The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-12-17
CR|T|CISEs THE BOARJ
The Annual Report Of the Sheep
Commissioners.
THE TAXES WERE TOO HIGH
Industry. However, r ported to Be in
Prosperous Condition--Sev-
eral R4comm enda-
tions Made.
Special Dispatch to the Standard.

Special Dispatch to the Standard.
Helena, Dec. 16.-The annual report
Of the state board of sheep comms-
sioners for the fiscal year ending Nov.
80, which was made public to-day,
shows the sheep industry to be in a
prosperous condition. The industry
yielded about s4.5oo,ooo in the value OF
the wool and sheep sold. he
wool income alone being estimated at
100000. The report says that March
l last there were $500, 1883 sheep in the
state; during the year 217,5se were
lambs was 1,092,sT2 and 26s4s1 sheep
were shipped to other states or slaush-
tered in the state. The total amount
of wool sheared in the state was 49,
29o,693 pounds, for which the average
price of 1886 cents per pound was re-
eeived in Yellowstone county;
The largest amount of wool
sheared in any one county was in Cho-
teau, 45S7, $40 pounds. Fergus county
came next, S,ess,o49; Custer third,
2,7o1, 64o Meagher fourth, 1,S7o,oo0; Te-
1,644,611; Sweet Grass seventh. 1,203.-
425; Cascade eighth, 1,027,4l0.
The d. erent counties disposed of
6S2, 7o7 pelts at an average price of Sh
cents per pound.
The report says that 25,o74 sheep
wolves and coyotes. On account Of the
spring rains the fleeces were light, and
although 2 cents per pound batter price
was realized, the decreased weight
making the profit to the sheepmen but
little better than the previous year
gtate board Of equalization in regard
to the valuation placed upon sheep OF
81 per head higher than in any oth-:
state. @
1.-THE cost Of raising sheep in Mon
tana Is higher, than In other states"
provisions are higher, freights are high
err interest is higher, risks Of loss are
greater and the necessity for shelter
and protection is greater. Is sheep
raising to be trammeled and discour-
aged? The testimony of all ages and
tana sheep owners have any advantage
over any other section or state for the
disposal of their product? The contrary
is too obvious to require even state
ment. The markets for the disposal of
our wool and mutton are easier, short
us in new country where profitable
or wealth producing Industries are
few. Wise statesmanship seeks to fos-
ter them that they may grow to the
extent Of their capacity, but our off,
Gals seem to have followed more
closely other methods. We cannot but
regard the action of the state board
OF equalization as having gone beyond
the bounds Of law and duty in their
endeavor to increase the burdens of
the sheep owners. The law defining
the duties of the board has once been
interpreted by the supreme court Of
this state, and that Interpretation set
aside or reversed declares the law for
the members of that board as well as
all other officials and every citizen of
the state. But assuming to be inter-
prefers as well as executors and ad-
ministrators Of the law. that board has
assumed to override and set aside the
decision of the supreme court and Is
sued instructions to the county Off
cials to increase the assessment Of
sheep beyond all bounds Of reason and
equity.
"The most strenuous efforts Of the
officers of this board in reM es antine
the inequity of the boards decision
produced no effect upon the rredeter-
mined purpose of the board of equali-
cation in it's hostility to the sheep in
dustry. The claim that a similar law
had been otherwise construed in other
states might with propriety have been
presented to the consideration of the
court in the course of the proper legal
proceedings. But 1t Is no excuse for
desregardilg the law of the state which
they are sworn to obey so long as 1t
remains the declared law"
The report regrets that the quaran-
tine laws against sheep diseases have
not been vigorously enforced, the work
of extermina ting contagious diseases
not having been as successful as the
board would like, scab being reported
in number Of communities during the
year. 1t Is recommended that other
states be urged to enact laws that
will stamp out sheep diseases.
The expenses of the commission for
the year were s3,o36. of which nearly
$1,000 was expended for inspection.
The receipts were 1886. as compared
with s., 1856 the previous year, and there
Is now $3.50 in the state treasury to
the credit of the sheep inspector and
indemnity fund. The sheep of Mon
tana were assessed at sS,302,944. or an
averag e of s2.6ok per head.
liable statistics show that there were
100000 pounds Of wool marketed at
Great Falls this season, probably A.
100000 pounds at Billings and 100000
pounds at Big Timber or more than
at these three markets. Estimating the
from 20.000.00o pounds, and the aver
age price at l6 cents per pound. would
indicate something more than s3.000,-
600 received from that source. From
the lamb crop and sales Of mutton half
as much more migh !. be az Led, making