Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1885-1890, 1886-12-18
SHEEP ASANINVETnENT
What a Practical Wool Grower Has
to Say of the Industry in Mon
charlottesville Suggestions.

0. G. Cooper in Montana Wool GfosceF.
Reproduced from the TRIBUNE, of April
II, 1886.
. II would like to show some of the dis
advantages that the sheep interests has
labored under since its introduction into
Montana, and show wherein the business
has a bright future for those seeking in
yestment, so that they need not be afraid
to put their money in good ranches and
sheep.
When sheep were first brought to the
territory they fell into the hands of men
who had no trouble in selecting good
ranches, and not having many sheep, and
wool bringing a good price, they made
big money. This was from '72 to '7s,
| during which period others began to see
that it was a good thing.
Such a fine paying business did it ap-
pear, that there was a general craze to
get into it; and in the minds of many, all
that had to be done was to buy sheep, put
a man to herding, and make from gu to
100 per cent. on the investment. Forum
ately for those in the business, and un-
fortunately for those going n it, we
had some fine winters in the seventies, so
that there was a belief that sheep would
live if they had a dog and man to keep
the COYOTES off, Hence the big drives
that were made in rs, 80 and 81. from
California to Oregon. Many men bought
without knowing where they were going
to winter, and thousands of sheep went
into winter quarters poor, and afflicted
with scab, which had been spread all over
the territory. Bucks were left running
through the summer with the ewes, to
make them look in better condition, and
the hard winters that struck US carried
off almost whole herds.
This put a check on reckless specula-
ton, and left sheep men discouraged and
many in debt; and not one in ten had
money to improve their ranches and
cleanse their flscks of the scab. All had
to move slow, and were unable to make
the Improvements they realized were
necessary. But like the fellow with the
"cat," they could not let go-and the re
!, suit is, they are coming out out all right
At ffrstit was not known what they Woult
stand, and the trial had to be made, t
see if they could be run without hay O
, sheds.
The fallacy of running sheep in tn
; brush and on wind, with anyone to lool
after them, has been dispelled we hav
now reduced it to a business with assnl
. ance of good returns. Time and expert
ence has demonstrated that there is mon
/ ey in raising wool and mutton in Nor
t tana. There are certain precautions tina
, must be taken to make it sure. Their
must be plenty of range unoccupied b
e other sheep, with good sheds and ha,
and above all things-good llerders. TIL
. amount of range necessary depends upo
S its quality; the kinds of sheds depend
u 4 upCIl IN 1CSatlOH, II oaiobhs : 49,
depends upon good, sound judgment. N
Y one can come in, ignoring these precas
: tons, and make sheep raising a success.
/ maintain that sheep properly run ar
less liable to die in winter than in sun
d mer.
$ The profits depend first, upon the faci
e tiles for handling; second, on the mannt
5 in which the sheep can be cared To-
5 and third, upon the quality of the herd
always bearing in mind never to run
e extremes in either direction with e1pen
! es. / think there is more money to
e made in the sheep at the present tin
than ever before, Notwithstanding the 10
e price of wool. My reasons for thinkir
SO are: first, our sheep on an averas
shear one-fourth more wool; second, Y
get them sheared cheaper, and it cos
less to market the wool; third, we are