The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1892-05-06
wyoming Letter.

much sameness as the landlords bill OF fare
of ram, lamb, sheep and mutton" Wy
oming Is a great stock growing country.
According to the census of 1890, $25, 00O.-
900 are invested in cattle, horses, sheep and
hogs. in the order above named. There are
over 100000 sheep scattered over the
State, of which number 10000 are herded
about Casper, say 80 miles i'm any direction.
This great number are owned by 25 as enter
prising and thrifty business men as you will
find in any community. Many of them,
after receiy wing good education at Their
eastern homes, followed Horace Greey's
advice and emigrated to the SO called ''wild
and woody west" many of them without q
dollar, but richly endowed with good habits,
health, energy and ''horse-sense." After a
few years OF ''roughing it, and strict atten-
ton to business. they are the owners OF
thousands of sheep and fat bank account.
] am personally acquainted with a young
man who came TO this State four years age
with 5000. He bought small herd of sheep
and went to work with will, and he tells
me to-day he has $500 head of sheep, mon
ey out at interest, and he can sell out at any
time for $4,000 cash. Another acquaint-
ance walked into this country in 'S3. He
began by herding sheep at $40 per month
and board. To-day the banker tells me, he
be honored too. The sheep business, like
all other pursuits, to be successful, requires
experience and strict attention, for ''the
woods are full' of men who failed for the
lack of those qualities. For instance, at
Douglass Wyo., go miles east) one owner
lost 1000 sheep this spring from a herd of
$4,000 traceable to bad management. The
average loss among well managed herds am
told, is about ten per cent. The largest in
dividual owner is Warren q Co., of Raw
Inns, Wyo., who have herd of $4,000
This "bunch" of sheep is divided into small
herds on an average of $500 each, which are
looked after by herder. The latter earns
$40 per month and board. His only COM
panions during the day are his horse, dog,
gun and reading matter. Usually you will
find them reading Harpers, Scribner's or
some text book; rarely will you find one
with any trashy novel, and in conversation
you will find them well posted on topics OF
the day. OF course during stormy weather
the life of the herder is m0notonous anu dis
agreeable, but as Wyoming averages over 300
pleasant days each year, stormy weather cuts
small figure. At night the sheep are herded
about the camp wagon, the horses are pick
eted near by, while the boys spend the eve
ming about the camp fire talking over old
times or in discussing some National ques-
ton. They roll into the wagon about 8,
leaving the dogs to warn them OF any APP
preaching danger. They are up by sunrise
and after breakfast of coffee, meat, pota-
toes and bread, are off for the day. The
boys take turns as cook, changing off each
week. You have probably read articles that
describe sheep herders as lazy, shiftless
uneducated class of men, who are sure to
land either in the penitentiary or insane
asylum. If so, can tell you, you ate mis-
informed, for 1 have never met one who
acted like an imbecile or rowdy. This camp
wagon Is curiosity to ''tenderfoot." 1t
has the running gear of an ordinary farm
wagon, with box that spreads out at the
four posts to width sufficient to allow an
ordinary size wire bed springs to lay cross
ways of the box, resting each end in the
projection of the same. The top of the wa
gop is circular in shape and covered with
canvas. Often you will see heavy wool
blanket spread OH the hoops underneath the
canvas, for additional protection. Under
meath the bed springs the boys keep their
clothing and grub" At the rear end of
the box is small square stove for cooking
and heating purposes. A substantial can
vas covered door keeps out the cold, while
the two windows at the front give the addi-
tiOnal light needed. One can sleep as COM
fortably i'm a camp wagon as in the bridal
chamber at the Merell House. After the
boys serve year in wages, If their work
proves satisfactory, they are given, THAT is
two men are given,) the care of about 1,S00
ewes under three years contract. The
owner to pay the taxes, the men the balance
of expenses. The wool is divided equally |
each year between the owner and
lessee. At the end of the third year, usually |
In November, the sheep are divided equally.
If the men have been successful in the man.
agement of their herd, each will have aver
aged $3.50 per month for the three years.
The sheep herders have both summer and
q winter range. During the summer the
sheep roam over the foothills of the Rocky
Mountains or the Big Horn mountains, the
various small herds radiating from the camp
wagon, say three miles. The boys change
lamp probably once week, and I'm moving
always keep an eye out for good water. In
he winter the sheep hunt their living on the
Ow lands where snow rarely falls. The
grass sheep live on is either Buffalo grass,
which grows in scattering punches and very
nutritious, or the various sage grasses. Salt
age grows similar to Michigan clover, and
supplies the place of salt The entire
ange is government land, and no sheep
wner has right to any particular locality.
first come first served, might do for mett0.
heep shearing begins about April 1. This
ear there are, within few miles of Casper,
wO large sheds with 81 pens for shearing,
esides alley-ways and large fenced yards.
t is great sight to watch the experts as +,
hey grab'a buck or eve by the hind foot,
OPP them on their back, and with three jerks
nd an oath turn the sheep loose minus its
eece of wool. l saw one man shear an
verage sized sheep in three minutes. OF ]
purse thu y do not work that rapidly all day. [
here are men here who can shear 1870 sheep 1
! day Of ten hours, though the average of
ne so men is less than so; the average daily
Tipping is about 5000. Some of the men ,
o good, smooth work, while others do not
My ragged work, but occasionally clip an |
ar or slash chunk from the neck or back. g
hey are paid &c per head and earn from 81 !
, $40 per day. Many of them are rowing !