The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-06-17

1t will be seen how great the slaughter was
during the years following 1892; and while
the above figures represent. rs stated the
killing in only four Western cities, the
sidG ShteT Vas carried on in a proporiionate
measure throughout the Country. The revival
of the industry is just now beginning; and it
will be apparent to every intelligent reader
that the danger of overproduction is very re-
mote, even if the figures of 1884 are to mark
the eliminating point. But these WILL in all
probability, be largely exceeded before any
check is liable to occur. The reasons for
this assumption are, 1t may be suggested, two
fold. In the first place. the meat Of the
sheep has grown vastly in popularity in this
country since 1884, while the export demand
for sheep has perceptibly increased during
the past four five years. In 1880 this coun-
try exported 2G9 $50 head. In 1888 the number
rose to 337 ,251 head. There was a gradual
shrlnkage down to 1893, when the number of
head exported reached only 1890. In 1894
there was a sudden turn. The figures that
year reached 1890; in 1895 they leaped to
4O5, 74S and in 1886 to 491 ,656; but in 1896 tie
number declined to "a, 100. AS shown above,
our production of sheep that year was the
lowest in eighteen years. We did not have
the sheep with which to supply the demand.
Furthermore there were unusually large ship
during that period owing to the expiration
of leaseholds for pasturage in that country
necessitating the prompt disposition of the
animals. This brings US to the second reason
why no immediate danger OF overproduction
exists. The decline in the sheep industry in
Australia has been very considerable dur
ing the past three years; and it is expected
to be st II greater down to and including 1860,
when the -leaseholds for pasture, embracing
another immense area will expire. This VIII
no doubt have the effect of increasing an
export demand from this country to very
marked extent.
The time is therefore propitious for the be-
ginning of small herds, especially under the
superb conditions prevailing in Minnesota
The Iowa Homestead aptly says regarding
the revival and the aprehensions expressed
In some quarters as to the possibilities of
production:
This is great country and when it starts
along line it can do great things in a
wonderfully short time. We believe 1t is pos
sibe to overdo the mutton business, but we
desire tn be placed on record as saying that
we do not believe it will be done with good
mutton. There is usually too much poor
mutton and the same may be said of other
products, but of really frst-class mutton 1t
is safe to say there will never be an over
supply in the face of the vast increase in
Sheep are all right now and viii continue
to be SO for a period, for this business can
not be oyerdone in a single year. even with
ueqM 'Su!pe9J-eplso ueql IsuleI SutmoIs
farmer will find the business a good one.
even in times of depression. He will select
carefully, breed inteliigently and if depres-
sion strikes him, keep right on in the same
way he has for years, culling closer, keep
ing the profitable sheep, and when the tables
turn he viii be in position to unload lot
on the market for good prices and will have
Shppn fha
which will always insure good prices. We
have seen this several times in our short
life. and 1t is liable to happen again.
The same excellent Journal, referring in
another article to the tendency to shift from
one industry to another, also says:
me tendency has been to turn attention
from cattle to sheep in all parts of the coun-
try: This has ia: been brought about by Sc
res OF conditions which have been shaping
themselves for years. Sheep during the times
OF depression were ruthessly sent to an al
READY glutted market, and the stampede was
so great as to take many breeding ewes to
the Strengthening pens. This, together with
the mao rush for cattle and hogs to consume
ene immense supply OF grain, which has been
accumuiatlng on the farms of the West has
turned the attention Of farmers to sheer.
foor mutton. The careful and thouphtfnl
prices Oh 1eedlng cattle became so high that
many careful feeders could see no margin
their attention was naturally turned TO sheen
while it is quite true that sheep will NOT
consume me the grain that cattle will. it has
been demonstrated that as much money could
be made in feeding cattle or even hogs.
This business Is not only going on on the
farms OF the West. but many of the ranches
are provided with the same agreeable change
Many Of the Wyoming ranchmen are quietly
and diligently at work studying the sheen
business and one by one are becoming con-
yerts, convinced by its profits. They recog-
nize the fact that sheep and cattle will not
harmonic on the same range, and that the
cattle business in the future must be wholly
controlled by the cattlemen. This makes il
too expensive for the average man to run
cattle, as each animal will require about
thirty acres of land for grazing, and this