Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1900-12-26
SHEEP AND WOOL INDUSTRY.
The Output Tor the Present Year Placed
al 26,O00,00O Pounds-0ther
Matters OF Interest.

duced $4,000, 600 pounds of wool dur
ing the present year, according to
the report OF the state board otshcep
commissioners, filed today. The
board expresses the opinion that the
assessment Of sheep in Montana,
which was 80 n head, was altogether
too high.
The board refers to the inyestiga.
tlons made by Dr. L. V. Wilcox, Pro-
fessor V. *. Chestnut and n govern
ment botanlst. in regard To poison
GUS weeds and plants. These eX-
perts estimate that the annual loss
to the state from plant poisoning
amounts to from $4,000 to 100000.
Speaking generally OF the wool
growing industry In the state. the
board says:
AT the opening of the year condi-
tions looked favorable for improved
prices of wool and mutton, and
there were agents in the state seeking
to contract the wool crop of 1900 Mt
20 cents per pound at n time six
months in advance OF Its sheuring.
"But when shearing time came and
the crops were brought to market
there was IL noticeable scarcity OF
buyers and back wardness in pur-
chasing, and prices were far below
what was reasonably anticipated.
This was In strong contrast to
the animated bidding at the wool
exchanges at our principle marketing
points one year ago, and it seemed
evident there was n combination
against the growers to dictatcprices
and secure the wool crop on consign-
ment.
"Many were compelled to sell at
twu-thirds the price that was antlci-
pated, and most, unwilling To sell
at prevailing prices, were compelled
to ship and accept what the con.
signees were willing To advance.
Most Of the consignments are still
unsold and the expected returns are
being consumed by interest on the
advances and commission charges" F"
Speaking Of the Great Falls mar
ket, the board says: AT Great
Falls last summer there was such an
amount of wool at one time that 1t
had to be loaded in cars on side
tracks for miles, and at one time the
insurance companies refused to take
any more wool for Insurance.
"Some estimates place .hc arEDui.t
OF wool marketed at that point at
1000, 900 to 100000 pounds, while at
Billings as high rs l2,OOO,OO0 pounds
were estimated to have been re-
ceived, but this includes n large
amount OF northern Wyoming
wool"
The report, speaking OF machine
shearing, says: "Some few indivi-
duals and companies have supplied
themselves with plants of their own
for this purpose. One advantage OF
this Is check upon sheep shearerp,
who sometimes strike for more pay
after making contracts. Itisclaimcd
for machine work that it shears
cleaner, and without cutting the
sheep as much. OF course to those
who have plants of their own. an
other great advantage is that they
can choose their own time for the
work" The board says that the
sheep In Montana are healthy aud
In better condition than those OF any
other state.
Concluding the board says: dur
ing the past season the sheepmen OF
Montana were favored with a mild
spring and sufficient rain to give
grass an early start. This resulted
In q better lambing reason than
usual. But as the season progressed
the early promise for a large growth
of grass was sadly disappointing.
The feed on the ranges Ia closely
cropped. and the supply Of hay and
other feed is not equal to a long,
hard winter. Fortunately SO far
through December the weather has
been mild and favorable"