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About The Oregon daily journal. (Portland, Or.) 1902-1972 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 27, 1907)
THE OREGON SUNDAY JOURNAL, PORTLAND. SUNDAY MORNING, OCTOBER 27, 1907 . s . ... ..... , . ' i,vi J . J -w , ...... :V ' P , 7 1 7 On tW if&me larm an Ordinary Cow 1$ PriceJ at f WOO "G OING GOING GONE At $10,000." What do sou suppose was thus disposed of by the busy auctioneer? W as it a fine home in the suburbs, a farm, or an exquisite work of art? None of these. Just a calf a little, soft haired, meek-eyed calf that gazed in wonder ment at the crowd about it. A calf selling for $10,000? Yes, and J " . ill ' W U lr-H I I Al. I I I 1 1 Ik 1 W I II V J-u yTv x y-v iirMS- ri-n If II -I ' : !'! 6 i I u-sK?.r.i: ---v;-,jvr --j; r : tn li ft, J u i v 'jr ii . " . 4f - II r lust as irood but which have not as yet fullv II JF , - . v Svi i V II developed In form. There are a dozen farmers In the Jf S . - - y - if Eminent J? " Sod s C!? " ' V J - , Kt 'I i, 4 would make yearly Importation! of Jersey cattle and ell them annually at his farm, as well as selllns; those that he was able to raise himself. Ills Jersey experiment began some thirty years aaror when he bought his first cow for $300. The cow was Lady Mary, and wag the, first. pure blood Jersey cow ever brought Into that section. 8he was exhibited at the Centennial Exposition at Philadelphia In 1878. Today a wall of Mr. Cooper's mansion Is adorned with an oil painting of Lady Mary, and he prizes the por trait now for Its beauty as he prized the animal In her golden days for her value. Today the Cooper cattle barns are among the lead ing show places of the cattle business In America. 4 gated every herd, he makes his offers, buying COW here, a bull there and a heifer at soma other (arm, until there are enougti to furnish a large shipment to America. The buying Is usually done by the father. On ot the sons sees to It that the various owners bring the cattle to certain centers, whence they are all for warded to St. Hellers, the main shipping point on tn Island. Here every cow, bull or calf Is closely Inspected by one of the younger Coopers. If It Is found In the, pink of condition It Is loaded on the steamer, until some thirty-five animals are ready for the trip to Southampton. There they are placed on s special train and shipped to Liverpool. T As soon as they arrive at Liverpool they art tin loaded and stabled for three or four days, ta gir : them a thorough rest, before they are placed on steamship bound to America. Every trivial detail la taken care of. Even the hay the animals get. WhllO they are fed at Southampton, Liverpool, or on tho great ocean liners, Is sent to England from Americsy and usually from the Cooper farm. The Coopera find they can ship the hay abroad Just as cheaply as they can buy It in England and they know what thtlC cattle get ' The Journey across the Atlantlo Is not uneventful. Together with the younger Coopers there are always three persons, natives of the isle of Jersey, who hara , known the cattle and who know how to take car ot such valuable animals. In addition there are several of Cooper's own men from Linden Grove farm. Every- . thing that can be done for the comfort of the cfcttlo . on the way Is done. After the Journey, which requires about ten daya, the cattle are placed In quarantine near New York for J two months. During this time the two sons ara always around the sixty acres of quarantine stablea which the government maintains, to keep a sharp lookout for the welfare of the animals. When tho sixty-day quarantine period has expired, the animals are shipped to Coopersburg and placed In Cooper C&ce ,J2?j?SS JfrJC gutter J&corcf & T Jtozzncfs, Gxszccs, fx JkrerZXyJt ias been of higfi more' than one has been sold for that price at this stock farm of hirfi-pressure achievement amid the hills of eastern Pennsylvania. There are cows, too, on the farm valued at $1000 and upward. One, a prize-winner in England and the United States, was sold not long since for $2500. Each year Tilghman S. Cooper 6? Sons, proprietors of Linden Grove farm, hold auc tion sales to dispose of high-grade cattle, and as much as $125,000 has been paid on a sales day to the clerks by eager purchasers. And each year the Coopers visit the island, of Jersey to replenish their stock with the finest kovine products of that famous land of fine cattle. Visitors from every state and from Canada as well have Journeyed to Linden Grove farm to see the cream of the Jersey herds. The blood which he has Imported is found In every state In the Union. In the neighborhood of Linden Grove farm are many farmers who understand the value and good points of a cow. To-them Mr. Cooper has given some of the cows to raise. The farmers get all the rich milk, while the cattle expert takes the calves and raises them Into bank accounts. He also owns the cows, and when he thinks the proper time has arrived for selling the animals they are transferred to hia barn and sold at the next enle for how much? Why, nearly always, rather above the $1000 mark than under. The farmers who fed and groomed the cows are given younger ones, the mllk-glvlng qualities of which are Just as good, but which have not as yet fully developed In form. There are a dozen farmers In the neighborhood who, at times, have been employed at Linden Grove, helping to tend, the cattle. When they feel like going Into the business Mr. Cooper is ever ready to supply them with a Jersey herd. Every time Mr. Cooper goes to the Isle of Jersey he Is welcomed eagerly by the breeders there. He brings away the best cattle that are on the island, regardless of cost, often paying thousands, sometimes over $10,000 for a bull and a cow. On more than one occasion wheji Sir. Cooper has asked the Jersey Island farmers how much they wanted for certain animals, they did not care to sell. So they asked prices they thought would stagger him. If the value showed In any fair proportion to the price, the cow or bull sailed away with Mr. Cooper. The Cooper family consists of Mr. and Mrs. Cooper, two sons. Frank and Peter, and one daughter. All understand the Jersey cow thoroughly, and none more than the two sons, who are able assistants to the father. Frank has mado twelve trips abroad; Peter has had charge of nine Importations. When the Coopers arrive on the little island, which Is eleven miles long by five and one-half miles wide, they drive behind a span of fast horses from farm house to farmhouse for four weeks. They call at every farm where Jerseys are bred. The farms are not like those of Pennsylvania, 5 1 Instead of having 200 or 300 acres under one manage ment, the small farmer works three acres; and. if he has a "large" farm, It does not consist of more than thirty-five to forty acres. Breeding of cattle Is the main occupation, though the farmers cultivate corn, wheat and potatoes on the 20,000 acres of arable land. Potatoes form the chief crop. The Islanders have a very early spring and begin to harvest potatoes around New Year a decided ad vantage when, for the first digging, they get $10 a bushel. This price dwindles down, as the season ad vances, to 80 cents a bushel. When the modest crop has been exceptionally plentiful potatoes are sold as low as 50 cents a bushel. After Mr. Cooper or one of his sons has Investl- T RAMPING over the brow of the Lehigh moun tain and gazing Into the Saucon valley below, tho visitor beholds the handiwork of nature in Ita most dellchtful aspect. In this valley, known as" the garden pot of Lehigh county, Pa., the visitor finds two places that gojiand-In-hand the town of Coopersburg; and Cooper's Linden Grove farm. Coopersburg was named after the Coopers, who hav lived there for generations, and Linden Grovo Is the home, of Tilghman . Cooper, one of the direct UeuuendaniK of the founder of the town. The proprietors of Linden Urove farm are Tilgh man S. Cooper & Sons, and they aro recognized as among the greatest authorities on Jersey cattle, not only in America, but over the world, holding thia prestige even In the isle of Jersey, the native home of those silken beauties of the animal kingdom. High man S. Cooper, although past 0. is comparatively a young man In looks, heartiness and health, while he is one of the oldest In experience in the cattle and farming business in the country. Keared amid rural surroundings, Mr. Cooper early In life took, a fancy to live stock and tried hia first experiment with swine. The Berkshire breed was the first he experimented with. So successful was he, that he succeeded in disposing of thenv at unheard-of prices. After years of swine breeding, he branched out Into the sheep industry, and there won similar success. Later, he became Interested in Jersey cattlo, and from time to time increased his Jersey herd on the farm. It was not long before he devoted all his time to the atudy of this tine stock. Point after point was taken up In the study of Individuals, environment, feeding, attention ' and breeding until all were thoroughly fixed in his mind. That wag years ago. The Cooper barns were filled the year round with the finest cattle obtainable In the markets of the isle of Jersey. Mr. Cooper and his family took such great care of the cattle that every little detail of their welfare -was looked into. From 90 to 1Q0 head were always atabied on the premises the year round. .The cream was so rich in butter-fat that It was in great demand in eastern -itie. . s-- - Finally Mr. Cooper conceived tho Idea 1 thaf he VsttMNV1''-' 1 - fAz Surest fimofen?om mm ITII the pass ing of au tumn, the hurdy-gurdy man, like the ground hog, creeps to his lair. During the sum mer he is ubiquitous. Along country roads you can see him pull ing the heavy, lumber ing "grind-organ," ever and afcon stopping and mopping the perspira tion from his face. In small country'' towns you will find him in the square, near the hotel ' or grocery store, surrounded by children, who dance to the tin-pan rendition of a fragment from the "Cavalleria Eusticana." In the great cities he is to.be found on almost every street, always f ol- , lowed by children as the Pied Piper of Hamelin was followed by rats. T I HERE'S lots of romance In the Uvea of the -swarthy-faced Italians who during the warm days of summer tramp from town to town playing the tunes which are dear to their Italian hearts. Surely money is not the object of their work not the entire object Could you ferret youV way into the stolid hearts of the black-eyed men, you would find a love of . tho country, of summer skies, of dancing children and of music. Of course, some of the music Is pretty bad. But that doesn't matter. It's music, and that's all the primi tive heart of the Calabrian asks. And, Incidentally, the organ grinder, too. makes money. Incldentally-yes. And this incidental sum is often not as mall as one would think. This fall an organ grinder withdrew an account from a little Italian bank In one of the big cities and took a trip to Italy. During the summer he had earned nearly $400. and sev eral weeks ugo started on his trip. yulte a few of the hurdy-gurdy men go to Italy In the winter," said the cashier of an Italian bank. "If is surprising to find what sums of money these fellows save during the summer. I have paid especial attention to them, and have been greatly Interested. "Tho Italian who recently went abroad started out early Inst spring on weekly Jaunts among the towns lying near the city. He lives in a little ramshackle house in an alley with his wife and two daughters. Sometimes one of the daughters would accompany him, and, while lie played, she would Jingle her tambourine and collect the money. "It was quite interesting to note that on the weeks she accompanied her father his deposits were about half again as large as when he went out himself. Toward the latter part of the season he caught on, and took the girl with him pn all ot his trips. He found hat her dark eyes and laughing face brought as many nickels and pennies as the music Itself. OFF TO ITALY ON SAVINGS "This man would return to the city almost every week and spend Sunday with hia little family. Every Saturday or Monday he would make his deposits ranging irom $10 to $20, sometimes more, occasionally less. At the end of the season he withdrew $300 and started to Italy. There's enough in the bank to keep his wife and daughters over winter.f In the spring he'll come back and start out again." "Whaf do most of the hurdy-gurdy men do in the win--ter? Do they all save money?" The cashier laughed. "The men who travel about the country grinding itr- fana are the most economical fellows In the country, tather than spend m nickel, they will beg their meals. They will sleep In barns rarely will the hurdy-gurdy-man rent a roomy They, count avery cent they spend. and they save the pennies diligently. 80 in tho winter they can take a long, rest and enjoy their holiday. "The average amount of money saved by the hurdy gurdy men may ra.ige from $50 to $.100. "They return to the city from their trips In October usually, and .put away their organs until the following April. I should say, from what 1 know, that at least half of the orh-un grinders remain idle during the winter. They sit in their little homes, enjoy their bottle of chi arrti and pipe and wait for spring to come. "Several years ago a young Italian carne here to de posit a sum of money. He was a, bright lad, and !v his manner I saw that he was well educated. He told me he had been through tbe country with hurdy-gurdy. I was surpilsod, and asked him how he happened to be In such a business. "His eyes Hashed. Ah. he came to this country with a couple of hundred dollars. He wanted to study art Imagine him coming to America to study art: But this was a fact. What was he to do? He bought a little grind-organ. He started out. "He could speak no English at first. But he fared pretty well. He was a handsome boy, with large, black eyes and long curling hair. No doubt, his appealing eyes and fresh face drew many coins. He saved quite a neat sum that summer, and In the winter he took a course of " study at an Industrial art school. "The second summer he went out with hia organ, and ' the second winter studied. - Now he is doing commercial ' work, and making enough to tke advanced eouruea In 1 art. This Is only one case of many. - "Most of the old fellows who. go out grinding loaf around in the winter. Probably some ot them will get a Job digging ditches or laying tracks. , "There is a young married couple who together each spring start on a trip through the country. They are devoted to one another, and enjoy their summer outing They give up their room in the city store away their little bits of furniture, and begin the pilgrimage. "Husband and wife share equally in the labors. Both ' pull the heavy machine over the roads; they take turns in grinding. They sleep In barns and haystacks. "But when they come back to the city in the fall they becomo fashionable members of their little sec. The wife buys a new dress she goes to all tho balls and concerts, sparkling with her glass diamonds. The organ grinder sports a frock coat and looks quite swell. They live in ease and thoroughly enjoy tho fruit of the summer's work. . . , , M . , ... Osz Of tee &&r7XS&&Q? flC j the spacious barns. Tho bulla aro placed in ons barn, the cows in another; the heifers have their own place, and so have the calves. Experts who have been at Linden Grovo for years, together with those that came along from Jersey, prepare them for tbe annual sale, which takes placa every Decoration Day. While in transit the animals receive hay, mangels, bran and 'crushed oats; now they receive a ration of corn meal, middlings, gluten feed and crushed oats. A Jersey cow is never exceptionally fat, and 'all the nutriment that she consumes goes into butter, instead of growing into fat and flesh. The stables are equipped with the latest improve, ments for feeding. A cement water-trough Is m front of every stall, so arranged that no dirt of any kind can fall into the water. The stalls are as care fully washed as the kitchen table of the .modern : housewife. Attendants, always on hand with brushes, rags and water, keep everything perfectly clean. All the floors are cemented and rye straw is used . for bedding. " 2 ' Every stall, as well as the entlro group of farm buildings, is lighted by a private electric light plant, which Peter Cooper, the younger son. Installed. Thej dynamo that furnishes the power for the lights fur nlshes also power to grind all the food which tho hundreds of cattle need throughout the year, beside furnishing power for threshing the grain and doing other farm work. . 1 ' " The Cooper sons take a hand in tho feeding, seeing1 that their men give the required rations. They aro jut as busy at milking time. They oversee tho grooming of the stock, for every animal is groomed like a horse, and the Jerseys aro as smooth as silk all tho year round. Should, they happen to get tho least bit of dirt on their skins, an attendant is ready with a pail and some water to remove it. - Hundreds of thousands of dollars aro represented In the herds that the Coopers have brought to America, Annually, more than $125,000 is paid to the clerks on the Linden Grove lawn, where the sales aro held, for the cows that ar disposed of on the great clearance dav. This year the public sales amounted to $93,951, for 124 head, leaving still on the farm sv larger herd than was disposed of. ( ; : . - t RECORD PRIVATE SALE Then followed v a i record-breaking ' private sale of blooded stock a salo of 100 head of cattlo to one party at a price per head .equal to tho average at tho publlo stile for the 12 head.' Among the banner cows stabled lately at Linden Grove were four daughters of Eminent 11. each one worth ire- 4h thousands; ' Fontaine's Mona, with a record ot eighteen pounds and ten ounce of butter in seven days; Golden Beatrice, who produoes from twenty-two td twenty-four quarts of milk every day and whose butt' record equalf eiffh teen pounds and slx ounces every seven days, and G.ojden Fern ti' tion. another record-breaker. "i.1' . . Tho selling of a calf for $10.i09 I pt sensation among those who attend ons of these tor the first tlmo. The first such sale w J bull calf, named Sensational Fern, Its sire was Ulilfo Fern's Lad. and it was bred biv Linden .Among the most noted bulls v In of . the Coopers- was. Ulnt jict "Xi i" for $10,000 when a calf. He hll cowi, whose butter records '' pu . eight ounces each, weekly. ?h bull is now In - Aoni the beauties of the XW-r ' ' r ' ." was Lady VrnnU.'on'dred in America. Mr Cooper got I home is now in Tennessee. ,( - f.