Arizona republican., 1908-11-15
IN THE SHEEP PENS.
A Good Exhibit of Fine Stock, Im-
 ported and Domestic.

]
 from Canada at quite an expense to
 the above named company. The par
 ticularly valuable feature of the OK | ford Down breed is it's wonderful
 mutton developing qualities. In ad
 dition to the oxford Downs, there
 were several imported Hampshires,
 another well known breed, probably
 second to none in the world.
 On the right, entering the barn | from the east side. are two stalls of
 range sheep. exhibited by H. J. Gray
 of Williams. They contain the fol-
 lowing cross breeds: Lincoln Merino, Shropshire Merino, ewes and lambs.
 the same giving evidence of their | fine quality by three first and two
 second prizes.
 ] Following them comes the exhibit of J. c .Mudersbach of Phoenix, con- sisting of thoroughbred Shropshires, Hampshires and crosses of Delaine and Merino. MT. Mudersbach is a practical sheep man and is making a
 great success of the business, previ- ous reference to his success having been made in these columns. There
 are others in the valley who have ] been but partially successful. as they have gone into the business without experience, being attracted to it only
 by the pleasing conditions and prom ising prices, without appreciating the hard work and experience necessary
 to achieve a pleasing success.
 Returning through the corridor. it
 was noticed that the south side of the barn was entirely taken up by ! I.l, l,n 1a Hr-
 Superintendent F. w. Wilson. It con-
 tained a very high class of Ram
 bouillets and Rambouillet-Me ewes, lambs and bucks and thorough
 bred Tunis rams and bucks, the foun-
 dation of which flock came from Algiers Among their progeny are also some fine crosses from Merinos.
 The quality of these sheep was evil denced by blue ribbons with which the stalls were adorned.
 The sheep department has been
 handled efficiently by L. D. Yaeger of Flagstaff. as superintendent, he
 having devoted a great deal of time and labor both before and during the fair. toward making a good show. The number of exhibits is not quite so large as last year but the quality of them was never better
 In this connection it is timely to give a word of praise to the northern sheepmen who did make exhibits, a word of apology for those who did not, and a bit of reprimand for val ley and nearby sheepmen who were not represented. The northern men, who are the largest sheep owners, are beset with endorsements few people at the fair appreciated. Their flocks are now all the way from ten to a hundred miles from the rail- road. To make an exhibit the anil mals have to be brought by wagon to the railroad. except in a few in- stances perhaps, when they were held in or near a town until fair time Then after the fair, if the sheep are brought back they have to be taken by wagon out to the flocks and ranges again, for there are not enough of the lot to drive. This expense amounts to practically the value of the sheep, and sometimes more, even if they are good ones. On the other hand if the sheep are sold here and not returned after the fair. the owners can not take ad- vantage of the free transportation, but must pay the local freight rates on the small installments. It there fore practically amounts to a dona tion of the exhibits every time, to say nothing of the time and trouble That should earn an extra apprecia- ton of the exhibits that are made and be an acceptable explanation of why the exhibits from the north are not more numerous, though it is urged that the general welfare of the industry should prompt the range men to be as generous as possible in the circumstances, and it is hoped more of them will be in evidence next year.
 But these facts will not serve to excuse the owners of sheep herds in this valley and the nearby sections, ! and there are probably a dozen of them engaged in the business as a ! line of farm industry It would only ! cost them a days work and a little 1 trouble during the fair, to bring in | each a wagon load, and it would be worth something to them as an ad- vertisement. even if it took no pre- | miums, and surely they would do I something in some of the classes if | they are making any kind of a sue | cess of the business. And even if | they got no personal benefit, their l interest in the success of the fair | should impel them to do all they | could for it. To broad minded per sons, whatever line of live stock they | may be interested in. the matter of | cash premiums should be the small est consideration at the fair and the | general good of the country the chief | aim, depending on general prosperity for their rendards. No fair can be conducted so all the exhibitors make money directly out of the show, or, for that matter, any of them. Prob ably almost every exhibit has cost the owner more than the money earned by the prize winners in it.
 In connection with the sheep it is timely also to mention that there are in excess of 150 persons engaged in goat raising in Arizona and not a goat was shown at the fair. And yet it is beyond doubt a very profit able business for many of the goat raisers. The sheep and goat depart ment, good as it was. should be at least twice as large next year.