Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1898-08-31
TWENTY-FIVE MILLION POUNDS.
The WooIgrowers Had the Best Season for
Many Years and Feel Jubilant.
Helena independently


virtually over, though at the various
shipping points there is yet a consid-
cradle quantity of wool which the
owners are holding for various rea-
sons, principally because they are of
the opinion that in go days they will
get more money for it than they
would If they were to let go now.
This has been the best year the
Montana woolgrower has had for a
long time. and one of the best i'm the
history of the industry in the state.
The growers have i'm some other
years received more for their wool,
but all the conditions have not been
so favorable. They have not only
done well with their wool. but what
is of the greatest Importance in the
abundance of feed through the com
ing winter, which they will be able
to provide at a low cos owing to
the immense hay crop. AS a rule the
lamb crop is good and sheep will go
into the winter in fine condition. Not
only has wool brought a good figure,
but sheep of all sorts are bringing
good prices, and the prospect is that
the market will keep up for a long
time.
While estimates of the wool clip
vary from 20, ZOO, 900 to 5000, 900
pounds as the total clip of Montana
this year, a conservative estimate
puts the product at %, SOC, 900 pounds.
gone east, either having been sold di-
rect or on consignment. There are
still two or three million pounds in
the state, representing the clips of
big companies whoc an afford to hold,
and who are of the opinion that 20
cents is about the figure they will get
if they will wait u little longer. THE
top price of the year, so far as re-
ported, was Is cents, and at that fig
ure a number of sales were made.
The price during the season ran from
that figure down to IA cents, which
was the lowest for average clips.
Taking the season through, and the
price, it may be said that theaverage
for the clip of the state has been 154
cents a pound. which was better
than the growers expected to receive
when the season opened, and higher
than a great majority had placed
their figures. For a fact, Montana
growers as a rule put their price al
Il cents. Early in the season some
sold at IA cents, but that price did
not rule long and it soon went up to
II cents. Then 1T went to Is cents,
then to l6R and later to II. Many of
the growers claim that even at the
latter figure the buyers in Montana
did not pay the eastern price, and
contend that there was a cOmbiua-
ton among the representatives of
eastern houses by which they were
forced to sell for a cent or two under
the eastern market.
However that may be, it is a fact
that the Montana woolgrower this
year received more for his wool than
did the growers in any of the other
northwestern states. In Colorado
and Utah, where the season is in adj
vance of that in Montana, the buy
ers got the wool for from 10 to ~
cents, while i'm Wyoming the latter
was the ruling figure.
While the difference in price in favor
of the Montana woolgrower wasdue
in part to the better condition of the
eastern market, that is not alto
gether the reason Montana wool
commanded a SO much better price.
The fact is that while Colorado and
Utah have been trying for the past
five years to breed mutton sheep, and
have succeeded, it has been at the
expense OF h wool. On the other
hand, Montana growers have been
all the while improving their fiOcks
for the wool product, and the result
is that now Montana wool ranks far
ahead of that produced in neighbor-
Montana growers received more for
their clip this year than growers in
other states, and another reasOn was
the wool was i'm fine condition. The
spring rains washed it thoroughly on
the sleeps backs and when the buy
ers sampled it they found u nice,
bright, clean article that was safe to
buy, because it would appeal to the
eastern manufacturer.
AS a result of the good seaso very
few woOlgrowers will be in debt this
year. Those who have had obpga-
tions hanging over them for some
time past will wipe them out, while
those who were out of debt will be
able to increase their land and stock
holdings and pay cash for the better
ments.
1t is expected that the annualm eet-
ing of the Montana Sheepgrowers'