Great Falls weekly tribune., 1896-10-16
M0NTANA'S SHEEP AND WOOL
Computations Of the State Bureau of
Agriculture, Labor and In.
dnstry.
Large Increase in the Clip-Eighty-
Two Per Cent Consigned
O,ler Figures.

Capt. James IL. Mills, commissioner of
the bureau of agriculture, labor and in
dustry, will say in his annual report to
the governor:
"The number of sheep assessed in
Montana in 1896 was 2,Sl2,S2o, an in.
crease of 2lO,72 head over the number
assessed in 1895. Applying the rule
adopted last year of adding 5 per cent to
cover the number Of shearing sheep
that escaped assessment, instead of 8
per cent as previously employed, gives
29oGG2O as tho number of sheep in
Montana IN the spring of 1896, or an in
crease of 91,00S head over the number in
the spring of 1895. The estimate by the
National Association of Wool Manufac.
turers in their bulletin of September of
the number of sheep in Montana, April
l, 1896, adopted from the estimates of
the United States agricultural depart
ment, credits Montana with 2,969,657
head of sheep, 60 the two estimates,
reached by different methods of compu-
tation, approximate very closely and are
doubtless near the exact number
"At the close OF the wool-shipping
season this bureau obtained the address
OF all purchasers or consignees of con-
siderable amounts OF Montana wool and
addressed q letter to each, accompanied
by form prepared for the purpose, re-
questing them to report the number OF
pounds of Montana wool bought by, or
consigned to, them during the wool sea-
son OF 1896; the highest and lowest aver
age price paid; the average weight per
fleece of wool bought; freight rates per
100 pounds from points of shipment to
destination, and the quality and condi-
tion of Montana wool in 1896 as com
pared with average clips. Assuming 100
to represent average quality and condi-
ton, they were requested to give figures
representing the quality and condition
this year.
cit was stated that the bureau would
not disclose the names of those report
ing unless express permission to do SO
was given. Nearly all, including the
larger purchasers and consignees, court
eously made out the reports, more or less
fully, and transmitted them to this bu-
reau. Some, as heretofore, failed or de-
clincd to respond The table, present
ing these reports in detail, is given hcre-
with. 1t accounts for 1856, ,G7G pounds
Of this years Montana clip. 1t shows
that of this, 4,5l5, ,S4G pounds, or approx
imstely % per cent, were purchased at
an average price of Sol cents per pound,
and that II, ,440, $50 pounds were con-
signed to eastern houses for storage or
sale. The weight, where given, aver
ages 81 pounds TO the fleece-a little
heavier than The estimate of the Wool
Manufacturers, which is 1.27 pounds
per fleece.
Taking the weight reported by pur-
chasers and the estimated number of
sheep IS based on the assessment the
wool clip of Montana for 1896 was d.
$780, ,2S9 pounds, an Increase of 2 451 ,3lG
pounds over 1895. Taking either esti
mate as basis, Montana has more sheep
and produces more wool than any other
state or territory in the United States.
More than this, Montana is accredited
with raising the best wool of any of the
30 called territory states and the grade
of tlocke is being contin ually improved.
"From another point OF view, the stu
alton is not satisfactory. In 1895 the
was very largely bought for cash at Mon
thna enipplnR polnt6 ny buyers on the
ground, was 1913 cents per pound, the
proceeds of the clip aggregating $780,
TIC. This year buyers were scarce and
not generally disposed to purchase. AS
a result, 80 per cent of the Montana clip
was consigned to eastern houses, the ad-
vances generally being S cents per
pound, or less, on which interest has to
be paid. If all is sold at the average
price received for that already disposed
Of ga cents less than in 1S95) the
total proceeds will only aggregate 81 ,745,-
402 The decrease of 215 cents per pound
makes loss of s5OS,44O to the wool
growers of Montana on this one clip