The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-01-12

constantly 500 in the house where I
could lay my hands on it any minute
I might want it. It kept constantly COM
ing IN and just about 500 was constant
1y on hand. I didn't have to draw on the
bank once. My wife said Isn't it just
wonderful how money comes in from
these pigeons During all this time /
could not give them any care or atten-
ton, yet there they were returning me
money right along. I have about $50
parlOr tumbIers on hand.
You see its different there in the east
than here. The rich and leisure class
take to this pigeon fancying and think
nothing of spending S25 to $50 for a bird
ard are constantly coming around and
purchasing others. they take delight
in it. Out here in the west you are
still busy making your money and have
not reached the place or time. where you
can spend time in leisure. For this rea-
son you don't see or hear much of this
pigeon business out here in TOneka and
the west Back east the HavemeyerS
and others travel from place to place to
attend these pigeon shows and sit
around and talk shop by the hours
1t is apparent from the stories
which Muir tells that when a fancier
has the bacteria of pigeons in him once
he becomes incurable. They come
around to my house and sit and talk for
hours" said Muir of some of this kind.
Il had one fellow who used to come in
the afternoon and stay for tea and then
would not leave until 10 or IL o'clock at
night. He did this constantly too It
got too much for my wife All tie time
it would be pigeon talk. I had a neigh
Dor who was a fancier and some of the
wealthy fellows would come around reg
ular in the morning and probably stay
until 4 or 3 o'clock in the afternoon,
That sort of thing becomes tiresome at
last.
Il have been in the pigeon business
for years. I started in when I was
small boy by trading off dogs for
pigeons when I no longer had any
money to buy pigeons.
Pigeons are about all alike as far as
Intelligence is concerned. I don't I1no.g
that any one class is any more suseepti-
bic to training than another. I like the
parlor tumblers because there are so
many different varieties, more in that
class than in any other. 1 like the
pigmy pouters next.
THE show is getting better here.
Ihere were a number Of entries last
year which I would have thrown out
altogether if they had been entered this
year. OF course there is still room for
improvement"
About the Homers.
Some noted prize winners in homer
pigeons are shown by C. A LeBeau of
Chicago. Blue Bird and Beauty
two of the entries, have been prize win
ners in almost every large show of any
consequence where they have beer en-
tered. Records from 100 to 500 miles
have been made by these two birds
Five hundred miles in one day is not
an unusual record for a Homer
Il can't say whether the homer eats
during the whole of a trip or not said
lie Beau. There are Indications that
they don't. One homer which made the
flight from close to Kansas City to Chi
cago, distance of about 500 miles, top
pied over in the cage when it got home
and in its tightly curled up claws was
found some shavings from the basket
in which it was shipped to Kansas City
This would seem to indicate that it had
not stopped for food once
We have seven or eight clubs, homer
clubs, which hold flights in Chicago.
At one time we let loose 700 birds at
one time 1t certainly was d pretty sight
and for time there was regular
cloud"
A pair of homer pigeons run in value
from s25 to 500.
Prof. D-che Is Reelected.
At a meeting of the Kansas State
Poultry association held last evening,
Prof. L L. Dyche of Kansas university
was reelected president. Frank H. Eos
ter of Topeka, vice president and Thos.
Owen of Topeka, secretary and treas
urer.
The board of directors elected are:
Frank H. Foster, E. G. Fowler, Ray
mOnd F Atwood and Thomas Owen. all
C. Smith, Manhattan: A. J. Kerns, Sa-
lima; ". s Young. Mcpherson: H C.
Short, Leaveuworth.
The judges elected to serve for next
year are: c. H. Rhodes, Topeka; d. L.
Heinrich, Jacksonville, III, and NJ. S.
Fife of Oklahoma City
The following are the awards an
nounced:
Single Comb Rhode Island Reds
r. B. Steele, Topeka. first, second,
third fourth and fifth hen second
third. fourth and fifth pullet: second.
fourth and fifth cockereI; third cock;
first, second, third, fourth and fifth
pen. H A. Sibley, Lawrence, Kan,
first cockerel; first pullet. Mrs. W. r.
Monroe. Florence, Kan, third cockereI.
Barred Plymouth Rocks=C. NJ.
Chapman, first cockereL Mrs. W. B.
Popham, Chillicothe. Mo, fifth cock;
first and third hen, fourth pen. e. c.