The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1912-01-12
FORMER VIRGtN|ANS0 TO
START OSTRICH FARMS
W. H. Shea and James Laviolette
Will Engage in New Industry
at North Yakima.

at North Yakima.
The following from the Yaki
ma, WASH, Daily Republic will be
of interest to many Virginia and
range friends Of w. H. Shea and
James Laviolette, former range
residents now located in the
western state:
With the purpose of utilizing
a considerable quantity of land
unfit for. general agriculture pur'
poses and making it pay divi-
dends, two Fruitdale ranchers iv-
ing just this side Of the Naches
gap, Messrs. Vim. H. Shea and
James Laviollette have conceived
the idea OF establishing an ostrich
farm on their lands lying along
the banks OF tthe Naches river
close to he bluff.
The scheme first occurred to
the mind OF Mr. Shea, who is
president OF the Yakima Invest
nent Company, at the time ne
purchased his fruit ranch, when
he acquired about ~ acres OF
land lying along the river and
running up into the bluff at the
north, and was revived recently
when Il former neighbor in Fruit
vale, a Mr.. johnson, started the
breeding Of foxes back on the
\aches hills.
Uurlng my travels in the
past, salu Alr. Snca yesterday
Il visited iol Il tim: al the lam
Gus Hot Springs il Arkansas.
" nile there i looked over with
much interest al ostrich farm CT
considerable magnitude that has
been operated near tl:at clty for
many years. 1t is located in Il
canyon very similar to the Nackcs
gap, and the owner makes a big
success Of the industry. lie also
raises sea turtles and frogs Tor
the maket in d section OF the
stream running through the can
yon, and as these turtles sell at
fabulous prices, he also reaps a
big revenue from this branch OF
his business. When | came to
this valley and decided to locate
in Fruitvale the ranch | purchas-
ed included a considerable acre
age Of so-callcd waste land lying
along the river. Many of my
friends have asked me why l
bought that land, thinking that it
was waste of money, but l had
an idea that some time it might
be made OF some practical use and
the possibility of making it into
breeding ground for ostriches
occurred to me at the time.
MIR. Laviolette owns a similar
piece of ground adjoining mine
and he recently informed me that
he intended to utilize some Of it
for raising hogs, in which indus
try he has already made a start,
when | preached the subject Of
the ostrich business. The idea ap-
pealed to him and we have decid-
ed to go into the business together
while he will also continue the
raising of hogs on a portion Of his
land.
just as soon as We can get a
line on some desirable founda-
ton stock we will buy enough
ostriches to make the experiment.
| intend also to try my hand at
raising sea turtles, for there is
good money in this line if the
turtles can be successfully reared
in this climate.
"To my mind these river lands
Of ours make an ideal location for
an ostrich farm. They are wild
and natural enough in character
to keep the birds in good cheer
and are far enough away from
railroads and wagon roads so that
they will not be disturbed by the
noises and sights Of civilization.
am also informed that a windy
country is best for development
of the finest quality of feathers
and as there is usually a breeze
blowing through the gap this also