Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1879-11-01
WOOL GROWING.


We have watched with considerable inter-
est the progress Of this important industry
and long ago We noted the protsble devel-
opment Of the wool growing buriness. OuI
copjectures have proven correctly; and we
are pleased to see the growth of the wool
growing interests. The correspondent oil
the Leavehworth Times writing from Lsrn-
ed, says: Wool growing has become lead.
ing and profitable business in the Arkansai
Valley, and IN no one county is it more
successfully prosecuted than in Pawnee. In
1878 there were 1888 sheep in the county,
being an increase over the number 1877 Of
1,lS5. l have not been able 70 procure the
figures as to the wool clip Of 1878 and 1879,
hui for 1877 it amounted 10 1856 pounds
The mild climate, the we'll vstered country
and almost limitless range make this coun.
try mos, suitable place to raise sheep. AL.
ready the attention Of leading sheep men
has been attracted here, and Pawnee county
to-day numbers among her farmers some oil
the most experienced and successful sheep
raisers in the country.
Samuel Archer, q breeder Of thoroughbred
sheep and who 10 authority in such natter,
says: Il regard the grasses Of Central and
Southwestern X ansas a. better than those Of
Colorado, New Mexico or any portion Of
the country on the west side of the plains.
The east side of the plains, Southwestern
Kansas, is undoubtedly the best in every re-
spect; the grasses growing thicker on the
ground and growing longer. The water IA
ciIiiies are mnch better In Southwestern
Kansas than any other section l know Of in
the west. Another great advantage over
Northern Kansas and Colorado is the milder
winters, fewer storms and lighter winds, thus
not calling for so much expense in providing
shelter and food.
q. II Wadsxorth, whose saeep farm is
near Larned, makes sheep raising his BUSH
ness. With him agricultural pursuits are Of
secondary interest or consideration. Quoting
from letter written BY Mr.. w. some time
since, in which he is relating his experience
with sheep in the Arkansas Valley, he says:
81 fed the winter of 1876 about fifty tons Of
hay, and some seven hundred bushels Of
corn. My entire loss from disease during
the winter was four head. The winter Of
1877 l fed thirty-fve tons of hay and five
hundred bushels Of corn, and my loss for
the ye.r was only per cent. ! am using
the Spanish Merino bucks. l have sold the
past two years $685. worth of wool, and
$S,7l3 worth of sheep.
Mr.. Wadsworth agrees with Mr.. Archer
in what he says in regard to this being the
bes. portion of Kansas in which to raise
sheep. He says: 81 do not see how any
one in the Eastern States can compete with
those here in the production Of wool-it
costing SO much to winter stock where there
is no winter range. and requiring to mnch
h-priced land 10 feed upon in summer"
King & Ryder started in early this spring
near Larned, with 500 head of very fine
sheep. Their flock is in very fine shape,
shearing little over eight pounds each this
season.
As sheep and wool-growing country
none better can be found on this continent
than is to be found right here in the valley
Of the Arkansas Valley, in the very heart Of
which lie the lands of the Atchison, Topeka
and Santa Fe Railroad company, and mil
lions Of acres invite sheep raisers to come
and occupy them.