The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1884-04-14


IT'S CnN In the West ami Its Relation to
the TariH. g
KAMA, WHLGtopsr In Chiecso Ttun,
In your issue oil Match q appeara an |
article headed wool" and signed HI"
containing misleading and erroneous state.
nenis. II IN asserted that 'alIcep hus.
bspdry ia a busintas that requires but few
hands to operate, aud almost all those en-.
cEged in the busIneas on the Western wilds
arc inen OF wealth." The writer OF this has
been engaged In the BUSINESS several years,
ha9an extensive acquaintance among sheep
men, and can positively assert that usually
they are fairly succephful and prosperous,
but wealthy ones are rare.
The distances MI" gives Of rapidly.ac.
cumula,cd wealthy two gentlemen located
In California were the result, doubtless, OF
shrewd Investments In sheep some four
years ago, when dry weather killed the
VrGea and sheep died by thousands OF star.
vGtion. Tho writer can give the name Of
one party who had but little money him.
sell, but, being backed by capitalist,
purchased several thousand sheep at 81
cents per head. Getting them on good
range, after come loss, tho sheep were
saved In good condition. Tho profit do.
rived by the shrerd buyer was enormol 4,
and 10 day that sheep man Is worth nearly
100000 How wNs Ii with the poor Eel.
!oHs fahom tho sheep were purchased ?
In every instance where men make large
amounts quickly from Investments In
leheep It Ia In specula,ive ventures. In all
large sheep-raising sections are men who
make q specially Of purchasing at low fix.
urea rundown and diseased sheep from
hard up or discouraged owners, getting the
sheep In healthy condition, and selling at
o large prtf'. Men nre frequently ruined
In these ventures, rs in speculalions in
pork, grain, provisions, or stocks. They
Rrn very riskv. - g..fi.'
al" A!Ho states That "Wcslcrn wool
brings from three 10 FIVE cents per pound
more than wool from the older Sla,cs,n
Walter Brown & Co.'s latest wool circular
states that "Beat Ohio was at that date
March l01 worth 80 ard Al cents per
pound, ana best Michigan, Indiana and
| Wisconsin % cent?, while best California
was % and Is cents. Poorest OHIO was &c
md 50 centa, and Michigan, Indiana anu
Wacunsin ~ and 81 centB." The diiTsr.
enco in ccst Of shipment from the older
States end California nlao adds to the differ
ence in not results. Jus. compare the price
Of beet California with prices Of the poorest
wool from other States. @
AS 10 the COS! OF labor needed in haudl.
ing herds Of sheep al" shows wonderful
ignorance. lleassens thu. "a flock OF TO-.
coo or 1000 can DO cared for by two men
and AZ rlHuy dogs" On an open range, rs
almost all sheep are handled in tho West,
the rule is one herdcr to each 1000 or !, 500
sLcep. The writer has rarely heard OF
over l,5Oo or 1000 being in charge Of one
nau, and tton only Tor Z short time.
Sheep cannot to kspt healthy ana thrifty
in punches OF mere than 5000 TO 1000
head, and the herdirg force is always ill.,
creastd in proportion. II 81" had multi
piled his herders by four he would have
been nearer the truth, and during the
lembipg aesson he would need at least three
men 10 each bunch OF 600 breeding ewes,
These added i:enlr, together with numer.
Gus etcete'a', would give to the expense
account quite another showing from
that which III" 30 satisfactorily figures
out. The 20 percent cut by 4 further re-.
ducion CT the tariff be, by this intelligent
reasoning, lnakes it appear to bo a matter
OF no consequence 10 the wool raiser. II
the cut is made AL" csn depend upon it,
| thousands OF wool growers must abandon
the business. Foreign woods will advance
in price because Of increased demand, and
and several years mus. paes before the area
devoted to production will again bring sup.
ply and demand 30 nearly together as at
present. The coneumer will pay Just as
much, and probably more, 10 tie manu-.
lec:ufcr, foreign or domestic, as be does
now The sheep rais+rs Of the United
Sts.,s have made greater advance in the
quality end quantity Of 700! grown to each
aueep than the breeders Of any other portion
OF the earth. This improvement hss re-.
suited in more than doubling the yield per
head in herds OF the better class; and the
American lnerino is to day tbs best ali.
purpose sheep in ex;alsnce. The progress
will continue until the wco!.grower OF this
country can compete with his rival Of any
cline, rs the increased yield per head 70.
dnces the growing cost per pound. But il
tho little. 20 percent cus, which III" con-
slders Of no Importance, is made, than tho
skill and intelligence devoted 10 this de.
velopmen: OF the American merino will be
driven out OF the business, and the foreign
wool.growcr will control tuo situation. The
20 percent cut will BIO q mortal wound.