The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-10-03
Wool Production and Consumption.

Wool Production and Consumption.
We have recently discussed the cattle
situation as we see it and shall venture
some suggestions in regard to sheep.
The sheep industry of Montana has
never had warmer or more energetic
advocate than the Rocky Mountain
Husbandman, says that paper. We
have discussed and redscussed the
sheep situation and while we have al
ways maintained that it was the pur-
suit of all pursuits in Montana, we
nave always had some nisgiving in re-
gard to prices that are bolstered up by
special legislation, as is the case with
wool maintaining for a long duration
at any one period and we have not
changed our mind. The question that
we are called upon to answer more fire.
quently than any other is will the pres
ent buoyancy in sheep and wool con-
tinue or should purchasers be cautious
about buying on such market as con-
fronts the buyer to-day This is ques-
ton that it is difficult to answer and
one that involves such vast territory
that any answer the best informed
could give would be little short of
guess. The past 70 months has marked
such a demand for wool in the worlds
markets that our tariff laws have cut
but little or no figure in establishing
the market price of our wool. The tar
if has been in vogue and has had the
effect to insure wool remaining at
fair figure, but the home demand for
wool the past year has not been sufH-
Gent to force our wool above London
values to the extent of the minimum
tariff by any means. This was a most
unnatural condition and one we shall
not attempt to explain. However, we
shall not attempt any conclusion as to
the future of the sheep industry with
out taking the worlds markets into
consideration, and also the worlds pro-
duction. How long it will require the
worlds fiocks to attain their recent
yield is question that cannot be an
swered, nor do we know what The
worlds demands will be from year to
year. One thing is certain, we can't es
cape the worlds production and moth
ing short of the worlds consumption
can keep prices up permanently.
Their Fine Record.
Many an anxious mother or father
during the last few days has had load
of anxiety removed by reading the dis
patches of the safe arrival of the Mon
tana regiment of volunteers from the
Philippines, says the Madisonian. The
record made by our boys is one to fill
every Montanan with pride. Their
duty as soldiers was done fearlessly
and bravely The record is not sullied
in a single instance. Montana provided
the first fully enlisted and mustered in
regiment under the call issued by Pres
ident Mckinley. Tt was the first in the
service and the last to leave the firing
line. They were in the thickest fight
ing, where the bullets showered like
hail. They have inspired a feeling OF
pride in the hearts Of the people, who
are making elaborate preparations to
make their homecoming one long to
be remembered. All rejoice that it's
duty is done: that the regiment is once
more on the soil of the United States
and will soon be among their relatives
and friends in Montana. -Four weeks
will be required for the mastering out
process, and then they will come back
to the state that sent them to follow
the flag in answer to a most peculiar
call, one in which no American was
ever called upon to respond in the pre-
vious annals of our history as a nation.
When students study the history of the
opera tons of the American army in
the Philippines, the part played by the
Montana volunteers will stand out
clear, and it will commend itself to all
future genera tons. The soldiers have
earned the thanks of the mountain
state, known the world over as the
treasure state. and now its sons have
won a name for bravery which will not
be excelled by any.
viii Not BE in Line.
Major E. H. Becker, says the Helena
Independent, proprietor of the Billings
Gazette and Republican,, two newspa-