The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1893-08-03
SHEEP INTERESTS OF YikIxi COUNTY.
Reasons why This Industry Has
Proved n Profitable Factor ta
Sskima's Prosperity.

vigorous sheep; and class OF wool OF
good evenress and length Of staple.
Owing TO the dry climate sheep are not
troubled with any diseases, 70 the per
centave of loss is very small. The only
trouble the sheepmen have to contend
with are the cayotes or prairie wolves.
As the country gets settled up they will
soon decrease, however.
Within the last few years sheep raising
has become the most important of the va
kima stock interests. Eight years ago the
total number Of sheep in the county was
ten thousand, now il has increased until
there are nearly quarter OF million.
Besides these there are thousands OF sheep
driven from the neighboring counties,
and rs far south rs Oregon. 10 pasture in
the mountains during the summer sea-
son. In the winter time sheep are ranged
on the rolling foothills or on the prairie
country. These hills are covered with sew
eral varieties Of bunch grass, sage brush.
anu uiHcfeHt MINUS VI bfOhsc "HfH
make good feed all winter. unless the
snow gets too deep, when they have to
be fed hay. The snow does not often get
too deep, but the sheepmen are always
provided with hay. Spring generally
opens up about the middle Of February
and the grass begins to grow so that when
the lainbiny season be gins (Which is about
the 10Th of MARCH, there is plenty OF
green grass for The ewes and as it is gen
orally warm and very mild then, the in.
crease is very good, generally averaging
% per cent and over. About the end OF
May shearing is finished, then the sheep
man takes his sheep to the mountains,
where the grass is green and fresh, and
where the sheep can get shade and cool
water. AS the snow melts and the grass
comes up. TO he goes back into the noun
tsins until at the end of August he has
gone up to the summit and over the Cas-
cades. In the beginning of September,
he begins to work back down, until on
the LIST Of November, he brings up at bis
winter or home ranch.
Sheep are run In 0ocks of from 1900
to 5000 head In band. Generally, how
ever, the average is 1000. as that is about
the right number TO make a profitable
band. One man with one or two dogs
takes charge of the band and herds them.
lie is camped at some watering place,
where he has tent, and corral for his
sheep; from that point be ranges out every
day. The sheep are trained to come TO
camp every night. A camp-tender goes
along with pack horses, taking the tent,
bedding, supplies and cooking utensils
along. He also hunts range, attends to
the wants Of the herder and takes general
charge Of the sheep.
The kind of sheep raised are graded
Merino of medium size, If a sturdy, well
built frame, well wooded, growing fleece
of a fine bright quality, white, soft, oily,
and of long staple. An average fleece
weighs to 9 pounds. This wool is in
good demand for blankets and fine under
clothing.
The larger part OF the mutton sheep
shipped from Yakima 20 to the Puget
Sound markets, although there are about
ten thousand shipped every summer to
Chicago, where they command top prices
for western sheep. In the past year or
two Yakima has become center for fat
tening and feeding muttons for the Puget
Sound trade during the winter months.
There is here very rich and nutritious
hay called alfalfa, which seems TO con.
tain all the constituents necessary for
the fattenins OF sheep, and which is grown
with great success and can can be bought
at prices that make it very cheap food for
fattening sheep. II fed two pounds OF
alfalfa and 4 of pound of oats or corn,
the result is fine, fat hard mntton.
The reputation OF aIfalfa-fed mutton is
80 we'll established that IL commands a
higher price than any other fed mutton.
The man who invests his money aud
devotes his time to the raising OF sheep
and the producing of wool aud mutton
must invest enough to give occupation to
a vigorous business mind and capable
physique. Nothing short OF good ability
and undivided attention will ensure sue
cess. With these conditions TIE rewards
are ample, as in any other line of BUSH
ness. The duties of the owner are arduous
and unceasing, and it follows that he
must have the discretion to secure herd
ers and other assistants who are as good
workers and as responsible men as can
be hired, which is not always an easy
matter when account is taken OF the fact
that the herder's life is lonely and unat.
Sractive. TO any who might labor under
the impression that money may be IN
vested in sheep and the animals left to
carelessly selected hands, it should be
said at the outset that there ran be no
such thing as success.
There is quite good extent OF Tree
range not yet used, although the hest ia
all acquired or controlled by the springs
and watering places being held by sheep
owners. Still, the business is only de-
veloping and it will make progress in the
next few years.
The grazing possibilities of the Yakima
country are immense. An empire in it.
sell, vast areas OF which are yet untouched,
it will make a country when developed by
men, money and brains--a country which,
in the favori,e expression Of Artemus
Ward, IL equaIIed by few and excelled by
none. - Samuel Cameron ia Fred r.
Reeds Yakima County.
s. C. Crandall, of Tacoma, spent a
couple Of days in the city during the past
week lookinu after business matters He