The Benton weekly record. [volume] (Benton, Mont.) 1880-1885, 1880-09-03
The estimated production of wool for tn

1879 -,..- 80. 100000 $4,000 100000
The estimated production of wool for the
present year is 3,006,0jO pounds. Many
thousand sheep have been driven into the
Territory this year from California, Oregon
and Washington Territory, and every band
/ (the local name for fiockl that has arrived
has been gobbled up by men eager to in
crease their flocks or to start new ones.
Mr.. Bissell, of Vermont, informs us that he
is already sending his rams into the Terri
tory, which bring apprcciative prices. The
wool of the Territory is cot1spieuousIy free
from burr and alkali, and though unwash-
ed, is as clean rs that which is washed in
many of the States.
Mr.. Paris Gibson, who is thoroughly fa-
miliar with wool in general, as well as that
! Of this Territory says:
"The wool grown in Montana is much superior to that
produced on the ranges FIVE hundred or one thousand
miles south It is free from kemp burrs and tags and
slrnks much less than unwashed wool generally II is
also free from the harshness usually observed in the
"oo ana Saiue IS nearly TO
| the famous wool valley of western Oregon"
A large and Increasing percentage of the
sheep of Montana, as we'll as of the cattle,
are owned by persons who do not manage
| them themselves. Nearly all the leading
men of capital in Helena own interests in
bands of stock, either sheep or cattle. The
persons desiring to invest in the business
Of sheep-growing take as an associate some
man of experience and integrity, but desti-
tute of capital, and give him entire charge
of the flock. For his services he receives
usually one-half of the increase flock
A band of sheep containing 900 and up
ward, in good condition and free from dis
case, may be bought for from 50 to 81 per
head. They must be herdcd, summer and
winter, in separate bands Of not more than
1000 each, corralled every night, and
guarded against the depredations of dogs
and wild animals. Cattle and sheep can
not live together OIL the same range. The
latter not only eat down the grass SO close
iy that nothing is left for the cattle, but
they also leave an odor which is offensive
to the cattle. Although the cost of man
aging sheep is greater than that of hand
ling cattle, the returns are quicker and
larger. While herd Of voting cattle be-
gins to yield an income only at the expira-
ton of three years, the sheep yield a crop
Of wool the first summer after they are
driven upon range, and the increase of
the band is much greater. Ourinformant,
Mr.. Smith, before referred to, considers
sheep far more profitable than cattle, while
the life Of the Sheep p=grower is much easier
than that of the cattle=herder.
Sheep require more attention than cattle.
a provision of sheds in winter, against Sc
we're storms, is regarded as desirable, but
III Montana they rarely receive hay or 9TH
er food, save that gathered by themselves.
1t is stated as q test Of the Montana eli
mate; that i'll the extremely cold winter Of
l874-75 Messrs. Davenport & Ray, promi-
nent Wool-groWers, wintered $500 sheep
on Sun River, without any sheds: Al
though the mercury at ono time indicated
i temperature Of 40 below zero,-some-
thing almost uipaIalieleu 1T any ;tltItucc
in Montana, they lost only tWenty=six
head out of $500, and fourteen Of these
were killed by a shcphcrd-dog i'll his Wig
orous efforts at keeping the band together
in 4 severe storm. During this unusually
severe winter not more than 140-a band of
! II i,,fs- cIn hpy- II
one time, the flock keeping fat by their
daily browsing on the range. Still, the
most prominent Wool-growers put up hay
every season in anticipation Of that bad
winter" which it is said is yet to appear.
According to Mr.. Stlahorn, the Messrs.
Cook Brothers, Of Smith River Valley,
have followed this plan, season after sea-
son. for five years, but have only fed their
band five days during the whole period,
AS to the profits of wool-growing, all
agree that the wool-clip will pay every
item Of expense, leaving the increase q
clear gain. Mr. Smith places them even
higher. His experience is that wool alone
has paid all expenses and 40 per cent on
the investment. Mr.. Strahorn gives the
following illustration ofthe profit of wool
growing:
| II have statement of Davenport, Ray Co.. pron
nert cattle and lgrowers of Sun River Valley They
leased lO0u who possessed capital but
his muscle 1875, the party taking them agreeing to
return the original number of ewes in four years with
half the total increase and to deliver one half of the
tire wool-cIip In 1876 the increase 05o in 1877
2so; in 1873 1900 In July, 1876 the owners received
$50 pounds for their hnlfof the wool-cp in lsT7 oOt
pounds and in 1875 100 pounds. At the present ratt
of increase the herd will number 900 in the
1879 {or The of four years. worth at least
and the wooelip of this last year will be worth
hs owners will thus haye received in four years 0
worth Of wool and 900 Sheep worth $1,000, or return
ofsl5 600 In four years from investment OF 0 ant
will have their original band of sheep besides The rent
or had not dotr at the start, but has now asl0uo
flock of sheep and an improved ranch
A well-knoWn and thoroughly reliable
resident of Helena thus writes CT the e2pe
rience of Governor Potts at Wool-groWing
"a better idea of the profits OF sheepraising in til
Territory can be conveyed by lustraton and seec
the experience of Hon. B. F. Potts. Governor of Aonta
i ma. So time ago he purchased ranch on the peal
born River fifty miles north of Helena Last ocfope
he bought and placed upon it 4o00 sheep, at cost ave
aging s. per head. He subsequently sold 49, vi tn
remainder 100 were ewes During the months of Apr
and May these gave birth to 2aolambs 200 were lost