'$' " '
VOL. XVI.
AN ADDRESS:
Delivered by J. ffllnto, Esq., before tbe Colum
bia Blvar Wool Growers and Sheep
Raisers Association, Dalles, Or.
Mr. President, and Mombcrs of the Co
lumbia River Wool Growers and Sheep
Breeders Association :
The plan of your Association by cov
ering tho great vnlley of tbe Columbia
in effect takes in the small valleys to the
south and to north of it, to the Califor
nia lino on tho one side and Pugct Sound
on the other ; and therefore covers what
was forty years ago known as Oregon.
This immense district is yet in its in
fancy as n field for tbe production of
wool and mutton. The wool crop from
it last year (1883) was perhaps over 16,
000,000 pounds. The crop of wether
mutton I estimate at 350,000 bead, a
large portion of which are kept for wool
growing after of ago for mutton. For
the general health of sheep it is doubtful
whether thcro is an equal area of tho
earths surface moie favorable. For the
production of an oven, hound Maplo of
clothing wool, tho same may bo said of
it. Climatic conditions, marks the most
of it, as pre-eminently and permanently
a wool growing country. Climatic and
other conditions (amongst which are
water powers in abundanco which never
dry up in summer and rarely freeze up in
winter) mark the western portion of it
as the future seat of woolen manufac
turing interests, proportionate to its
capacity to produco tho row-material for
such manufactories and the food-supply
of a manufacturing population.. Believ
ing in this; what I now have to say to
you has reference to the future and yet
undeveloped interests alluded tp,,as well
as present and pressing questions con
nected with wool growing.
This inviting field for wool production
is not so favorablo for that pursuit on a
large scale by few owners as aro the pas
ture lands of the Australian groupe of
British colonics. There aro differences
of climate in their favor in that respect,
but still moro are the differonco in gov
ernmental policies in the disposal of
land for grazing purposes, tho cost of
money, and tho coat of labor. Tho name
of one family closely identified with tho
development of wool growing in Austra
lia may bo used to illustrate the differ
ence of tho two systems.
Capt. John Macather was the son of a
Scotch Laird, and a personal friend of
King George III, when his efforts to in
troduce merino into England gave man
ifestations of failure. A supply of merino
wool being an imperative necessity to
English manufactures and trade ; it be
came a hobby with the King (probably
the wisest one he ever had) to plant its
growth in his own dominions. Capt.
Macather was appointed land agont for
the Crown in New South Wales and in
troduced six merinos from the King's
flock of Negrettis. Of course Capt. Ma
cather had all the land he wanted on his
own terms, and he and his sons thus be
came pioneers and representatives of a
system which has expanded from the
shipment of one bale of wool of 167
pounds in 1810 to an export of 330,
000,000 pounds in 1883. It is shorn
from 90.000,000 of sheep, almost wholly
of merino blood. In nddition to the
amount exported there is supposed to be
some 70,000,000 used in manufactures
in these colonies, produced at a cost
(says the New York Times of April 16,)
of 13 cents per pound. Giving these
facts the same paper proceeds to iy :
"The lesson. for us from all this is that
we have an equally valuable and exten
sive territory in onr Western country for
wool-growing as there is in Australia,
and could easily compete with that coun
try if we were as persevering and per
sistent But the American passion for
change prevents it, and after a few years'
playing at sheep keeping, cattle herding
Is taken np, or wheat farming, or mineral
prospecting, and the flocks aro scattered
because they havo no shepherd.''
No notice is taken by this most influ
ential of free trade journals of differences
of conditions between us and the Austra
lians. I remark in connection with free
trade papers, the dregonian of April 26,
(the ablest free trade journal on the Pa
cific coast) advocates, as more needed
than an increase of tho tariffon wool, a
State bounty for the destruction of wild
animals iujurious to flocks. The thanks
of your Association are due tho Orego
nian for so much concession to a protec
tive policy. A costly experience justi
fies me in saying that in many districts
of Oregon tho loss of sheep from dogs is
greater than from wild animal. We
need legislation as a defense from both
sources of loss. But protection from
both these sources of loss is not sufficient
to equalize our advantages with men
SALEM,
(generally from above tho middle rank
of British society) who receive from gov
ernment all the land they want at low
(almost nominal) rates of annual rent.
Their capital if not their own, is gener
ally had from Britain at current rates of
interest there. They arc protoctod in
grazing rights by strict laws efficiently
enforced. They have an abundant sup
ply of reliable, efficient and cheap labor;
the wages of a good shepherd ranging
from $175 to $225 per year with board.
Undor our system it is difficult to se
cure moro than 320 acres of land in one
body. If moro is secured, it is generally
at moro tuan four times tho valuation
upon which the Australian is only re
quired to pay a low rato of interest.
For the use of money tho American pays
fiom7to 1C per cent interci-t, for help
fiom 300 to -500 per year with board.
He has a high into of local taxes to pay.
Each married man connected with tho
business who has a family, wishes it
properly educated. Upon each man of
twentv-ono years all tho duties of a citi
zenship devolves. E.ich flock-ownor is
(or may bo to eomo extent) contending
with his wool growing neighbors for tho
grazing of tho public lands and there is
abundant opportunity for similar con
tention between those who "run sheep
and those who run cattle or horses."
Their good sense of right prevents much
strifo where there is no other law. They
are all permitted by government neglect;
none havo special privileges or encour
agement, or special defenso against each
other, for none havo any legal rights to
graze theso lands, and what they can le
gally obtain being insufficient in quan
tity, it is manifestly impossible that their
businessman bo permanent, or that they
can grow wool as the Australian can.
Under their system, with tens of thou
sands (in somo' cases hundreds of thou
sands) of sheep under one ownership,
with conditions of climate favorablo for
tho production of tho highest priced
wools; thousands may bo spent to keep
up tho grade, where under our system
with flocks of a few hundieds on high
priced farming lands or a few thousands
mostly on government lands (without
rights or permanent tenure), hundreds
can only be spent for tho same
object. ,Tn tho former caso the
value of tlio product will justify a jour
ney half around tho earth to make pur
chases or to make sales. In fact many
Australian wool growers have homes in
Britain, and see to tho salo of their own
wool.
Under this system thus pursued Aus
tralia gave English manufacturers the
power to break down or take the lead of
Saxony in cloth manufactures, the latter
having previously dono the same in
Spain, 'whenco both powers derived the
merino blood. England now has moro
fine wool product in her colonies than
she can use, unless she can break down
production and manufactures in the
United States and control the rich mar
ket which would be open to her. Her
only reasonable ground for hope to do
so lies in us as a people adopting freo
trade as a policy. From his seat in Par
liament, in discussing the boundary
question, one of her legislators said:
"Believing that the country (Oregon)
would be held subject to the trade inter
ests of Great Britain he cared little
which nationality was nominal owner
of the country." Tho leader of that
man's political party (Sir Kobert reel),
Prime Minister of England, when the
boundary line was settled, said : "It was
the destiny of America (the United
States) to feed Great Britain, and it was
thn destinv of Great Britain to clothe
America." To guard against such re
sults is an allsufficient reason for such
tariff on wool and woolen goods as will
constitute protection while necessary, not
in the special interest of those engaged
in these industries, but in the interest of
national independence, general thrift
and prosperity.
That protection has been necessary
has been the almost uniform opinion of
all American statesmen who nerx desir
ous that American labor should have a
compensation above that given in Ire
land, India. Africa and in other British
dependencies, to which condition "the
unoppasea consoiiaauxi organized capi
tal directed and controlled by tho selfish
but clear-sichtcd commercial diplomacy
of Britain" constantly tend to bring
any pcopio BUDjeet to iu sway, mis iii
plomacy has no moral convictions ; will
not lessen the weight of its oppression
by considerations of kinship, charity,
or mercy. It will with equal indiffer
ence see men, women and children
starve under its rule in Ireland and India
or kill them to secure money and usur
ous interest, as it has done, is now doing
in Egypt .
It will pursue temporarily a losing
r.fln in nrerent or crush rivals. It has
j repeatedly tried ts do so in the United
V T"S
OREGON, FRIDAY,
State0, Canada and Australia; (the throe
strongest And, wisest of Britain's colonial
cnildien. who aro to-day alike resolute
in protecting themselves against tho self
ishness of her trade power). As lato as
April, 1882, when American manufac
turers under protection had reduced tho
price of stoel in her own homo market
from 17 cents por pound to 10 cents
per pound, tho Englishman, whilo sol
ling in his homo market lit 12 V cents por
pound offered and sold in ourniarket at
0 3-10 cents per pound.
To illustrnto tho results of dienc
linos of policy I read p irt of a speech
by Hou. Warner Millor. U. S. Senator
fiom New York,dolivcrcit Mareh 21, 1S82.
1 do not need to read tho lody of tho
statistics, in detail, but will give only
tho rates (per cent.) of increase from
lSGOto 1880:
''Incieaso of Population, United States,
(10; Value of faring 212; Wheat pro
duced, bushek', 1SS; Wheat exported,
bushels 3,G03 ; Corn produced, bushel',
105; Corn exported, bushels, 2,862;
Wool produced, 236 ; Cotton, 65; Oats,
136; Barley, 170; Butter, -113; Cheese,
722; Petroleum, 8,817; Pig iron, 307;
Rails C13; Hogs packed, 100; Mer
chandise imports, 89; Meiehandise ex
ports, 150; Gold and silver produced,
63; ditto, export, 25 ; ditto, impoit, 988;
Railroads, milos, 188.
It is the production of iron and steel
and manufacture therefrom, tho produc
tion of cotton and wool and their man
ufacture, which constitutes tho United
States tho most formidable rival of
Britibh trade power in those lines. You
are especially interested in tho produc
tion of wool. I therefore follow tho re
sults of 40 years of its history divided
into equal periods of 20 j ears, each of
diverse policies.
From 1810 to 18G0, except a short
break under Tylers administration which
was not given tho test of time until
changed under Polk to a freo trade pol
icy; that policy dominated tho govern
ment. During this period, 'ho rato of
increase in population in tho United
States was gaining over tho rato of iu
creaso in wool production 22J per cent.
Tho end of 1800 found an empty nation
al treasury (a natural result or such a
policy) and the civil war broke upon the
government of u nation with boundless
undeveloped wealth; without an nrmy ;
without arms; without tho raw material
to mako clothing for her volunteer sol
diers ; without even a pieco of bunting
of homo mannfacturo out of which to
make a flagl A government in neod of
all things except the devotion of a liberty
loving citizenship which rallied to its
support with men, money and material.
After seeing, as we have, such a com
parison of results as I havo read to you,
shewn at tho end of 20 years of protec
tive jiolicy, it soems unnecessary to
pursue tho subject farther. Yet I will
call your attention to the fact that tho
ratio of increase in wool production 'was
(instead of 22 per cent below the rate
of increase of population as in the free
trade 20 years) 226 por cent, above the
increase of population in tho 20 years
of protective policy. From a carefully
written paper read by Henry Lane be
fore the Vermont Agricultural Society
in 1881-2, 1 extract the relative prices of
wool during the two periods :
From 1840 to I860 the average price
was 39J cents per pound.
From 1860 to 1880 the avorage price
was 47i cents per pound.
For the wool classed as medium Ohio,
which I believe grades very nearly with
the finest half of Oregon wool. It also
means fleece washed wool. The facts
given here are an all sufficient answer to
Senator Slater's letter declining to rep
resent the interests of his constituency ;
Taking amongst other positions that
more fine wool was needed to enhance
tho value of our coarser wools. This
was serving the Australian, whose in
terest in the United States, as a market,
may be judged from the fact that no less
than 75 first class awards were made to
wools from those colonics nt our Cen
tennial exhibition in 1876. Tbe number
suggests a possible organized purjioso
which an examination into their dis
tribution amongst those colonies does
not remove, but it may have been caused
by tho grcnt quantity of wool single
ownerships havo annually for sale. Be
that as it may; the number of exhibitors
from the whole of the United States was
small in comparison but ono of fine
wools was mado from the Columbia
valley, and that was from west of tho
Cascades. On that a first class medal
was awarded to tbe State of Oregon.
The remarks of the committee of awards
is as follows ; ",3"me ery fine specimens
of Merino wool, of fine fibre and good
staple. Very much resembling Austral
ian wool and giving evidence that this
State can produce wool of very great
value." Mr. S. G. Reed of Portland
MAY 16, 1884.
and Mr. M. Wilkius of Engeno City, re
ceived awards for excellent samples of
combing and woisted wools. But my
purpose is hero with the Merino.
This proves to my mind that ovon in the
Willamette valley that grade of wool can
bo grown, and leaves no doubt that
largo districts in Southern, Central nnd
Southeastern Oregon aro cminontly
fitted for its production. I know, also,
that it needs only tho assurance of
a settled policy, giving Oregon wool
trrowers tho amount of protection to
equalize thoir advantages with tho Aus
tralian wool growers to enable them to
produco all tho finest grades of wool one
half of tho Columbia valloy would fcod.
Yet that is not one-fourth of tho area of
what is becominc known as tho pastur
age States and Territories ; tho mot of
which is pro-eniinently adapted' to lino
wuois, uuu in wiucu mu nsiuy viuuu ui
lands, tho necessity of more meat pro
duction and other causes, in States east
of tho Mississippi, is fast driving fino
wool production, in much, of the coun
try west of the Cascades, a medium
wooled sheep liko tho Southdown and
Shropshire linu congenial conditions.
In many sections, by adopting some
thing like tho English method of treat
ment, an excellent article of combing
wool can be produced from tho Leicester,
CotBWoJd. and Now Oxfordshire. But
these breeds can only be kept in con
dition nocessaiv for tho production of
good bistro combing wools by a measure
or effort not yot used by tho average
Oregon fanner, consequently, after a
commencement is mado with good blood
of this kind, there is a steady tendency
to drynesH'iind lightnoss of fleece, leggy
nesa and lightness of carcass; to rostlets
feeding habits and fenco jumping (whon
kept on farms) and roving and breaking
fiom tho ilock under the herding system.
Keeping sheep under that system, I find
souiu owners generally men who let
their,shcep to others to bo herded on
shares koop a mongrel bred sheep, giv
ing about six pounds of wool bolow
medium in grade. Such owners gener
ally cUini that as tho safest shoop to
keep atleabt cost of care nnd herding.
They are evidently not in tho business
as a permanont investment, It is also
evident that such a course tends to keep
doivn the uvorago grado of wool audits
gonoral estimate in Iho markets. To in
duce permanency and porsevcring euro
in wool growing in tho uxtensivo coun
try of which tho Columbia valley is but
a part, only requires a chango ot method
by government in tho disposition of
lands suitablo for grazing, and not suited
to general agriculture, so that persons
adopting wool growing as f) permanont
pursuit can secure a foundation for their
business. Such a change would not be
inconsistent with tho spirit of our pres
ent land laws, which gives to tho landless
160 acres of supposed arabloland. Sup
posed to be, and in tho com and wheat
irrowing districts it is, enough to cnablo
an energetic, industrious man to support
a family by its cultivation. To disposo
of grazing lands in compact bodies of
sufficient size to meet tho same object,
would, in my mind, be the surest way to
enlist persistent, persevering men in
wool growing as a life business, and the
surest way to secure from our own citi
zenship all the kinds of wool our home
manufacturers need, No permanency
can reasonably bo expected so long as
tho profits ol a pursuit are tho foot-ball
of partisan strife in Congress, in which
men will disregard the interest ot their
constituents and falsify their public
pledges, and even refuse to obey tho re
quests of Legislative Asscmbies of the
commonwenim iney iiimrepruneni.
Neither, I think, can permanency be
expected where ownership of sufficient
land on which to base the pursuit can
not be had at less cost than our present
law permits. A ohange can bo mado in
these laws which, by giving American
citizenship an approach to equalized ad
vantages with Australian wool growers
will tend to greater permanency, not by
giving our lino wool growing industry
into tbe hands of it fow hundred owner
ships, employing 50,000 herders who
would flee before an invading army as
did those of old Spain beforo Napoleon
the First! Not by giving it into the
hands of u few thousands as in Aus
tralia, many of whom aro non-roaidenU
in the country ; but by planting tens-of-thousands
of families of American yeo
manry on those pasture land who will
bo as ready and as willing to maintain
order at homo or meet an enemy from
abroad as becomes a citizen who has a
homo to defend. Such a change gradu
ally brought about would diminish
cause of strife about ranges lictwecii
horse breeders, cattlo breeders and wool
urowers: and in my judgment it would
gradually diminish and render unneces
sary tariff duties on wool.
To assist in bringing about such a
r- - , .
k
NO. 14
chango as hero buggestcd tho aid of the
Deportment of Agncnlturo may prop
erly bo required. Thrco years ago
Congress appropriated ifo.UUU to cna
blo tho Commissioner of Agriculture
"to procuro and publish data touching
agricultural needs of that portion of
tho unitou States lying west of
tho Rocky Mountains Now Mexico
with special referonco to grapes, wines
nnd raisin production was mado tho ob
joct of a commission to collect such data,
consisting of ono gentleman from Cali
fornia, one from Nebraska and ono from
Ohio. (Agricultural Report 1SS1-2, pp.
13.) I havo never seen auy report from it.
I havo suggested to you ch-'iiges which I
think dcs:r.ible in regard to a subject
of vastly greator importance than grapes,
wines or laisins.
Your Association has all tho rights of
citizens whoso intorovts aro closely iden
tified with a great national iutcflsst to
ask such assistance. I am aware that at
first sight many of you will bee objec
tions to these suggestions. Yet know
ing that you nil peicoivo as plainly as I
can, that you havo no moans of kooping
things as they now arc. That new ac
cessions to your ffriizins population will
como until tho country is fully occupied;
therefore, I think upon rollectiou you
will come to agreo with mo : that tho
best way to pormanency and peaco is to
socuro control of your respectivo ranges
by laws of lenso or purchnso.
After tho dolivory of tho address tho
following resolutions woro adopted :
WiiKitnAS, Tho Columbia rivor valley
is a very extonsivo nnd inviting legion
for mvostmonts in grazing pursuits;
And, whereas, Its conformation, soils
nnd situation in referonco to prevailing
winds and mountain ranges, is such as'
causu great diversity of conditions af
fecting tho life of domestic animals and
such animal products us wool ; thcioforo
Resolved, Wo ask tho aid of our Sena
tors and Represontativo in Congress to
proctiro tho survey of this great valloy
and udjoining country up totho Califor
nia lino on the south and British Colum
bia on tho north, undor tho direction of
tho Department' of Agriculture, to col
lect and publish data relative thoroto ns
regards tho suitability' of particular dis
tricts to particular breeds of domestic
animals. 1st. For wool production. 2d.
For meat production (beef as well at mut
ton). 3d. For dairy. 4th. For horse
breeding. 5th. In regard to tho host
grasses and forage plants (native and
exotic) for uso. 6th. Thoso districts
and their extent suitablo for grazing
pursuits only and not suited by climate,
soil and situation to general agriculture,
and through tho Department of Agricul
ture to recommend such modifications
of our homestead laws as will encourage
grazing as a permanont pursuit on such
lands.
Plcnlo and Bally In Washington County.
Sciiouji Fekhv, May C, 1814.
Editor WilUmetto Farmer i
Wo would liko to havo you givo notico
that on May 20, 1884, at 10 o'clock sharp,
tho Grangers and farmers of Washing
ton eounty will have a grand ralloy and
a picnin dinner. Everybody is invited,
and be suro to fetch your lunch basket
We expoct to have a splendid time.
Speakers Judgo It. P. Boise, II. E.
Hayes, S. A. Clarke, D. Hair and others.
The place of meeting will bo six miles
south of Hillsboro and one mile east of
Farmington, on tho camp ground.
S. P. Inoram.
Tsarfal WrsckinsUa Ocsaa.
Quebec, May 7. The steamship Ti-
tania, from Glasgow, passed inward this
morning. She has on board twenty-four
of the crew of tho steamship Sta'o of
Florida, that vessel having been sunk by
a collision with a bark in mid ocean.
Out of 167 persons on tho State of Florida,
only forty-four woio saved, and of the
bark's crow only tho captain and two
men were rescued. One hundred and
twentv-thrco souls went down with the
steamer, and twolve with the bark,
making a total loss of 135. Tho sur
vivors will probably bo landed at Quebec.
R. F. Woightman and Geo. Manches
ter wero building wire fenco and tight
ening by horse power when tho wire
broke and wrapping uround tho two men
caused terrible injuries to AVightman
and slighter to the other.
Promising quartz wins aro discovered
near Heron, on tho lino of IhoN.P. road
in Montana. It is believed that that
country will prove rich In gold, silver
and copper ores.
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