The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1910-08-25
SHEEP IN SOMERSET
Local Sheep Men Laying Plans to
Boom the Industry.

Boom the Industry.
Somerset county has nearly twice as
many sheep In proportion to Its popu-
lation as any other of the big subdyI-
sions of Maine. Just why this is 30
might be hard to prove, but 1t Is prob
ably because the sheep men there
raise such mighty good ones. When
the men from Somerset go out TO the
fairs, they never fail to bring at least
their share of the ribbons with them.
These Somerset men are not OF the
sort that sits around waiting for
things to happen. They know what
they want and they are not afraid to
go right after 1t. Last spring they
decided that it was time for the sheep
industry to take a boom, 80 they got
together in Madison and organized a
breeders association. E. e. Clifford Of
Canaan was chosen president, Chester
P. Hamlin of East Wilton, vice presi-
dent, and Ernest Hilton of Anson,
secretary.
or course 1t will take time to carry
out all the plans they have in mind,
hut the Association got busy right
away. First the Eastern Maine fair
gave sheep raw deal in making up
their premium list, so the association
promptly voted to boycott them. Then
to do something positive as we'll as
negative, they voted to go before the
next Legislature and ask to have the
fair programs subject to the approval
of the Commissioner of Agriculture.
That would make short work of run
ming "hoss trots' with State funds,
But Somerset county farmers have
stayed in the sheep business because it
paid, and it pays better today than at
any time in years. But with the shift
ing of population that has taken place
during the past three decades, many
of the best farms are now owned by
men who have never kept sheep They
would keep them now, but they do not
know how, and there Is no one to
teach them. This Is another of the
objects of the Association. AS a slight
Indication of how such instructions
would probably be sought, President
Clifford received letter a short time
since, asking him to come to dis
tant part of the State to advise the
writer regarding his sheep. The lat
ter offered to pay all expenses, but
pressure of business at home made it
impossible for Mr. Clifford to accept.
The present plan is to ask the Leg
islature for an instructor in sheep
husbandry, such as is already proyid-
ed for tho dairy industry. A modest
appropriation expended In this way
would work wonders In raising prop
State. Waste places would be made
fruitful. and the upward trend In meat
prices checked. Taking time by the
| forelock, the sheep men are now bust
ly questioning candidates for the Leg
islature, and carefully noting their
answers. The fortunate ones who 60
to Augusta will know what they want
before they start.
The present methods of marketing
wool are also unsatisfactory. The
local buyer sits in his office, announces
the price he will pay, and lets the
grower do the walking. The price
paid for this ungraded wool Is way
below what the spinners pay for their
materials. A little later the market
ing question Ia to be gone over with
view to breaking up the buyers lit
tie snap.
OF course the hustlers are all In the
Association, and the roster issued by
the secretary shows the following
names: Mark Gray. Arson; Bert Hill
ton. Anson; Omer NJ Fletcher Arson;
George w. Weeks, Canaan; F. S. Hill
ton. Anson; Fred d. Hilton, Arson;
c. l.. Barron, Arson; Frank Moore,
Norridgewock; w. e. Barron, Arson;
Wilbur Hilton, Anson;. Ernest Hilton,
Arson; e. f. Clifford, Canaan; George
II. Fletcher Arson; Chester P. Ham
lin, East Wilton: c. A. Bracket, An
son; C. w. Luce. Arson; B. F. Burns,
Madison. A majority OF these are US
Ing the Association letter head in all
their correspondence, and otherwise
doing all they can to foster the com
munity spirit. It's bound to show re-
suits before long.
Sheep Breeders Are HHstling.
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