The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1884-06-27
The Sheep Industry in Oregon.


Oregon paper will be found of interest:
PENDLEToN, Or, May 6, 1884.
To the Editor Of the East Oregon,dn!
The industry of sheep raising and
wool growing in the United States and
Territories constitutes q subject and
involves commercial relations Of no
ordinary interest, concerning which if
/ were to arraign facts and figures in
detail to present to your readers, it
would overtax the kindly protfered
space in your valuable journal. Suffice
that discuss some of the more salient
points of interest to those directly en-
gagged in the business. There are now
in the United States 10000 wool grow
ers, representing 50,000,000 sheep,
which have increased from 23,000,000
since 1867, the year the present tariff
was placed upon wool. Under the pro-
lection the increase has been q ,000, 200
in sixteen years, and yet our supply of
wool falls short of the demand 10000
600 pounds annually. This shortage is
made up by wool brought here from
Australia, which country now boasts
of q greater number of sheep than any
grand division of the world, and pro-
duces largely the fine Merino woods, of
which this country is deficient. This
fact should encourage the improvement
of our flocks until the demand is met
by home production. A large part OF
the wool used in this country is of
medium quality, but the fact that fine
wool commands better price, and the
demand exceeds the supply, should al
ways stimulate producers to improve
in all sections adapted to such produce
ton. The majority of wool growers
west of the Mississippi river are pro-
deficient in qualities commanding full
prices in the market. The bulk of
this wool would bring two cents per
pound on an average if uniform in
quality. AS it is now the short and
long, coarse and fine, weak and strong
are 80 mixed and intermiXed that the
buyer is perplexed to know how to
grade it, and consequently keeps on
the safe side by buying entire lots at
what the lowest grade is worth. AS
a method of economy and profit rule
of careful culling of flocks, and the use
of class of rams best calculated to
produce the highest standard of woods,
cannot be too torcibly urged upon the
wool grower. AT shearing time mark
every sheep not producing the ideal
standard in quality and quantity of
fleece. Sell all such at the first oppor-
tunity. Before breeding season arrives
provide your flock the best rams to be
had in the market, remembering that
said rams are worth yonr entire flock
of 70, bo;
ment in the increase is concerned, and
that you cannot make this improvement
but once every year. This system
followed up for few years will sur
prise you in results. l have in mind
now gentleman in California to
whom | have sold fine rams for eight
years, who has pursued this course,
and last season he clipped 1900
head of grade sheep that averaged
twelve pounds per head. and the wool
brought in San Francisco market "A
cents per pound, or S2.SS per head.
Oregon, and especially this portion
OF the State, is adapted to producing a
fine, Strong, even grade of Merino
wool, commanding the best price in
the market, and ! am glad to notice
that number of enterprsing gentle.
men in this immediate vicinity have
verified this fact by actual experiment.
A few such in every locality with pro-
violence, work together for the general
good of the whole community. find
a certain class of producers at the pres
ent time disposed to think disparaging.
ly of the future prospects of the bust.
ness on account of the disposition of a
fraction of the powers that be, to tam
per with the tariff, advocate free trade,
etc. To such would say there is nc
real ground for fear, for the follow.
ing reasons: First, the majority of the
people of United States are intelligent
enough to know that it would be in.
expedient, inasmuch as it would be in
jurions to all classes to reduce the price
of the raw material below fair paving
margin above cost of production; and
this is the notch at present in which
the price of wool rests. In addition Ia
this the laboring classes consume fal
less wool than the. intermediate and
weather. classes. Secondly, the in
crease in the consumption of woOler
goods is more than keeping pace with
the production. Millions of dollars
worth of these goods are now used an
nually in trimming buggies, for lap
robes, table and piano spreads, elegant
carpets, ETC., which was not the case
few years ago. Thirdly, the inhab
tants of this country will nearly OIL
quite double in the next twenty years
This increase will be much the larges
in cities and among the reproducing
classes. In a following letter | will
speak of the peculiar qualities of differ
ent breeds of sheep for wool and nut
ton, methods of breeding and handling
ratios of value, etc. Awaiting the OPP
portunity, remain, Respectfully,
K. W. PEET.