WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. 827 



of some of the most intelligent, progressive, and successful sheepmen 

 of the State. At its annual meeting in Waterloo last December, the 

 following officers were elected for the ensuing year: President, C. L. 

 Gabrilson, New Hampton ; secretary and treasurer, Prof. C. F. Curtiss, 

 Ames ; vice-presidents, C. E. Hartley, Monroe ; Joseph Edgerton, Kas- 

 sau, and Eobert Thomas, New Sharon; legislative committee, George 

 W. Franklin, Atlantic 5 C. E. Hartley, Monroe, and Eobert Thomas, 

 New Sharon. Besides discussing many questions of interest to flock- 

 masters at this meeting they passed the following resolutions : 



First. That we demand of the next legislature a more stringent and efficient law 

 relative to the depredations of dogs, with a view to lessening their number and 

 diminishing said depredations and enabling the owners of live stock suffering losses 

 from dogs to be more fully reimbursed. 



Second. That we demand a liberal State bounty for wolf scalps, with a view to the 

 speedy extermination of wolves in Iowa, and that we appoint a committee to press 

 these our demands upon the legislature. 



Third. That we ask the Iowa Improved Stock-Breeders' Association to appoint a 

 committee to cooperate with us in urging these claims upon the legislature. 



Fourth. In order that we may obtain information as to the honesty, efficiency, and 

 financial soundness of the wool commission houses, we request the members of this 

 association to report to the secretary their future sales of wool, the commission house 

 consigned to, or the firm sold to, the grade and condition of the wool sold, and the 

 price or prices received, and whether the transactions are satisfactory, that the sec- 

 retary may report to members of the association. 



It was argued in support of the last resolution that wool-growers did 

 not always have an opportunity to sell their wool at home just when 

 they desired to do so, and were often reluctant about sending to a com- 

 mission house for fear of unsatisfactory results. It was said that wool 

 commission men were no worse and perhaps no better than commission 

 men in other lines. Some are honest and efficient and some the reverse, 

 and the object is to find out the good houses, patronize them and let 

 the others alone. Some commission Bouses are not sufficiently careful 

 to make the best possible returns for a few hundred or a few thousand 

 pounds of wool, as there is no continuous trade to be courted. The 

 farmer may never be heard from again, and there is a temptation some- 

 times to take a small slice while he can. The action contemplated by 

 the resolution would not only give the wool- growers information as to 

 whom they may trust, but would put them on something of the same 

 footing as large shippers, since unfair dealing toward one member 

 might result in the loss of shipments from all. 



A bill was before the Iowa legislature last winter providing for the 

 appointment of sheep inspectors by the county supervisors, in any 

 county in the State when notified in writing by five or more sheep- 

 owners of such county that sheep diseased with scab or any other ma- 

 lignant contagious disease exists in said county. This county sheep 

 inspector shall look after these diseases, or cause the owners or agents 

 to do so. 



Owing to the urgent request of leading sheep-owners, Senator Yale, 



