Arizona republican., 1913-12-22
INDUSTRY |S
 IN ITS INFANCY
and Encouraging Spirit Manifested at the Annual Session of Ari- zOna Ostrich Association Held at Chandler.


 Held at Chandler.
 The most hopeful and encouraging thing about the annual session of the Arizona Ostrich Association. which was held at the san Marcos hotel at Chandler on Saturday night, was brought out in the discussions that occurred during the evening. The encoura cement is. that the membeGs of the association recognize the in dustry is yet in it's infancy, even If q well established one. one of the best in the Salt River valley, and that it has arrived at that stage were the right sort of intelligent and care ful work in feeding, breeding and marketing will earn for the members splendid returns.
 South African experts, and experts from the United States bureaus con ducting researches and experiments in the industry, who have visited this section all admit that in such q climate as this, with so large d va riety of desirable feeds, and q well protected market. the breeders of this section should break all existing
  valley birds.
 Heretofore in this valley the chief aim has apparently been to raise as many birds as possible All ostrich raisers now recognize that the pro- fits in the industry come from the sale of superfine feathers for which 1 there is q constant and increasing 1 demand. And now that a deter mined and intelligent effort is to be made along scientific lines to improve the feathers. the Salt River valley l product already known for excellent quality will be still further improved It was brought out at the meeting 1 that the attention of the South Afri- can breeders and the government ex- perts there has been for years di- l rected to a careful selection and ! breeding with the aim of improving ] the quality of the feathers.
 Some work has already been done l to this end at the Harmon ranch which seems to indicate very strong l ly that the strain of birds that has 1 been developed here will if properly 1 handled ultimately give this section
 the finest birds in the world At ' this time there are known to be at | least fifteen ranches in the valley. | an excellent start for q magnificent l development of the industry A care i ful estimate of the number of birds
 in the valley puts the total number
 at 60SO
 In connection with the meeting and 1 the election of officers an enjoyable l banquet was given in the private din l ing room of the San Marcos hotel.
 The room was well appointed for the 1 occasion, and the five course dinner. l at which President J. c. SpangIer l of the association was the host and i toastmaster. was excellent. After | the dinner the ostrich situa- | ton was reviewed in gen | eral way by MT. Spangler, who
 called upon Dr. A. J. Chandler to ! speak on Suggestions for Improve
 ment in Breeding Methods" which 1 was so full of suggestion as to start q lively discussion all around the l table upon this important part of
 the industry.
 W. $. Pickerel was next with Tn tcubation and Care of Chicks" l question with which he has had a great deal to do. He told the breed i CTS of some new methods that he has used the past season. and those who have heard of the high mortality 1 figures given in connection with os- trlch chicks will be surprised and | pleased to learn that Mir PickereI raised out of one lot of 12O chicks matched, 112 birds, and of another batch of 275, 232 birds. The first record was made at the Maricopa Ostrich farm and the second at the Arizona ostrich farm.
 | C. D. Young of the Desert Ostrich company opened up a discussion of the feather question particularly in sorting and marketing and he was followed by C. E. Laird, who dealt
 with the legislative needs. the necess-
 ity of co-operatio and systematic
 experimentation.
 The officers for the ensuing year
 are: J. c. Spangler. the well known l banker and rancher of Mesa, was re-
 elected president; w. < Pickerel of ! the Arizona Ostrich company one Of
 the pioneers in the industry was
 elected vice president, and c F.
 Laird, of Cook and Laird was chosen , secretary and treasurer
 ! Those attending the session were. Dr. A. J Chandler. John C. SpangIer J. r. Ivy, Rudolph Mickey and C D Young of the Desert Ostrich com
 pany; w s. Pickercl and Vernon L. ! Clark of the Arizona Ostrich com } pany: I. Janssens and F. Yer Will
 ghen of the Belgo American: pr. r. P. Perkins, w. w. Cook C. E. Laird J. k. Loftus of the Chandler Improve } ment company, and Garth w Cate of the Arizona Republican,
 iIN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF