The St. Johns herald., 1899-03-18
THE SIDE OF THE SHEEP.
\ Comparison of the Wool and Cat
 tie industries of This ReigOn.

A Vandervort, who is by far the larg- est buyer of that local output of wool, mentioned yesterday some interesting facts regarding the sheep industry. He said:
 "The cattle men make a practice of censuring sheep men and they would like to force the sheep out ofexistence. No doubt sheep form large obstacle to the prgress of cattle. and one can hardly blame the cattle men for their actions; but they forget the uselessness of their congratulations. From time inn memorial and from the advent of David sheep have followed cattle and been with them until now and cattle and sheep will remain inseparable on gra- zing lands. The kicks of cattle men will not be availIng:
 "Despite the bad impression which prevails agalnst sheep, the little ami malls are source of more benefit than is commonly supposed. The city of Phoenix surrounded by the immense fields of alfalfa and innumerable cattle derives less income from cattle than from sheep. That statement may seem absurd or even rash, but few moments study of the matter will at least pur. suade one to feel more lenient toward the sheep industry. While the cattle Industry is so extensive it is neverthe- less scattered, and it IS we'll to remem- Der that 1t supplies revenue for e mum. Der of small towns and places without the city. Whereas the sheep men fufn. ishes larger demand for workmen with in the city. who return to It after completing their work, With consider. able money Tn their pockets and spend 1t with the residents. Sheep men buy supplies and equipments direct from the city, and I have no doubt that each one of any note has spent in Phoenix from $l,OO0 to S1,5O0 this yeer. The total amount expended has reached something like $15O, 900, and that is not 8 sum to be ignored. The sheep indus try this year has been about twice as extensive as the preceding year. Ask your leading merchants if they have not noted the remarkable difference this year, and ask them again to com pare, with regard to the welfare of their business the sheep industry with that of cattle.
 "Why, the magnitude of this indus try is something not generally known. In the last two days I have shipped eight carloads of wool and three car- loads of pelts. have advanced already $75, 900 on consignrtIents of local wool for Boston, and the actual will reach about $85, ,000. The total amount oi money which has been similarly ad. vanced on wool alone has been in the neighborhood og S125. 900 and the sheep which produced that wool represent probably $500, 900. So you see the mag nitude of the industry for the season just clasing, and unless something ex- traordinary occurs I expect to see il increase proportionally as it has done,
 1.-The intention to enforce the forest reserve law has been a greater source for apprehension among the sheep men than all ofthe proposed sheep licenses The law not only provides for the pres ervation of forests but prevents grazing on the ranges embraced. 1 don't be. lieve that the authorities will be per. sistent in the enforcement of the law, but if they should they will deal stun ming blow to the sheep industry of this territory.-Phoenix Republican.