OCR Text |
Show lation to make restoration of sheep (ewe lambs) on the farms a compulsory measure. Practical sheepmen were doubtful of the policy of sending ewe lambs to the farms. Their conviction was that old ewes, good for producing still more lambs would be more profitable. Ewe lambs would be expensive to feed for a longer time and their production would be delayed for a year before their maturity. The war had created a shortage of stock cars (railroad) and the marketing of sheep and lambs was stalmated, with serious financial loss to the range sheepmen. President Hagenbarth interceded in Washington and secured an order from the Railway Administration that all stock cars not absolutely essential for use in home territories be immediately routed west, and that the movement of livestock be given preference over other classes of freight during lamb market season. With the end of the war the propagandists became less active, probably because of exhausted funds. Their agitation may have sounded good, but to the knowledgable people in the sheep business, the entire campaign had done nothing but create havoc that was not easily remedied. Even though ewes were lower priced in 1919, there was no rush to buy them. Some farmers felt that they had not been treated fairly by wool dealers (.to add to existing troubles), and the feeling was that there would be considerable liquidation of flocks in 1919.16 153 |