Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1890-08-07

gives us net income Of 1884, 500. To
this we can add the sum realized from
the sales Of mutton sheep, estimated
at 81, 900 head, which sold on an aver.
age for So per head, or u total Of $1O5,.
ONO. believe that in round numbers
half a million dollars in cash will be the
receipts realized by the wool growers OF
this county for this season. l can safely
say that almost every dollar Of this
sum is spent right at home, and labor
is the principal item. rs it costs the
wool growers S;D,OOO to shear the sheep
Of this county this season. Wages on
sheep ranches vary from SO to $40 per
month.
In speaking Of the Judith and its
tributaries, it must not be understood
that the county or the sheep within are
confined to the Judith Basin. A large
proportion Of the sheep are located on
Dog, Deer, Box Elder and Ford creeks
to the north, Mcdonald and Flat VIII
low creeks To the east, besides u num-
Der Of streams ON the south side II the
Snowy mountains. tributaries of the
MIsselshell. all Of which contain sheen
ranches.
There are now about 100 firms and
individuals in the sheep business in the
county, some If them running 2J,OOO
sheep.
During the decade of ten years from
, 1850 Ia 1870 We have encountered two
very hard winters. The winter Of 1850
1851 is well remembered by the pioneer
locators mentioned in this article, and
destroyed many sheep in the territory.
Then the memorable winter of 1885, 1857
has left its traces on the balance sheets
Of almostevery woolgrower Of the then
territory. II is surprising, however,
how quickly the sheep business recov-
crs from n setback. We find the cat
tie business languishing at the present
time from the effects Of that winter,
while the sheep have long since rccov-
cred.
As To the health and general condi-
ton Of the sheep, ] submit an extract
from the very able and careful report
Of the state veterinary surgeon. DR.. |
Herbert Holloway, who says: prob
ably the wool industry Of Montana is |
at the present time on better basis
than it has ever been before. esti- |
mate the number Of sheep in Montana |
at something over two million head,
and they may be said to be practically
free from diseases Of any character
something which probably cannot be
said Of any like number Of sheep in any
locality Of the world" REPORT Jan. |,
1891
The condition Of sheep relative to
scab or other contagious or infectious
diseases remains clean, with one ex.
ception. \ band numbering 400
head, driven in from Oregon last fall
and to all appearances free from scab
when entering the state, and which
were subsequently located in this coun-
ty, developed scab during the winter
and are now under quarantine. The
elimination Of legislative
matters at the state capital last winter
prevented the alteration Of the scab
law which would cover cases Of this
kind, and which | trust will be per-
formed this winter.
We are now closing second year of
excessive dryness, amounting to "a full
iledged drouth. We find the grass
short and the hay crop very limited,
but the lessons Of SUSI and ss;-s7 are
not forgotten. | take pleasure in say
ing that all sheep ranches Of this county
are well, and in many cases abundantly
with hay left over from pre-
ceding years, and, while the grass is
short, il is far more nutritious than ;
usual, and, with what hay will he put .
up this season, insures a successful year
10 come, even should winter Of I'M 4,
usual severity overtake us.
I'tcstStu III Ilott tttat the SISlOnS
IF that early August morning have been ,
'ully realized, and ! predict for the !
uiure large increase Of prosperity to I
he woolgrowers and that the present ,
Of sheep will he doubled in less 4,
han another decade Of ten years. '
According to the assessors returns
or ISIS? there were ninety-onc wool I
growers in Fergus county owning over b
An head. The following, taken from I
he assessors register, gives name of q
'erson, firm or company, number of a
heep owned, and value Of same. II is
easonable to estimate that the in
rease to date over 1889, after deduct
ng muttons marketed, will reach ~ per 1
ent over total assessment appearing l
elsewhere i'm this issue:
SHEEP. a
NAME No. HEAD. vALrE. II
shley, T.. l.. Loco 2.5oO Il