Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1897-09-24
NEVADA SHEEP.

The Dingley tariff has placed a tax
upon wool which has again made
sheep not only profitable. but big
paying investment.
For some years past, extending
back even to the reign OF the Nc
Kinley bill, sheepmen have had a
hard time to keep their end up. DULY
the men who owned large herds Of
forty or fifty thousand head were
able to withstand the onslaught.
Prior to that time. the smaller sheep
owners. and those with bands rang
ing from five to ten thousand head.
had always been able to pay their
expenses from tneir wool product,
leaving their mutton from their in
crease as clear profit, but of late
years their expenses have been run
nIng into their mutton also, and
finally it consumed the profits of
both wool and mutton TO cover the
expenses attached to the business,
and even then they were compelled
to incur debts and were running be-
hind every year: Bad luck ana
losses in Winter but aggravated this
necessity until finally many smaller
holders We're forced to sell in order
to save themselves. Now, however.
those who own sheep are assured of
not only fair but profitable return
for their industry. No one attempts
to controvert the fact that the Ding
ley tariff measure has been valuable
assistance to the sheep industry, that
it has given the price of wool an up
ward tendency and put not only hope
but certainty into the breasts of
those who are in the business.
Already an inclination has mani
tested itself among sheepmen TO hold
their sheep from the markets as NUT
ton to some "xtent, in order to secure
the profits of their wool. This, how.
ever. will not last, for yeav or two
of the increase of each band will
place its owner III n position to again
send his mutton to the market Mt a
fair price and to secure the profits OF
his business from the wool product of
the sheep that he retains.
1t must be remembered that the
price Of sheep as mutton has not
been affected by the tariff law. No
tariff law can affect that result to any
appreciable extent. That phase of
the situation is governed, as is that of
cattle and other products, by the uni
versal law Of supply and demand.
The enhancement Of the prices OF
sheep is not result of this law but
of the increased value OF the wool
they produce.
Nevada is a large State and is
fast gaining m extended reputation
as a wool grower. l have heard the
opinion expressed by those compe
tcnt to Judge, that Nevada produced
the cIeanest, finest wool Of any State
in the Union, with the possible excep-
ton of Ohio, and that the sheep of
Nevada, ranging and feeding us they
do upon the nutricious grasses which
cover in amazing qu utilities and
strength our mountain tops and hill
sides, and in a climate which is free
from germs and clear OF atmosphere
are the healthiest ami least subject
to the usual diseases of sheep than
any that they have ever handled,
There is one mistake, however, that
the sheep owners are making, which
is likely to put them not only togrcat
expense. hut to serious trouble. The
cattlemcn of the State are holders of
vast tracts OF lnud, much of it I'm
fenced. which they hol,l under survey,
and contract and OF winch ,hov are
virtually the owners.
It. is becoming doectpbie rractiIce
OF those owning sheep to ovorrur
these lands with their herds, rroppiny
therefrom every blade Of grass, and
o,,n,,lainiv HslxinniouO tho lnnI 49,