The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1917-09-06

;loUS FLEEcES
ravages of dogs, both by law and by
public sentiment for the enforcement
of law"
Authorities have said that sheep pro-
duction must have its greatest de-
velopment in the central states dur
ing the next few years, and that sheep
raising is as profitable on 5000 per
acre land as it is profitable in Eng
land on $4,000 per acre land
Michigan, Wisconsin and Mime
sofa will join hands to rehabilitate
sheep husbandry in those three states,
which since 1900 have smaller sheep
flocks by over 100000 head, which
means decrease in the national wool
clip of 100000 pounds" says the
American Sheep Breeder. AT present
prices this wool would fetch $10,O0O,-
900, to say nothing Of lambs for meat,
therefore the loss OF these 2,O4O,OOO
sheep has cost Michigan, Wisconsin
and Minnesota pretty penny.
"This nation faces an unprecedented
wool shortage and something besides
talk Ia needed. The range fockmas-
ter has received mortal wound in
the homestead grazing law, wt,,cn IN
a few months has deprived him of over
0O,OOO,OOO acres OF sneep pasture. :.
Is predicted that more than twenty
five per cent of all the sheep in five or
six Of the largest sheep states must
be slaughtered or moved elsewhere in
twelve months. Minnesota, Wisconsin
and Michigan propose to offer &c, ,OOO,-
600 or more acres to these unfortunate
western shepherds.
1T VIII be very easy matter to
furnish adequate territory for 10000
900 sheep in the Gopher Badger
and Wolverine states. AT least twenty
large lumber companies, owning vast
acreages, have offered free grazing.
Others will put land against sheep
In a permanent partnership arrange.
ment. Single concerns have from 25,-
900 to 100000 acres of splendid grass
land that can support from one to four
sheep and not half try. Quantities
Of hay are being shipped from these
sections. There is no better alfalfa
country anywhere.
prominent western men like Par
ham have tried out this country for
winter feeding and our stock markets
know the results. The government
believes in this country for sheep
raising.
"The National Sheep and Wool Bu-
reau will consolidate all the factors
In big movement, not only to help
reorganize the waning sheep indus
try Of the great lakes states. but will
aid in every way western ranchmen
and eastern investors who will locate
sheep ranches and feeding stations in
this section"
At the conclusion Of a conference
held at the quarters of the Illinois
Council of Defense, w. G. Bissell,
president Of the Wisconsin Advance
ment Association, Milwaukee, and Will
liam p Hartman, representing the
Michigan Agricultural Development
Association, announced that invita-
tions had been sent to $4,000 shep-
herds in the western states, where
grave problems threaten the continu-
ance of sheep grazing.
Roughly, there are available in
Michigan, 100000 acres of land
which now is idle and which best can
be brought into war time use by the
grazing of sheep" said Mr.. Hartman.
Now is an opportune time to make
this land useful to the nation in help
ing to solve the wool problems of the
next few years for the cut-over lands
Of our state have proved we'll adapted
to sheep husbandry."
Our state also,' said Mr.. Bissell,
"has approximately 100000 acres
which should and now will be set to
use in a way to which they are well
adapted, furnishing grazing for the
thousands of sheep which settlers and
other causes are driving out of the
western states at a time when more
sheep and more wool are as pressing
a necessity as more food"
The Illinois Council of Defense will
furnish speakers at the convention to
present the patriotic duty Of farmers
to increase food production and wool
production.