APPENDIX E. 427 



APPENDIX E (Page 250.) 



STAETING- A SHEEP ESTABLISHMENT IN THE NEW 

 WESTERN STATES. 



THE following letter is from an intelligent gentleman residing in 

 Essex County, New York, whom I knew a few years since as a highly 

 respectable member of the New York Legislature : 



CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, May 1, 1863. 



HON. H. S. RANDALL Dear Sir: Yours dated April 20th came duly 

 to hand. I should have replied at once, but have not had a spare 

 moment for the last four weeks, as my sheep have required my undivided 

 attention. I am here on business for a day, and will take time to give 

 you a few facts as far as my experience is concerned. 



About the 20th of last July I started from Calhoun County, Michigan, 

 with two droves of sheep, about 1,700 in each drove. My destination 

 was Southern Minnesota. In consequence of the Indian outbreak in 

 that section of country, I changed my plan and stopped in Northern 

 Iowa, about twenty miles west of McGregor, on the old military road 

 to Forts Crawford and Atkinson. My sheep stood driving remarkably 

 well, and arrived at that point about the 10th of September. I found 

 good feed, and by the time winter set in my sheep were in fine order. 

 I sold about 300 in the autumn, thinking I would winter the remainder. 

 I then set about preparing whiter quarters for 3,000 sheep. I did not 

 erect my sheds at one place, (on account of the inconvenience of hauling 

 the feed I had purchased to one place,) but about two miles apart, where 

 water was convenient. I succeeded in getting a grove, at each place, 

 and built my sheds fronting the grove and parallel with each other, 

 about 500 feet long. I built them of poles and posts from the groves, 

 and covered them with straw. The front posts were about six feet 

 above ground and the back ones about four. I employed Irishmen 

 that were in the habit of using the spade and covered the back side 

 with dirt, and then covered this smoothly with sod, which made them 

 very warm being left open in front, this was important. I then cut 

 the sheds up with board fences about 22 feet apart, commencing under 

 the shed and running out about 50 feet in front, making yard and shelter 

 for about 50 sheep. I forgot to mention the width of the sheds, which was 

 13 feet. I then sorted my sheep, putting heavy wethers by themselves, 

 heavy ewes by themselves, &c. ; in short, I went through the flock 

 grading them according to strength and sex. I started with prepared 

 winter quarters for 3,000, but continued to sell some through the early 

 part of winter. By the 1st of January I had reduced my flock to 2,200. 

 After that I declined selling more. 



I will now give you a brief account of my feeding, its quantity, 

 quality, &c. I procured what hay I conveniently could, about half of 

 which was nice timothy. I expected to buy from time to time during 

 the winter, which I have been able to do at fair rates, say from $3 to 

 $4 per ton. I would quite as soon have good upland prairie hay as 

 timothy, provided it is cut early. The sheep will eat it better. I also 

 bought what corn I could in the field, paying from $4 to $7 per acre. 



