The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-01-10
ENTER THE COAT
Animal Which Is Being Intro
duced in Kansas.
Something Like 10000 Are Al
ready Here.
MR.. THOMPSON TALKS
Head Of Bureau of Animal In
dustry Gives Facts.
Says That the AngOra Goat Has
Future Here.
R. THOMPSON TALKS

Washington, D. c., Jan. 10.-One of
the most alIuring industries to the
American farmer and stockraiser just
now is that of raising Angora goats. 1t
is not of the Hogan alley. common tin
can goat that is meant, but an animal
highly priced for its long, soft, silky
mohair and it's delicate and tender flesh.
This industry is an important adjunct
to the farm and is attracting much in
vestment the country over.
Like in most everything else the Kan
sas farmer is ever on the alert to give
trial to every new adjunct to his prem
though the goat industry in America is
in its infancy it is estimated that KAN
sas already has in the neighborhood of
10000 AngOras within her borders It is
with fiattering success that the industry
is reported in the eastern portion of the
state especially in the counties of John
son and Douglas. The raising of these
goats will be one of the interesting sub
jects to be discussed before the annual
meeting of the state board of agricul-
ture at Topeka this week
Mr.. George F. Thompson, formerly of
Manhattan, Kan, now editor of the
Bureau of Animal Industry at Wash
ington, is considered the most eminent
authority on the Angora industry of the
United States. He has for some con-
siderable time past made the subject
close study.
To the State Journal representative
Mr. Thompson said a large class of peO-
pie in some way have become possessed
of the opinion that the goat is practical
ly a useless animal. They do not reach
conclusions upon Investigations, how
ever, and do not discriminate between
the different breeds. Investigations
prove that the Angora goats are not
only clasSed among the most useful OF
the domestic animals, but their useful
ness is manifested in a variety of ways.
THE fleece, called mohair, furnishes
some of the finest of fabrics among
ladies' goods and is used in various 9TH
er manufactures; this goats habit of
browsing enables the farmer in a, wood
ed locality to use them to help in sub
jugating the forests; their flesh is ex-
ceedingly delicate and nutritious; the
milk, though not so abundant as with
the mich breed of goats, is richer than
cows milk: so fully is the goat avail
able as a dairy animal when bred to
that object that it is sententiously des-
cribed as the poor mans cow because
of the combination of value with econ
oIny of keeping; their tanned skins,
though inferior IN quality to the skins
of the common gOatsare used for leather;
their pelts make the neatest Of rugs and
robes; they are excellent pets for chill
dren; a few of them in a flock of sheep
are a protection from wolves and dogs
These are the vital subjects of varying
degrees of Importance considered in An
CORA goat raising"
It is roughly estimated that there are
in the United States 100000 goats Of all
kinds. There should be 80 000, 900 in order
to supply the hides which are. imported
by US The value of raw hides imported
last year amounted TO $751; 76,601, and
their actual costs to consumers was
about S25, sos, 249 The demand is rap
idly increasing. as is that for the fleece
Of the AngOra, now principally inn
ported.
Practically all the goatslxins entering
into the commerce and manufa cture of
the United States are imported. With
the exception OF that portion of the pop
ulation and its increase mostly upon
territory derived from Spain and Mex
leo, the people of this country have not
usually evinced much interest in goat
herding for a profit, either of skins or
other products. There have been for
centuries small herds in the sparsely