The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1883-07-18
be forfeited under these conditions.

to favor it. 1t would seem, however,
that in order to get parties interested
enough to join and work well they
should not be too much scattered. A
territorial association would be cumber-
some. The Custer county wool growers
looked at it in that light and formed an
association of their own shortly after we
organized this one. Parties in Deer
Lodge county also write that they wish
to join and help along such al organiza-
ton, but believe in order to get the ben
efts from it which they desire that it
should be more local in its nature. 1t is
probable that they will soon follow our
example. There are in Meagher, Cho~
teau and Lewis and Clarke counties
wool growers enough to give us a, mem
bership of two hundred. It is in these
counties that the business will rapidly
grow in the next four years. The adj
vantages to be derived by procuring the
enactment and enforcement OF protec-
tive laws, and of regulating certain mat
ters of interest to us all, are very appar-
ent. What is not SO apparent, however,
but perhaps more important, are the adj
vantages to be derived from a thorough
discussion of facts and theories in rela-
ton to management, breeding and i'm
proyement Of our stock, that we may
learn how to make the business as prof
liable as possible.
IF, in connection with the other draw
backs peculiar to the business, we have,
through a reduced tariff, to compete
with foreign woods, we should certainly
post ourselves as far as we are able III re-
gard to every advantage Il competitors
have in the markets Of the world. Why,
for instance, is Australian wool, which
is produced in large quantities and from
immense hocks, worth from ten to tWen-
ty cents more than u own? 1t is be-
cause they have made a science OF the
business and can now produce a wool
that will make a better quality of goods.
There is probably no reason why we
should not produce Just as good an arti-
Gle except the fact that we do not fully
appreciate the situation, and have as yet
made no systematic study OF the sub
ject.
AS wool producers we should study the
demands Of manufacturers, and supply
that article which has in the long run
brought the best prices. At intervals Of
five or six years, through war demands
for blankets OF an extra supply of carpet
goods, coarse woods have commanded
good figures. In the long run, however,
" IldS oCOII iIIC SGoC, ~ plo0dOl Ibl-
ways will be, that the fine and medium
woods will be in demand. AS greater
quantities of this wool can be produced
for q given amount invested, and as from
all previous experience it is shown that
it is the qualiGy that will be in demand
at least five years out Of six, it is evil
dent that it is the class to grow.
In previous years, when the profits
and dnrpands of nanJ1fa0tIJrpr yUara
large, they purchased their wool from
buyers without being over particular in
regard to the amount of grease it con-
tanned, depending upon their Judgment
from the looks and feeling in regard to
the percentage Of loss it would undergo
upon securing. But for the last few
years, owing to the closeness with which
they are obliged t. operate in conse-N
quence Of dull markets, they do not trust
to looks but scour a few bales before
buying. In all other respects the wool
is for the same reason carefully examin-
ed. 1t becomes necessary then for us
first to breed for medium fine wool as
the wool desired by manufacturers; sec
ond to breed for sheep that will produce
the greatest quantity of wool of this
grade and that will be covered uniform
~ on back, belly and legs, showing no
coarse skirts SO apt to reappear among
sheep bred further south, and third, to
breed for wool and not grease--that is,
wool that will show a comparatively
light shrinkage. There are few among
the growers who are still young in the
business that properly appreciate this
matter Of shrinkage. An extra nice me-
dunn OF fine wool, chat is, a light Mon
tana, would shrink but little over fifty
Mnnof -yhnrnoc ryn,.ry InA r.oo1
might loose seventy per cent. of its
weight when secured. It must be very
apparent to every one that a difference
of twenty pounds in one hundred, or
even three or four pounds in one hum
dred, must materially affect the price
that can be realized.
With depressed markets, reduced tar
if, and increasing competition in other
maintain our industry upon a paying
basis by careful study and research ia
regard to improving our foeks. With
the best feed in the world, a market in
which we are already sought after and a
favorable climate, it needs only intelli-
gent action and energy to place Mon
tana wool beyond and above the cornpe-
tition of other territorial woods. We
make it u study, then, to breed
for the desired qualities, and to help at
tain this end should collect all the in
formation gained from our different ex-
periences together, and have the same |
published for our mutual benefit. The
narrow, selfish policy of thinking YOU
will get the advantage of your neighbour
by knowing something whereby you
can produce q better article than he can,
which might be of pecuniary advantage
i'll some callings, is.a positive injury in