New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-09-04

| ing of vivid greensh hue, only to he promptly
! SO used again by the second herdsman, who was
e1nipped with n forked stick. One after another
the sheep we're pitched until the tank was fall OF
bideously coored creatures. bleating snee4lng anu
! coughing " hich were at last allowed to scamper
ont of the further end and stand dripping in s6ate
| of great disgust on the tOOrng of their pen. inns
process is usually gone through with twice when
/ ever scabv enters "A flock. These sheep were
/ Mernos the breed most popular in Kansas MeAi-
can sheep yield very inferior wool ana are OF CON-
paratively lltHe value for mutton. ana mere the
tendency in both sheep and cattle Is constantly 10
grade up TO a better stock.
COST AID PROFIT.
While I was inspecting the buildings and sheep
with Mr. Wadsworh he stated that his range for
sheep covered six square miles, not meaning that
he owned the land which is entirely unnecessary,
but that he could pasture his sheep upon that eX-
tent without hindrance. He owns about LOO
acres near the ranch and he estimates tho capacity
of his ranch and range at n yearly yield of from
81. 900 to $4,000, or net profit of $1,000 year
The estimate of feeding sheep IS a head for
year or a cost Of - cents. The average weight
of the clip IS about five pounds, and the price here
% cents a pound. Mutton brings from 81 30 TO 81
hundred pounds gross. From hundred sheep
the hcrdsman can calculate upon about 70 lambs.
Mr. WaIsworths greatest percentage OF profit was
80 per cent in year, but he states that 80 to %
per cent is fair estimate Of average profit. The
wool goes to commission houses chiefly in Boston,
with Philadelphia second a wool market. The
extent Of the business hero may be appreciated from
the fact that Mr. WadswOrth alone has bought this
year on commission 100000 pounds Of wool and
sold 1900 pounds from his own nocks and those
in which he is interested.
I have endcavored TO procure detailed and
accurate statements attainablc IN regard to
this industry Oh account of the interest developed
in the Last within the last few years in western
strengthening, especially among young men. This
is shown not only by tho number continually COM
ing ont to engage in the business but by the guam
titles Of letters constantly received by Mr. Wads-
worth and other leading sheep men of the State.
Speaking Of this he said If a man has 5000.
should advise him to buy 1000 sheep at So head
allow 81 900 for his buildings corral and team.
1900 for wintering the sheep and $500 for living
expenses. It II unnecessary to buy any land
whatever. If he has 800 should tell him to buy
all the sheep he could. put them with some small
Gook and work for the owner so that he could get
living wages and learn the business. To be success
iu man must devote himself to 1t entirely.
have seen young men come out here who thought
they cOuld spend their time in the towns driving
fasr horses, and let some hired man take care of
their sheep That course is sure to fail But by
giving up everything else and attending to nothing
but the business a man can count upon at least 80
per cent pr0ht every year, and by putting IN say
$1,000, in ten years can gain modest competence
drove TO another ranch-that of Mr. Joshua
Smith no three years ago began with 600 sheep,
adding to tue number until II reached LOO Now
b. natural increase he has flock OF 1000, and his
profits this year will amount TO between S3,OOO
and "a, poo. Just beyond the ranch encountered
Young herder reading in the shade Afforded by an
old sOd-h0use while his faithful dog watched the
flock that was gathered together III little circles,
each sheep seeking the shade afforded by It's neigh
Dor and painting like "a miniature steam engine
under the MONDAY blaze OF the sun. Tue size ana
IfaTrIItQ Ia
that they only this seasons growth. One
little fellow was skipping energetically away from
dead rattlesnake that lay upon the prairie, and MT
smith brought torth rather novel lact ~ STATING
that rattesnakes bite causes two lltte bags
filed with wafer TO form under sheep's Jaws. ana
that If these sdcs are opened, the snecp pIompty
RECEIVERS The sheep after being watched all day
are driven into the sheds at night fol better pro-
lection and these long low sheds form the distin-
gushing feature of every sheep ranch At one
ranch which / visited the young owner had Just
brought home his bride. and he was ieucltltlug
himself that she would not be lonely because they
were so uear the town-which was twelve miles
away, while there was not more than one house ih
sight from his ranch.
Other sheep men whom | have met agree in the
statement That faith nj work brings enormous
profits, while theT diiier somewhat In their hgures
one saying that he kept sheep for year at cost
of only 81 - cents a head The figures nave
given may be taken rs Trustworthy and IN no way
eNag gerated. But 10 gam tins pecuulhry reward a
man must renounce friends ana social pleasures.
think Of nothing but sheep follow MS herd-usua4Iy
on foOt-day after day II be happens 10 larh
hcrders, attend 10 shcaung, with the thousand and
details of stock raising. and, worst OF an. the
dipping. Ia ten years time If he does this, 1egin-
Mug with reasonable capital, the Kansas sheep
ranges will yield him competence, for IN south
western Kansas he has nothing 10 tear from Wintry
storms or greedy neighbors. This Is what Kansas
shocp-rasiug offers. IL * sure and the profits are
large. Bat 10 win its rewards man mrst make
wcightv sacrifices and to many II Will be difficult
question whether rewards sacrifices weigh
hra,i in the scale. OF course the smaller the
capital the slower viii be the progress toward pecu-
MARY independence. The man with only few
hundreds can hardly erect buildings, but should
hire ont and let his sheep run with his employers
herd while the man without capital can only hope
to save enough from his wages wlich for herdSmen
are very small. to buy few sheep and then turn
them into the general herd man can start with
any amount but he who has $1,000 Is a long way
IN advance Of the man with only 5000.