The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-07-03
IT IS A GREAT INDUSTRY
The Wool and Mutton Business Has
Made Great Strides in
Montana
No Better Sheep Country Can be
Found in the World Than
Here.
There arc Many Evidences That This State
WIN Become the Principal WOOL
GrowinR Region.

In 1850 the frst sheep were driven upor
ths Yellowstone ranges of Monsana. The
success following the experimental etorti
of the cattle growers had encouraged The
importation of a few range sheep from Ore
pou into the western part Of the territory
some wears before, and the results realized
from the venture led to their dlssemina-
tion throughout much of that region,
watersd by the tributaries of the Columbia
and OF the Missouri, says the Billings
Times.
The beautiful valley of the judith offered
. computation not to DO resisted. and al
most before the danger from hostile In
dams had passed, the pioneer flock mas
tiers with rifle and crook were guiding their
fsecy bands over the passes into its Pic
turssque and virgin parks.
From the Judith tho wide plateau. open
ing southward TO the Musselshell and
thence on to tho Yellowstone proved an
easy way, and soon the great ranges SO
short a time before sacred to the buffalo.
ok and deer, we're in possession Of . bleas-
Ing host and we're beginning their service
% useful acres to civilized man.
The habits Of the early shepherds of the
region were litsls different from those of
tho peripatetic class of hunters and trap
psrs who had preceded them. They lived
in Abe covered wagons in which they trav-
elsd with their few simple belongings, or in
tents. and their folds by night consisted Of
the natural sheltered hooks of the bluHs or
The cut Of banks of the streams. where by
ths aid of their dogs they protected their
focks from the attacks of the numerous
wolves.
Gradually the lands were claimed and
permanently settled upon. comfortable
homes were built and proper structures
erected for the cafe of the sheep.
Meadow lands producing natural hay
we're in highest demand n were rapidly
taken up, as winter feed is a prime nsces-
atty, Those who followed were compelled
10 seek other lands and convert them into
meadows by artificial irrigation, and thus
the first steps in canal construction were
taken on the Judith and Musselshsll and
throughout the wide area watered by their
tributaries.
Under the primitive methods first in
vogue the losses were of course consider
able. the inadequate shelter provided
rendering the fatality very great from
sudden storms. Many owners sought at
first to 80 through the winters without
sheds. but the result was sufficiently dis
Astrous to deter them from a repetition of
WIG 0xpeIl01cEts luo SUMS AHk cAuutc ny
the herders during one OF two severe winters
were scarcely less than those of the animals
In their charge, and the writer we'll rsmem-
bers their tales of the horrors n priva-
tions they endured, as related at Billings
after the terrible winter of 1867.
Notwithstanding the many obstacles and
difficulties which these hardy pioneers were
obliged to face, the results were SO alluring
that hundreds we're soon engaged in the
new enterprise and a vast volume of capital
embarked in it.
The woolg owing industry is by far the
most important in eastern Montana at the
present time. A few years ago the ranges
Of the Missouri. judith. Musselshell and
Yellowstone were in the almost exclusive
possession Of the eattlemen and only here
and there had there been q sheep
grower settled near some isolated strip OF
meadow, where some stretch of abandoned
or unsought pasture lands gave him a home
and a small field for his labor. To-day
Dawson, Custer. Yellowstone, Cascade and
Park counties are largely given to sheep
raising, ana from the small beginning of
1882 So, it has become the capital industry
of the whole eastern tier of counties. Very
large sumo are invested in it. and flock
masters are among the heaviest taxpayers
in the state. No better sheep country than
Montana can be found in the world; its
pasture lands are dry and covered with the
rich and suoculent heritage which affords
more nutritious food than the best of the |
tame grasses, and its climate presents every |
favorable condition for tine development of
wool and mutton.
There are many evidences that this dis
trict is soon destined to become tho princi-
pal wool growing region of the world.
This is q statement mono too strong TO
make In the light of all the latent rossi-
bilities whose full development promises |
stu pendous future results.
The history nf xha Ana$raIicr rofo,to,l
need only again be alluded to. to substan-
tiate the forecast. All the united condi-
tions of the Y~ellowstone arc we'll adapted
TO the %upbui!ding of e vast productive and
manufacturing system. Ths present hold
ings fall far shot of their full develop
made, and there are vast areas yet unoc-
cupied that will in the near future afford
pasturage for mighty locks.
The sheep business is an enduring indus
try; it means the planting of permanent
homes, the thorough cultivation of the soil
wealth to the state. The range system OF
cattle raising was an ephemeral enterprise.
Ihe men who enRFged in it were largely
non-residen of the country and the homes
OF the men actually employed were in the
roundup wagons. 1t IL we'll that this has
been supplanted by something OF laRtine
benefit to the whole people. The sheep
business is the magic influence which has
put new life into the Yellowstone towns
and with its Gteady growth and the con-
slant Improvement OF the meadow and pus-
ture lands, together with the incfease of
agriculture which goes hand in hand with
II, G!endiye, Miles City. Billings, Big Tim
her and Livingston have a snre promise of
constant future progress and prosperity.
During The last two o. three years the
springs have been unusually cold and
stormy, and the losses somewhas heavy in
consequence. but il is believed by those
who arc Informed that this contingency
might easily have been avoided by deferriny
the lamblnR season to a later time than has
been the practice; by providing proper
Sheds and shelter for sheep during the
lam bling; BY supplying plenty of hay and
furnishing of sufficient ana intelligent help,
20 much 10 the western part of the state
absorbed by the mining interests that little
attention has BEEN given ttere to the bucolic
districts, where the unromantic trend of
ranch life toll holds Out no glittering
PROMISE of suddenly acquired fortune,
Inc growth OF the sheep nusbandry upon
the eastern slope OF the state has been little
less than marvellous during the rast twelve
years. and it is rich in promise for the fu.
tnre. To this interest Australia owed for
many years the majesty of the growth to
which II attained. a growth that carried it
to she front among the British depend
encies and enabled it eventually to declare
. commercial autonomy. From the Shields
Tiver to the Missouri coteous and from the
Big HON basin to the British line a mighty
area Is passing under the domain of the
flock master. a dozen wears ago not n
thousand pounds of wool WIS shipped from
the country. Last season not
far from IL, 0O0,G 600 pounds were exported
from Yellowstone points. OF this Billings
md P.o III, no .a1l, ,,~- -znul. - nIl