The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1911-06-29
BIG DAY FOR SHEEP.
BREEDERS
MaineAssociation Meets
In Starks
Fayors Change in Fenle Law to Give
Sheep Industry and Sheep Raisers
Square Deal.

Representative sheep breeders from
four states, nine counties and sixteen
towns gathered at the home of Nj.
and Mrs. Bert Hilton in Starks Wed
nesday for the biggest and best nee.-
ing in the history of the Maine Sheep
Breeders association. Weather con-
ditions doubtless kept many away,
hut the roll call showed members
present from Arson, Madison, Nor
ridgewock, Wilton, Pennington, Bow
doinham, Orono, Winthrop, Rangeley,
Starks, New Sharon and Mercer, with
guests from New Hampshire, Massa-
chusetts and Wisconsin,. The spirit
of get together to work for the up
building of the sheep industry was
the dominant thought throughout.
The morning was devoted to in
speeding Mr.. Hflton's blue ribbon
Shropshires and Oxfords, getting bet
ter acquainted, and a brief business
session. After routine matters had
received attention, Thomas Dean OF
Skowhegan brought cut the Idea that
nothing would do the sheep industry
more good than some effective amend
ments to the present fence law. He
said that the present statute was so
vague and unfair that the man who
kept sheep while his neighbors did
not. was burdened with practically
the entire expense of properly fenc-
ing the boundary President e. E.
Clifford said that the association was
organized to take up just such mat
ters, and cited his own unsatisfactory
experience along the same line the
preceding week at the Kendall farm
In BoWdoinham, of which he is man
ager. The members were SO thor
oughly in accord on the subject that
a motion by F. H. Webster of Farm
ington for a special committee to for
mulate a plan of campaign passed
unanimously The chair designated
C. NJ. Gallup and Thomas Dean Of
Skowhegan, and Dr.. l.. s. Merrill of
Orono.t E. G. Hudson of Winthrop
reported for the committee on the
cooperative sale of wool, and ex-
pressed the idea that the members
should pool their stock, have it
secured and then be In position to
sell to somebody besides the wooden
trust. Considerable discussion fol-
lowed regarding ways and means, and
the committee was instructed to con-
tinue their work of investigation.
Wednesday morning of the Lewiston
fair was chosen as the date for the
auction sale of breeding stock, and 1t
was voted to hold special meeting
in the evening. The association also
accepted tine Invitation Of President
Clifford to hold fall meeting in
Bowdoinham at the Kendall farm.
The noon hour was occupied with
a bountiful picnic dinner, and after
some delightful musical selections by
Victor Robbins, cornetist, and Mrs.
Grace Head, pianist, Prof. T. R.
Arkell of the New Hampshire State
college gave splendid address upon
the wooden trade and manufactures
including a scientific discussion upon
the workings of Schedule X. He told
his hearew that the present tariff
rates should yield the producer a
much higher price for his wool, but
that the American Wooden Company
had so organized both the middlemen
and the manufacturers that the law
of supply and demand had ceased to
operate For this reason the produc-
ers were receiving only that arbi-
trarily low rate that the trust saw fit
to pay. He urged breeding for NUT
ton so that wool would become only a
by-product, cooperative selling to
get the best possible terms, and elm
nation Of every superfuous middle
man. Prof. Arkell assured the sheep
breeders that they have nothing to
fear from Canadian Reciprocity, as
the entire Dominion contains only five
times as many sheep as the State Of
Maine. Such proportions were a
guarantee that market conditions here
would not be affected. DR.. Leon 8.
Merrill of Orono was among the
guests of the occasion, and spoke
briefly upon cooperation following
Prof Arkell.
Not many annie barrels will be