of hay, and The
record of past years is that he has
received the exhorbitant price of
50 rs for it.
The Signal is pleased to note the
fact that the sheep industry in Wash
ington county has for some years
been highly profitable and the outlook
at present is bright, and we hope
will continue so, and the present
prices of mutton and wool would
justify owners in paying proportion
a,ely more for winter feed, but hui
man nature is such, unfortunately,
that such would never be the case
unless some scarcity or unusual de-
mand forced them to do so, and but
for this the same old starvation prices
would yet obtain. And the old say.
ing holds good, that the sheep maj
carries check book and the farmer
mortgage This year the honor.
seem more evenly divided. If I'll,
statement made in the Record article
is correct, and we hope it is, the
yield being $50, 600 tons, the increase
in price, if all sold, would mean al
increase in the revenue from thi.
source of not less than three dollar.
ton over former years, and thi.
generally distributed and not lockeC
up in the pockets of limited number
of people. Common sense would
naturally suggest which would b,
best for the general welfare Of tn,
community.
AS an argument in favor of tn.
construction of the railroad up the
|
Weiser River, the Signal has always
urged that the farmers would be tn.
first to receive direct benefit as tn.
result of the enterprise, and this ar
gument has been verified The grea
number of ANIMALS used in the work
had to be fed, and as a result al
feed products have advanced, anc
the'law of supply and demand has
regulated the price, and the farmer
for once has been benefited. Thar
this is the case seems to be source
OF regret to the Wreckard. But the
| Signal sees in il a cause for oanora'