Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1883-11-25
xl25.0O0.OO0

Total. 1925, ,0O0, 600
! will devote the remainder of my
letter 70 the sheep interest Of Montana.
About ten years ago the first fiocks of
sheep were driven into this Territory
and as they we're found to thrive we'll on
our grasses during winter. others were
driven over the mountains, and Mon
tana was recognized as pastoral sheep
country. It has, however, been only
within four years that the special fitness
Of Montana as sheep raising and wool
growing country has been understood.
Il is now known that Montana wool
leads all other woods from the Western
States aud Territories- No other wool
90 nearly approaches the Australian
product in softness and evenness of
grade in the sams fleece. So popular
has Montana wool become in the
Eastern markets, that many buyers in
other Territories represent their wool
IA grown in Montana, the same as -four
from Illinois and Iowa is often braided
Minnesota to increase its market value.
All breeds Of sheep, especially the Me-.
rinos and Downs, mature finely here,
and attain large size. Oar well bred
hocks of grade Merinos yield fleeces
weighing six TO eight pounds of wool,
that will not shrink in securing over
fifty four or fifty-ive per cent. have
never seen sheep elsewhere as fat as the
sheep Of this Territory when properly
hsrded, AMI this, too, when they arc
grazing Ia focks of 1000 TO 5000. In no
pastoral country on this continent can
the sheep business be carried ON as
safely as in Montana. Drouths. s1ch
as prevail often in California and Texas,
and which are 90 disastrous 20 the
focks Of these States, are unknown
here. Tho danger which the Montana
sheep owner must guard against 10 oc-
casional very cold and stormy weather,
commencinQ in December and continu-
ing through January. This he can
always provide against by build.
ine sheds and supplying him
self with dfty tons Of hay for each
1000 sheep. In California large flock
owners have never been able to provide
means to carry their fiocks through
protraoted drouths. During the Ave
years have spent here there has been
bot one winter in Northern Montana
when il was necessary to feed hay to
sheep. That winter, however, will long
be remembered by Montauians for its
severity. Is is we'll known that wher-
ever sheep owners during that winter
were provided with ample shed room
and forty TO fifty tons OF hay TO every
1000 sheep, their losses did not exceed
from to per cent. Tho Losses and
the hardships that wers borue by many
Of our hock owners during the viuter
referred to (lSS1-8l) are now carefully
guarded against BY those engaged in
the business. With the natural increase
Of our focks. and the new docks
from California, Oregon and Washing
ton Territory, We nov have as
least 100000 sheep, which will yield the
coming Juas about 100000 pounds OF
wool. This is considerable wool for
new country, but the sheep business
here il only in its infancy. Iconndent-
ly believe there will be 10.0O0, 600 sheep
ia Montana before the end Of the pres
emit decade. Il requires special fitness
10 manage sheep here successfully.
Many fail at il, and. Of coarse, curse
the sheep and the sheep business ous
ambitious young men. OF good naoiss.
and especially those reared ON Eastern
farms, can make the sheep business
great success in Montana. Our hocks
are generally composed OF grade mem.
nos. half and above, and the wsoi
of the Territory - fass Approaching
uni form grade or standard. Al present
WOOL Is shipped east in sscks the same
az wool from Minnesota and wisconsin,
bat coon much of il will be graded And
balsd 20 secure the minimum freight
rata, and large quantity viii oe
scoursl before shipment. More wool -
M srketed At Fort Benton than at any
other point IN Montana, although much
has been diverted from the Judhh ba-
ain and the Musselshell to the Northern
Pacific Railroad. TIE average price Of
INV vashed wool at this place during sne
nast i've years has been 2S'1 cents
which | believe to be q higher average
than the ol0shing WOOL of any osnsE
country during tho sssne time, ana 3.
neoinliy country % Tar dissans from
- Eastcrn seabosrd.
hs ssttismen: Of Montana oy s tar-
mar. nay 20 soras extent interfere wlt1
ne shcsp businssa. - i - nov ca!sieo
a. and ssnailer flscks u many peaoel
~ IS ths rrSnlt, bus Tho sxsra9rdmln' =
~ 1tnsD 81 the oiimate 40 ~
crseGrs foe ohoop 5aiotng make = cess.;n
ehas III uill alNaSs - 80 g eos lso'
fna fn1uooEtoGs EAND