SOLON ROBINSON, 1844 393 



When, Where, and How to Get a Drove of Sheep. 



By Solon Robinson. 



[Chicago Prairie Farmer, 4:205; Sep., 1844] 



[July, 1844] 



To the Editors of the Prairie Farmer: A long con- 

 tinuation of feeble health is my excuse for not commun- 

 ing with your readers for some months past. And I 

 should not attempt it now, only that I promised you when 

 at your office a few weeks since, and that the informa- 

 tion I have to give is wanted now (for I am not as well 

 as when I last saw you.) 



You state that particular information is wanted as to 

 where a person shall go to buy sheep — when and how to 

 go — the expense — cost of sheep, &c.&c. 



The best information I can give is my own experience, 

 and advice founded upon that experience. 



The nearest point where sheep can be bought to good 

 advantage, is in some of the central counties of Ohio ; dis- 

 tance from Chicago, 300 miles; the route, by La Porte, 

 South Bend, Goshen, and Fort Wayne, la., Wiltshire, St. 

 Mary's, Sidney, Urbana, Springfield, &c. ; or else from 

 St. Mary's bear more east through Logan, Union, and 

 Delaware counties of Ohio. Another route is through 

 Michigan by way of Toledo, into the northeastern part 

 of Ohio, which will increase the distance and cost of 

 sheep, but generally speaking give a better quality — that 

 is to say, a finer wool breed ; leaving the word better for 

 future discussion. 



more than 150 miles, 12% cents; not more than 400 miles, 18% 

 cents; for greater distances, 25 cents. Robinson's views on postal 

 reform were carried out in part not long after he wrote this 

 article. In 1845 postmasters of various large cities were permit- 

 ted to issue 5- and 10-cent stamps at their own expense, and in 

 1847 the national government began the sale of 5- and 10-cent 

 stamps. Beginning with 1851 the rate was reduced to 3 cents 

 for a distance up to 3,000 miles and in 1850 prepayment was re- 

 quired. In 1863 the 3-cent rate was established for all distances 

 and free delivery was begun in some of the larger cities. 



