The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1901-11-21
ANGORA GOAT FARM.

stock May Arrive Within a Few Weeks.
The much-talked of Angora goat
farm which is to be located near
Oakland, on the Garrett lands and
upon the Mccormick farm, is about
to be a success, the only contingent
arising which may block the plans of
the promoters will be their inability
to sell the required amount of stock
certificates. This is not probable,
however, as a great deal of the money
has already been paid or pledged.
A meeting was held on Saturday
night by the stockholders, when the
following officers were elected:
President, D. Z. Offutt.
Secretary, John Z. Mitchell.
Treasurer, Scott r. Jones.
The board of directors consist of
the above named gentlemen and
Messrs. H. Fl. Dill, of the b. & 0. in
dustrial department; B. F. Spencer,
of Baltimore, and Peter Corbett, also
of Baltimore, who will be general
manager. Mr.. Corbett has for a
number of years engaged in the goat
business in Texas, and g. S. Hamill.
The corporation is capitalized at
1925, 900, of which $25, 900 is prefer red
and to be paid up in full.
The company has already pur-
chased the Mccormick farm of about
900 acres and has a lease upon a large
tract of land adjoining.
Probably within the next two or
three weeks one thousand head of
goats will be brought to Oakland
from point in lower Maryland where
there is now a flock of 1000 of the
animals and upon which an option is
held by the manager.
The origin of the Angora goat has
never been fully decided by natur-
alists, but it is generally agreed that
the parent goat comes from one of
two species, between which there is
but slight difference. The place where
the breed originated, however, has
been settled, it being in the vilayet
of Angora, in Asia Minor, but it is
not known when this was. Some
writers have ventured to say that it
was 2,406 years ago. There is pretty
strong evidence which goes to show
! that they were a distinctive breed
when Moses was leading the Israel
ties out of Egypt. Goats hair was
spun by the Israelites for curtains
and other purposes for use in the
temple. In the story recorded in
Samuel (chapter 1917 of the artitice
of Michael in deceiying the messen-
gers of Saul by placing an image in
the bed in place of David and giving
it a pillow of goats hair, is believed
by Pennant to refer to pillow made
of the Angora fleece.
The city of Angora, or Enguri, the
capital city of the vilayet of Angora
is the ancient Ancyra, and is located
about 220 miles south by southeast
from Constantinople. Angora was
the seat of one of the earliest Chris
tian churches, and was probably
established by the Apostle Paul
The province is mountainous to a
considerable extent and furrowed by
! deep valleys. 1t is about 1900 feet
above the level of the sea- 1t was
here that this famous goat reached
its perfe ction-and such a state Of
perfection as has not yet been reach
ed by the goats of either Cape of GOOD
Hope or the United States.
The Angora goat, and more es
pecially the varieties it has produced
are probably the most valuable of the
goat family, and have been ably de
scribed by naturalists and traveller.
as goodsized animals, generally of g
beautiful milk-white color, with short
legs and Incorporating, spirally
twisted horns. The wool is describ
ed as a very beautiful curled or wavy
hair of silvery wilderness, with a fine
downy wool at its base, and this hail
is disposed in long, pendant, spira
ringlets on the whole body. The hail
or wool often sweeps to the ground
and is usually from five to twelve
inches long. The market value of the
fleece varies, according to the grade
generally being from 20 to 80 cents
per pound. The pelts sell from So to
$3.50, the meat being about the same
as mutton.