The Poultry West from Topeka, Kansas • 7

VOL. II TOPEKA, KANSAS, DECEMBER, J899 A Western Breeder's Observations on an Eastern Trip By Chas. Steinberger, Topeka, Kansas. (A paper read before The Topeka Fanciers Association, November 7, 1899 AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAi NO. 2 be as choice, but at all times their best specimens were selected for breeders, and such a thing as a mongrel or a cross of two standard breeds was not considered.

Of course you will understand that often many different breeds were raised upon the same plant, according to the branch of the market they were aiming to fill, but each breed was kept in its purity. Now as to the fanciers. There are many true fanciers and very excellent breeders, whose names you never see in print, and whose renown has never extended beyond their own gates. But they are fanciers nevertheless, scientific, and practical breeders they are, too, and I have found in their hands some of the finest birds. However, we can but admire the qualities of a fancier who is not only willing, but anxious to meet his brothers in honest competition.

In one thing I was very pleasantly surprised, and that was the absence of any sectional feeling toward the western fanciers which I have often been led to believe existed. I must say that nowhere have I ever been extended a more hospitable entertainment or a more fraternal feeling. New England hospitality is never lacking, and a visiting fancier is always welcome. Imagine if you can a partner of one of the largest banking houses of the world, whose signature makes a draft worth millions, the next hour he is with you in his poultry house, smoothing a feather here, admiring a beautiful penciling there, and talking with you as a man fully engrossed with his fancy1. As to their birds I am willing to give the eastern fancier credit for all I saw and am free to say, I have never before seen so many choice specimens of the various different varieties.

Their breeding in general is more uniform, careful, and practically carried out. For instance you see an especially fine specimen; ask him about it and it is nothing to have him take out his book, and give you the breeding for perhaps 4 or 5 generations. And, mark you, not only the excellent points of parents and grandparents were given, but their faults, as well. How many of us do it? This paper is not intended as an advertisement of eastern fanciers, and while I may mention: Sharp Taunton, proprietors of the Canoe River Mills; Philander Williams, of Taunton, wholesale grocers; Mr. Keay, Philadelphia, president of New England Steel Casting J.

D. Nevius, Philadelphia, one of the stock-holders of the same company, and by the way, who is considered one of the best judges of Asiatics we have in this country. Mr. Nevius is, a a very excellent breeder also, making a specialty of the four different breeds of Cochins. I can say to you it is truly wonderful, men whose brains and wealth play no small part in the affairs of the world, yet in the poultry house they are fanciers and when there, the same intelligence and business application is manifested that governs their affairs with men.

I wish it were possible for me to relate the many pleasant and practical features of such a visit. New England is full of poultrymen, many are making the industry the business of their lives, while upon the other hand, there are many who may be classed as Simon pure fanciers. While their vocations are entirely different, I wish to emphasize the fact that the methods employed by both are almost in every instance the same; first, the thorough cleanliness of all grounds and buildings; second, the careful and constant attention given the fowls at all times, especially as regards feeding; third, the extreme simplicity and general practicability upon which all their plants seem to be fashioned. With the fancier it is the question of raising only a few birds, but each of those to be as near as possible to the standard of excellence. With the poultry farmer it is the object to produce as many eggs and as many pounds as possible with the least expense.

It was truly gratifying to note that all I visited without a single exception used for the accomplishment of these results standard bred poultry; of course, on accouut of the quantity they produce, their matings could not There have recently appeared several articles in the various poultry journals written by parties who have traveled almost identically the same grounds that I did on my recent visit east. These have all been instructive and highly interesting, and it renders it difficult to add thereto or to present a description that may prove entertaining. Consequently I shall not give you a description' of houses, yards, but will confine myself to giving you the conclusions I have reached from personal observation. One very pleasant feature of the fancy in the east is that not only the men of moderate means are engaged therein, but also men of extreme wealth representatives of the highest commercial and. professional vocations.

For instance, in Philadelphia, I wish to mention some of the fanciers and cers of The Keystone Poultry, Pigeon and Pet Stock Association, Mr. Edward L. Welsh, their president, said to be worth two million dollars; Alfred C. Harrison, first fifteen millions; William Disston, the celebrated saw manufacturer, second one million; Geo. W.

Childs Drexel, a financier of international repute, third vice president, twenty millions; James Cheston, a very wealthy gentleman, treasurer; J. Emlen Smith, also wealthy, secretary. And so on through eight more names which comprise the board of directors. Their capital stock is issued in 1500 shares of $500 each, full paid and non-assessable. While I did not become with the officers of the New York and Boston shows I am told their promoters are just such representative men.

I did fortunately get to meet Mr. Crawford, superintendent of the great New York show, and found him to be a rustler, and 9 one fully able to take care of such a mammoth exhibition. A few of the more prominent fanciers I met are also quite wealthy, of whom I.