Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1885-1890, 1885-12-26
BRIGHT PROSPECTS FOR WOOL.
GROWERS.
% r TRIBUNE,

Try Oh ule country, IL mas just passed
through a period of great depression
When financial distress visits ourcountrs
among the first to feel its effects. The
consumption of wool becomes less anC
less every day through the period Of con
traction, until a majority of the mills OF
the country either stop altogether or are
run on greatly reduced time. AS a result
wool steadily declines until the growe1
seeing his profits decreasing from year tc
year, decides to abandon the business
But at such times, fortunately for the
great pastoral sheep interest of the far
West, there are few buyers, and only the
wether portions of our tiocks can be
shipped to Eastern markets. Not so,
however, with the sheep owners of the
East, who have large markets for mutton,
almost at their doors. For there, when
wool reaches a point below which there is
little Or no profit, thousands of small
focks are shipped to market in a body
ewes, wethers and lambs, and are sold for
whatever price the market will afford.
In this way, during the hard times, vast
numbers of sheep are slaughtered more
than in prosperous times. After the
losses of two or three years, and when a
revival of the industries of the country
takes place, a Sudden and rapid advance
in wool sets in, and a prosperous era for
the sheep business is assured.
The country has just passed through
such a period as I have referred to. The
WOODEN mills are all running, and wool
has advanced about 25 per cent. since Ju-
", with every prospect that it viii ad
vance still more the coming year. Moth
ing is likely to prevent good prices for
wool and prosperity for the sheep inter
est, but q recurrence Of general hard
times throughout the country. Wool
growers in Montana have much to en-
courage them besides the bright business
outlook of the country. The past year
has added SO much to the reputation of
Montana wool, that it stands today, all
things considered, unequalled among
American grown woods. Nor is its supe-
riority fully acknowledged yet. Where
can you find uuwashed wool so clean and
so free from burrs and dirt as our wool
And more than all, where can you find
wool in the United States, so soft, 30
sound and with such splendid working
qualities? And this is not all. | will
guarantee that any tirst-class manufactur-
CT or judge of wool will say after handl-
ing three thousand heeces from some of
some Of our well-bred tlocks, that he has
never seen an equal number of t1eeces
from any other flock, except il. be in Aus
traIia or New Zealand, that would not
yield more low or inferior wool.
1t is not uncommon to hear some of our
sheep owners express regret that they did
not embark in cattle raising instead of
sheep raising. Had they done SO five or
six years ago, their profit would doubtless
have been greater, as the advance in price
Of range cattle has been from 100 to 200
per cent. But looking to the probable fu-
ture of these two branches Of business, it
cannot resist the conclusion that the sheep
interest promises better results. The
complaint that sheep raising requires too
much work will be heard in Montana less
and less every year as men come here
to engage in the business, expecting to
psrior quality of the wool grownhere and
the great advantages which this Territory
offers for sheep raising, are sure to at
tract the attention of capitalists, aud large
amounts of money will be invested in
ranches and permanent Improvements the
same as has been done in other countries
possessing advantages for pastoral
sheep husbandry. 1t is doubtful if there
is any other place in the world where the
sheep business, by a proper expenditure
Of money, can be carried on more sefely,
and with more profitable results than in
this Territory.
Hitherto nearly all who have engaged
in tile sheep businss in Montana We're
poor men when they commenced. To-
day, however, with but few exceptions,
these men who have continued at the bus
mess have made money rapidly, and are
in u situation to reap great profits from
their tlocks in the future. Much money
will undoubtedly be spent hereafter in
the improvement Of our sheep. The time
IN my opinion, is not far distant, when
the Montana merino sheep, the outgrowth
Of our splendid climate and rich grasses,
will stand foremost among the families of
the merino race.
Those engaged in the breeding of thor
oughbred sheep in Montana, already note
great improvement over the parent flocks
that were shipped from Vermont. Year
by year the Montana merino sheep will
grow in strength and hardness. Beingof
all animals the most certain to adapt
themselves to new conditions of climate
and food, we can be assured that they will
continue to improve here in constitution
and wool-producing qualities, until they
become a distinct family of the fine-wool-
ed race, certainly unsurpassed, and | be-
lieye unequalled in the world.
PARIS GIBSON.
NOTICE-FOR SALE.