Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1885-1890, 1886-04-17
SHEEP As AZ INVESTMENT.

Der of Montana Wool Grower has the
following to say Of the sheep indus
try III this Territory:
would like to show some of the
disadvantages that the sheep interest
has labored under since its introduc-
ton into Montana, and show wherein
the business has bright future for
those seeking investment, 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 select
ing good ranches; and not having
many sheep, and wool bringing a
good price, they made big money.
This was from 70 to rs, during
which period others began to see that
it was good thing.
Such fine paying business did it
appear, that there was general craze
to get into it; and in the minds Of
many, all that had to bo done was to
buy sheep, put man to herding, and
make.from so to 100 per cent on the
investment. Fortunately for those in
the business, and unfortunately for
those going into it, we had some fine
winters in the seventies, SO that there
was belief that sheep would live if
they just had man and dog to keep
the coyotes off Hence the big drives
that were made in 10, 80 and 81,
from California and Oregon. Many
men bought without knowing where
they were going to winter, and thous-
ands of sheep went into winter quar-
ters poor, and afflicted with scab.
which had been spread all over the
territory. Bucks were left running
through the summer with tho ewes,
to make them appear in better CON
dition, and the hard winters that
struck us carried off almost whole
herds.
This put check on reckless specu
lation, and left sheep men discourag-
ed and many in debt; and not one in
ten had money to improve their
ranches and cleanse their focks of
the scab All had to move slow, and
were unable to make the improve
ments that they realized were neces-
sary. But like the fellow With the
''cat," they could not let go-and the
result is, they are coming out all right.
At first it was not known what they
would stand, and the trial had to be
made, to see if they could be run with
out hay or sheds.
The fallacy of running sheep in the
brush and on wind, with anyone to
look after them, has been dispelled;
we have now reduced it to a business,
with assurance of good returns. Time
and experience have demonstrated
that there is money in raising wool
and mutton in Montana. There are
certain precautions that must be ia
ken to make it sure. There must be
plenty of range unoccupied by other
sheep, with good sheds and hay, and
above all things-good herders. The
amount of range necessary depends
upon its quality; the kinds of sheds
depends upon the location; the
amount of hay depends upon the ex
tent and lay of the range, also the age
and condition of the sheep; while
everything depends upon good, sound
judgment. No one can come in, ig
no1ing these precautions, and make
sheep raising success.
This has been a fine winter for
stock, and no one should have lost
this winter as many as would have
been lost by natural causes in the
summer. I maintain that sheep prop
erly run are less liable to die in win
than in summer.
The profits depend first, upon the
focilities for handling; second, on the
manner in which the sheep can be
cared for; and third, upon the quality
of the herd-always bearing in mind
not to run In extremes i'll either di-
rection with expenses. I think there
is more money to be made in the
sheep at the present time than ever
before, notwithstanding the low price
of wool. My reasons for thinking SO
are: first, our sheep on an average
shear one fourth more wool; second,
we get them sheared cheaper. and it
costs less to market the woolI third.
we are IN manner FREQ from scab in
the territory; fourth, we have more
experience and run less risk than we
did when we started into the business
in this section, without knowledge
of what it required, or the experience
OF others to go by.
Those that so into the sheep bust
ness now. and follow the ideas adyanc-
ed by practical wool men, and who So
Il