The independent-reporter., 1910-07-14
SHEEP BREEDERS OF
TWO COUNTIES
Discuss How to Increase
That Industry
Somerset and Franklin Association
Held Important Session at AnsOn,
June 80.

On Thursday June 80, the Somer-
set and Franklin Sheep Breeders as
Scciation held a special meeting in
the town of Anson at the home o.
Ernest Hilton, secretary OF the aSso
cation. This meeting was very large
ly attended, there being nearly 100
people present. Promptly at i o'cloch
in the forenoon E. E. Clifford of Ca
raan, president of the association,
called the meeting to order and i'm
niediately took up the reports of the
committees appointed at the previous
| Getting and such other business mat
ters as would properly come before
the present meeting
L. s. Merrill, state dairy instructor,
was asked to report for the special
committee appointed to secure con-
cessions in freight rates upon sheep
exhibited at the different fairs in the
State. For quite a number of years
exhibitors of sheep have been obliged
te pay transportation charges one
way on their exhibition stock. Mr..
Merrill reported for the committee
that the matter had been called to the
attention of the proper officials -of the
Maine Central railroad and that after
careful investigation the association
had been notified that for the pres
ent year sheep would be transported
to and from the several State fairs
free from all expense. This Is good
news for those interested in the sheep
industry in the State and every means
will be taken to see that this informa-
ton secures wide circulation.
The matter of the premiums offered
by the Eastern Maine State fair was
brought to the attention of the asso-
citation, and after full discussion it
was voted unanimously not to exhi-
bit sheep at the Bangor fair on ac-
count of the premium offers made by
that association.
C. M. Gallup of Waterville, was
called upon to address the associa-
ton. He took for discussion the rela-
tive cost of transportation of a sin
gle sheep in comparison with car
lots to the Brighton markets, stating
that in the case of car lots the cost
was 81 cents per animal, while in
single shipments it amounted to Sill.
He felt that something could be
done by the association to bring
about a greater equalization between
these two rates. This opinion was
concurred in by the members of the
association in general and commit
tee, consisting of Carl Luce, Wilbur
Hilton and George Weeks, was ap
pointed to cooperate with Mr.. Gal
lup in an investigation Of this matter
and an attempt to adjust the rates
to the sheep breeders
of the State.
At this time an adjournment was
taken for dinner, after which the
was again called to order and
the question of the premium lists
adopted by the different fairs of the
State was taken up for discussion. IT
appeared to be the opinion of the
members that all premium lists
should bear the approval of the COM
missioner of agriculture before any
association or fair should receive aid
from the State. 1t was voted by the
association that a committee consist
ing of E. E. Clifford, Bert Hilton and
Mark Gray should take this matter
under advisement and attempt to Sc
cure legislation looking to the adop-
ton of the idees brought out In the
discussion.
The question selected for discus
sion at the previous meeting, How
Can We Interset the Farmers of the
State in the Raising of Sheep, was
now taken up. Fred Hilton, being
called upon to open the discussion,
said, he felt that the business should
receive greater encouragement from
the State and that the first move to
be taken would be to secure the en-
actment of law that would authorize
and instruct the commissioner of
agriculture to employ man who had
had practical experience in the sheep
business and whose duty 1t would be
to give instruction to the farmers of
the State, by means of lectures, news
paper articles and bulletins, as to the
opportunities for sheep raising and
the best methods for carrying on the
business. While some people might
object to the added expense to the
State for carrying on this work, yet
he felt that the Importance of the In
dustry was deserving of this recog-
milton. Every member of the asso-
citation who was called on to partici-
pate in this discussion fully endorsed
Mr.. Hilton's views In the matter and
before the close of the meeting the
executive committee was instructed
by the unanimous vote of the asso-
citation to secure, II possible, legisla-
ton authorizing the employment of
practical sheep man to be connect
ed with the department of agricul-
ture.
1t was voted to hold the next meet
Ing at Lewiston during the State fair
week. the exact date and place of
meeting to be announced later by the
executive committee.
While this association has its head
quarters in Somerset and Franklin
county,yet 1t welcomes members from
any part of the State and have al
ready secured additions to their men,
oership list from neighboring coun-
ties.