The Ravalli Republican. [volume] (Stevensville, Mont.) 1894-1899, 1897-08-18
TARIFF HELPED MONTANA.
Advanced priccs'For Wool and Shccp ih'
richcd the State.

Advanced PriccS'FOr WOOL anu oi'eeP AlA
richcd the State.
Ex-senator Power, who, as presS-
dent Of the Montana Wool Growers
association and citizen Of the state
who is,heavily interested in the sheep
business, keeps himself posted upon
the prices Of wool and everything
pertaining to the wool business, can
always be relied on to furnish some
thing interesting to the press about
wool and the sheep business. lie was
in a particularly ]happy frame OF
mind when anHcrald reporter called
at his Office in the American National
bank this morning and asked him II
he could help the scribe out IN the
matter Of furnishing some news.
"Well, suppose everybody is in
terested in the seasons awool news, !"
said Mr., Power. ''It is about the most
interesting topic can discuss next
to Alaska, and l presume you have
all tile information you desire re-
specting the Clondyke all OF the
papers OF the country arc full OF the
! C|ondykc. So let US talk about some
thing nearer home and Of more bene-
fit to the GREAT state of Montana. |
have roughly estimatcd-ycs, con-
Escrvatiyely so-that sheepmen o.
Montana have received this year ar
advantage Of at least five cents
nound more for their wool than the,
did last.vcar. Estimating the tota
Clip of the state at 25, 900, 900 pounds
the state is about one million and
quarter dollars better off, and alE OF
account of the protective tariff jus
, enacted. This does not include TIL
, advance in tho price Of sheep WhIc
has cone hand in hand with the ad
vance in the price Of wool. One yea
ago sheep were probably worth abou
1925 a head. Today they are wort
So and So. 25 Il head, with plenty
- mutton buvers in the field. Sa
that there $780, 600 sheep in tt
state: you can readily estimate no
much richer the wool interests
Montana are than they were a yc
) AGO. The advance in wool and tt
: corresponding increase in the vail
of sheep are certainly very happy
suits of the so-called triumph of epl
lection at the polls. The feed in t
whole state is said to be very fit
the best in many years, and altogeth
the sheepmcn haye cause to #
pretty good nowadays"
"What proportion Of the clips
YOU estimate have been sold o'
n right and what proportion consis
edo"
1T have no reliable estimate
hand, but what ! have learned
r. r. sizing up the situation as present
--- at the various places where wool
been brought to market, l should
- that over IS per cent Of the clips
the state have been sold, thcDbala
consigned on a, good advance, WI
. out any possibility Of "a unplcas
drawback"
uIIow about the tariff bill, Sc
tor do YOU think Montana Jared '
we'll in the final makeup Of the "
scheduled"
I "WelI, yes, ! think we did.
don't think am very much out
tnc way in saying that the bill atf(
Montana woods an average protect
of seven cents pound. If next
sons's clip is as good quality as
YEARS | think the wool men will
protected about that amount.
course they must not become c
less ard allow their grade of shec
run down and produce an info
grade of wool. l am pleased t(
that they are not doing this. !
tana wool men are improving
grade of their sheep every year.
have the country and climate TO
duce fine wool and with pr
breeding there is no reason "h
should not. \ very Important
ture, and one that will cuta hSu
the prices resulting from the
-.. tariff bill, will be the inspectio
ue''O the custom houses. Ii the lnspe
are careful 1 think we will b
right, l think Mr.. Gage can D
lied on that respect. But IL
very important question, ana
that should not be overlooked. -
ena Herald.