The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1873-11-27
A Mutton Millionaire.
The Pastoral Prince of New Mexico.


The Kansas City Times has inter-
viewed Senior p. c. Armiio, of the great
sheep and wool raising firm of Arm; 10
& Baca, of Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Mr.. Armijo is a young man, the son of
the head of the house. The family
have been engaged in the raising of
sheep and wool for expectation East for
several generations past. They are
unable to estimate their herds accurate
ly, but rough guess aggregates the
actual number at something over half
million. Years ago, when Kansas
City was the shipping and trading point
between New Mexico and the East, MIR.
Armijo, Sr., used to ship his thousands
of feeces from this city by river to st.
Louis. 1t seems almost incredible for
people living East of the great plains to
realize the vast extent and innumerable
herds of sheep raised yearly in the mild
dry climate of New Mexico. The fami-
lies claim nearly two million head OF
sheep, which are scattered over a
range of country more than three hun
dred miles square.
In reply to question whether the
Indians troubled their immense herds,
he replied We are not troubled by
Indian depredations to any serious 'ex-
tent. The Indians are troublesome at
| times, but we scarcely ever miss what
they drive off or slaughter. They seldom
kill our focks wantonly, and only take
| for food when they pass one of our
herds. He related an incident, in 1885,
when the Apaches and Navaioes drove
off 35, 900 head at one raid, and thought
that not less than 80, 200 head had been
stolen by Indians since then. The In
dians drove off about half that number
between 1861 and 1866. But" said
Mr.. Armijo, "we hardly miss them. "
The Mexican sheep.raiser generally
handles his herds in hocks OF about
three Thousand head. Each of these
herds is under the personal superin-
/ tendence of a major domo or overseer,
who is assisted by shepherds, for whom
the sheep have fond affection. AT
| night these immense fiocks collect close
together around their shepherds, and
sleep peacefully guarded by well-traiEed
dogs.
These shepherds are paid from SO tC
S15 per month the year round, the over
seer about $25 per month. These herds
roam at will over the boundless dry
plains of New Mexico, without shelter
all the year through. They require nc
feeding, the short nutricious granlnlO
grass, peculiar to New Mexico, afford
ing good pasturage in winter as well q:
summer.
The Mexican sheep is smaller thai
American sheep, but are more healthy
and hardy. They clipabout two pounds
of wool to the fleece their wool is shor
and fine, and from all that C n be ascer
tanned by tradition handed dowr
through several generations, were Span
ish merinos brought from Spain ssbJ
Cortez's expedition.
These great sheep raisers are now EN-
gagged in shipping large herds of sheer
to Colorado. Mr.. Armijo last season
drove about twelve thousand head tt
Denver, and signifies his intention o.
doubling his drove next season. He
says that with proper care and atten
ton, sheep in sufficient numbers may
hereafter be raised upon the plains o.
Kansas and Colorado to supply the en-
tire world with mutton and wool. Dur
ing the conversation he related an in
Scdent of 4 man who, three years ago
purchased 1900 head of sheep from
Armiio and Baca at the low price of s.
each. To-day that man has 10000
sheep, worth $4,000, to say nothing
of the enormous profit accruing from
the sale of wool during that time. AnC
again, he demonstrated the profits nc
cruing from the purchase of 5000 head
A man buys this number, and in 81!
months he finds himself possessed o
10000 sheep, one-half of the 5000 in
crease being ewes and the other wethers
Here is an increase of 100 per cent. il
six months in natural increase. Th
deeces on the 5000 head will be wortl
80 cents each, and the 5000 lambs cal
be sheared in the fall, yielding tw
pounds each. The increase of sheer j
more than compound interest twent.
times compounded. Mr.. Armijo say
that, allowing for losses, there is moth
ing in the world to prevent man from
getting rich at sheep raising in fv
years.