Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-08-16
DOMESTIC AsTRAKHAN FUR
Former Chicago Physician Is Breeding
Karakule Sheep In This Country.

Former Chicago Physician Is Breeding
Karakule Sheep In This Country.
A project design to keep in the
United States the $14,00O,OOO now GONG
abroad annually for the Astrakhan
Persian broadtail and krimmer furs sc
fashionable among wealthy Amerl-
cans, has been launched by. DR.. {. C.
Young, a former Chicago physician
now commissioner of Agriculture for
the state of Coahuila, Mexico. Dr.
Young is at present in Chicago under
going treatment for an affection OF the
throat, and yesterday described his
plan at considerable length.
1t is the breeding of Karakule sheep
the basis of all the fine furs that come
from Persia and other portions of Cen
trail Asia. He has succeeded in bring
ing to America after great expense
and much trouble, on account of the
rigid laws forbidding the importation
of Asiatis sheep because of the danger
of importing with them Aslatlc as
eases. a flock of fullblood Karakules
and has begun the crossing OF them
with American sheep at his ranch at
MenOr, COahulla.
DR. Young was born in Bessarabia,
province of South Russia, and there
was familiar as boy with the Karakule
sheep which produce the beautiful
furs, although he then never saw a
full hlooded Karakule. He came To
America when 16 years old, took up
the study of medicine, was graduated
from the College of Physicians ana
Surgeons in 1901, and was for time
on the advisory staff of the COOK
County Hospital.
He also had an office in the Coium-
bus Memorial Building and was at
tending eye and ear surgeon at the
County Hospital. When the same
throat affection for which he is now
rece wing treatment MADE it impera-
tive that he give up his practice in
Chicago and live an outdoor life In
Southern climate his mind reverted TO
the Karakule sheep and he decided to
occupy his time with them. lie mai
w surmounted the difficulties in the
way of importing sheep. and he no"
has growing flock of them on his
Mexican ranch Yesterday he de-
scribed enthusiastically the proportions
to which the business may grow IN
the United States.
"rhe Karakule sheep are the basis
of all these fine furs." said DR..
Young, land the value of the furs de-
ponds upon the percentage of Kara
kule in it, Crossing the Karakule with
the common scrub sheep of Persia, we
get the Persian broadtail; crossing 1t
with the Astrakhan long-haired sheep
we get Astrakhan, and crossing 1t with
the common merinO sheep OF the
Crimea we get the krimmer fur.
"rhese sheep, however, are vastly
inferior to the sheep of the United
states, and l decided that by crossing
the Karakule sheep with various
brands Of American sheep I would get
even better fur, and that it would be
marketable at a profit at a far lower
price than is paid for the Persian
furs My experiments so far nave
more than justified this conclusion.
DR.. Young exhibited some of the
pelts he has taken from the lambs
resulting from the crosses between the
American sheep and the imported
Karakules. The crosses between the
Lincolnshire and Shropshire and the
KaralSule have given a fur that is of
a far finer texture and much more
beautiful luster than the imported
furs.
He declares that Mexico is the hope
Of the Western Hemisphere as
source of food supply. and that farm
ers seeking to better their condition
can do no better than take up land in
Mexico. The Government is lending
every aid to settlers, giving them land
on easy terms of payment, and has
appropriated $25.OO0,00O to irrigate the
section of the country in which his
ranch of 10000 acres is located. In
most parts of the country two crops
a year can be raised.
The citizens of the United States
who go there do not have to give up
their citizenship, even to hold State
and Government offices. Dr. Young is
still a citizen of the United States,
but has been made Commissioner Of
Agriculture for his Mexican State.
Many ether Americans hold state Of
fees. President Diaz has adopted this
policy for the advancement Of the
Mexican people. according to DIR.
Young, and he declares that the in
vestment Of vast amounts of capital
in Mexico by financiers of the United
States and other countries has justi-
fled this course.
Chicago Record Herald.