The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1899-01-28
WOOL GROWERS MEETING.
Convention Opened In the Club Rooms
This Morning-various Matters
of Importance Discussed.

S'onsAou OPcHeu IN tne CluD fsOOns
This Neutrality-suspicious. Matters
of Importance Discussed.
The special meeting of the Oregon
Wool Growers association was called to
order at 1890 Monday morning by the
secretary of the association, Fred w.
Wilson. In his opening speech, Mr..
Wilson commented on the good seeds
sown by the organization of the asso-
citation last March, otherwise it would
be with great difficulty that This meet
ing could he called. At the request of
Captain Ormsby, a letter from Repre-
sentative A. S. Roberts, in which he
offers numerous valuable suggestions
concerning the main object of the
meeting, namely, deciding on some
practical manner of settling the matter
of protecting, to certain extent, the
grazing lands and apportioning the
same between the sheepmen who run
their sheep on these ranges, was
read. By way of conclusion Mr.. Will
son said while the sheep men were
here to consider the matter for their
own interest, on the other hand,
nothing would be done that would be
detrimental to the interest of other
stock men.
Owing to the absence of Mr.. Young,
chairman of the association, a tempor-
ary chairman in the person of Mr.. A.
r. Thompson was chosen.
A motion was then made and carried
that all wool men present who had not
yet became members of the associa-
tion could join by the payment of the
initiation fee which is so cents.
The discussion of the question Of al
lotment of summer ranges On the pay
ing of a certain price per head for rum
ming sheep on these ranges was opened
by j. V. O'Leary, who stated that
satisfactory arrangement of this kind
would not only be of great benefit to
the sheep men, but also would have a
tendency to protect these ranges which
are gradually being destroyed by the
large number of sheep that are pastured
annually. Mr.. Bonner, of Tygh, sug-
gested that each sheep man be allowed
to lease certain amount of range at a
set figure and in this way, by sowing
suitable grasses. the range could be
made to pasture many more sheep than
at present and all trouble oyer range
could thus be avoided.
The suggestions was made that the
range be leased to the highest bidder.
This was commented upon with dis
favor, however, by Messrs. Young and
Jones who were of the opinion that the
range price might be ran up to too
high figure by persons antagonistic
to the wool industry, and that all
should pay an equal rate for the range
land
AS many of those present desired to
talk these matters over more fully the
meeting adjourned until P. M.
The after noon session was called
to ord er at 2 o'clock and the subject
of running sheep on the forest reserve
was once more taken up in earnest.
A plumber of propositions which have
been offered by Mr.. Ormsby were
read and taken up for consideration.
Mr.. w. II. 81. Dufur Forest Super
visor for this section was invited to
address the meeting. He stated that
while he did not know Mr.. Osmsby's
intention In this matter be felt sure
that he would act fairly and honorably
and do all possible to assist the wool
men throughout the state.
ae further encouraged the wool.
growers to act together in these mat
ters and heartily favors certain allot-
ments to each individual sheep grower.
The question of allotment was heartily
favored by Mr.. F. N. Jones. in a short
but pointed speech, while Mr.. Sherar
on the other hand looks at the idea
with disfavor, since it would be con-
stantly causing trouble between the
sheepmen whose allotments have TO be
passed in going to respective ranges.
Mr.. Hinton then spoke in disfavor of
the allotment scheme and while he
favors the idea of paying the gov
ernment for the range, he is opposed
to allotments in any form.
Judge Mays urged the sheep men to
doa]l in their power to keep the ranges
in good condition, and stated it was
not the grazing but the running over
the mountains that injured the reserve
for grazing purposes. He urged the
wool-growers to act reasonable in
bringing their sheep into the summer
range and not rush to reach the range
before any one else and by so doing
tramp out the grass over which they
pass, rather than allow their sheep to
feed on it.