The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1882-10-06
Che Qlttelliqem!jlel:a.:::
0nice, NoS. rs and n FourIecnih Sireel
Correspondence New York Tribune. ,,,

| hhcep-ralsing iu Kansas. (.
Correspondence New York Tribune. p.t q.
While l was inspecting tho building
and sheep with Mr.Wadsworth, he statet
that his range for sheep covered six squar,
miles, not meaning TINT he owned the land
which Is entirely unnecessary. but That h,
could pasture his sheep upon that exten
without hindrunce. lilo owns about llO(
acres near the ranch, and he estimates thu
capacity Of his ranch and range Mt year,,
yield Of from $1,000 to $4,000, or a ne
profit Of 5000 q year. The estimate o.
Ieeding sheep Ii m acre head for year
or cost Of IS cents. Tho average weight
Of IL clip Is about five pounds, and The
price here 90 cents n pound. Mutton bring.
from 81 % TO 81 hundred pounds gross
From hundred sheep the herdslnan can
calculate upon about IS lambs. Mr.
Wadsworth's greatest percentage Of prolll
was so per cent In year, but lie
states that IS TO SO per cent is q
lair estimate Of tho average profit. The
wool goes 10 commission houses chiefly In
Boston, with Philadelphia second us q
wool market. The extent OF the business
here may be appreciated from the fuct TINT
Mr. Wadsworth alone hassbought this year
OIL commission ;60, 90 pounds OF wool and
sold 1900 pounds from Ills own llocks and
those In which he Is interested. .
| have endeavorcd to procure as detailed
and accurate statements Us are attainable
In regard to this industry on account OF the
interest developed in the East within the
lust few years in Western shecp.srowing,
especially among young men. This Is
shown not only by the number continually
coming out to engage In the business, bu,
by the quantities Of letters constantly re-
ceived by MIR. Wadsworth and other lead.
Ing sheep men OF the State. Speaking Of
this he said "Ifa man has 5000 should
advise him 10 buy 1000 sheep at s. 4 head
allow 81 900 for his buildings, corral and
tenn, $500 for wintering the sheep, and $500
Tor living expenses. II Is unnecessary 10
buy any laua whatever. II he has $500
should tell him to buy NIL the sheep he
could, put them withsomc small flock, and
work Tor the owner so that he could get
living wages and learn the business. To
be successful 4 man must devote himself 10
1t entirely. ! have seen young men come
out here who thought they could spend
their time in the towns driving fast horses,
and let some hired man take care oil their
sheep. That course is sure to fail. But BY
giving up everything else and attending to
nothing but the business, Il man can count
upon ut least 30 per cent profit every year,
and by putting in say $500, in ten years
can gain modest competence" r-
! drove to anotherrnch-that Of Joshua
Smith, who three years ago began with GOO
sheep, adding TO the number until itreach-
ed LOO. Now by natural increase he Inns
flock Of 1000, and his profits this year will
amount TO between s, 900 aud 81 900. Just
beyond the ranch ! encountered young
herder reading in the shnde afforded by an
old sod.house, while his faithful dog
watched the flock that was gathered TO-
gether in little circles, each sheep seeking
the shade afforded by its neighbor and
painting Ikea miniature steam engine under
the monday blaze Of the sun. The size
and vigor OF the lambs made it seem
almost incredible TINT they were only
this seasons growth. One little fellow
was skipping energttically away from a
dead rattlesnake that lay upon the
prairie, and Mr.. Smith brought forth q
rather novel fact by stating that rattle
snakes bite causes two little bags filled
with water 70 form under Sleeps jaws,
and that II these sacks are opened, the
sheep promptly recovers.- The sheep after
being watched all day are driven into tho
sheds at night for better protection, and
these long low sheds form the distinguish
ing feature OF every sheep ranch. At one
ranch which l visited the young owner had
Just brought home his bride, ind he was
facilitating himself that she would not be
lonely because they were go near the town
which was IL miles away, while there
was not more than one house in sight from
his ranch.
Other sheep men whom Ihave met agree
in the statement that faithful work brings
enormous profits, while they differ some.
what in their iigures-one saying TINT lie
kept sheep for Il year ut cost Of 81 cents
n head. The figures l have given may be
taken as trustworthy, and in no way exag-
gerated. But to gain this pecuniary reward
Il man must renouncc friends and social
pleasures, think Of nothing but sheep, fol-
low his herd, usually on foot, day after da y
il he happens to lack her,lers, attend to
shccring, with the thousand and one de-
tails OF stock raising, and, worst Of all, the
dipping. In ten years time, il he does
this, beginning with 4 reasonable capital,
the Kansas sheep ranges will yield him a
competence, for in southwestern Kansas
hc has nothing to fear from VIM
Try storms or greedy neighbors. This
is what Kansas sheep raisiny offers. It's
sure, and the profits are large But to win
its rewartlsa man must make weighty sac
ritices and TO many 1t will be Il difficult
question whether rewards or sacrifices are
heavier in the scale. OF course the small
er the capital the slower will be the pro-
gress toward pecuniary independence. The
man with only lew hundreds can hardly
erect buildings, but should hire out and
let his sheep run with his employers herd
while the man without capital con only
hope to save enough from his wages, whici,
for herdsmen are very small, to buya few
sheep and then turn them into the general
herd. 4 man can start with any amount, but
he who has $5,O00is long way in ad-
vance Of the man with only $500.
l. Tho Charm Of Reserve. ts'4
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