The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1901-08-08
The YAKIMA HERALD.
TIL TUESDAY. AUG. s, 1901.
SHEEPMEN ARE PROSPEROUS.
Present Season One Of the Best In Years
Lester Coffin's Views.

Sheep raising is rapidly becoming one
of the most important industries in the
Northwest, in the opinion of stockmen,
and this part of the country is becoming
one of the chief centers in the United
States in this line. Lester +. Coffin, one
OF the largest stock owners in Washing
ton and Idaho, speaks well for the fu-
ture of the industry. He states that the
establishment of securing and wooden
mill in Seattle would be a paying propo-
sition. At present there are no securing
mills in this state, the nearest being at
The Dalles and Pendleton, Ore. Mr..
Coffin arrived in the city Wednesday.
He and his brothers constitute one of
the best-known mercantile-stock firms
in the Northwest. They have ranges at
Lewiston, Idaho, and North Yakima.
They have 10000 head of sheep, the
greater part OF which are in this state,
and have recently purchased 10000 acres
of railroad land for grazing.
"The industry" he said yesterday at
the Rainier-Grand, twas never in better
condition. Several months ago it
seemed that decline would take place
in our market, but the strong demand
for the finer grades of wool has pre-
vented this. This demand is caused
mainly by change in the fashions.
The styles of dress goods now in vogue
call for the higher grades of wool. A
few years ago the coarser fabrics were
chiefly in demand. The sheepmen east
OF the mountains are figuring on buying
heavily in range land. 1t is necessary
for them to do so, as the lands are going
fast. The wool growers are making
good money, and if present conditions
investment for capital. There has been
no noticeable increase this year in the
flocks of sheep in Washington and Idaho
because of the demand for our lambs in
the Chicago market. The wool men and
the buyers are getting together, so that
there will not be more than two or three
clips held over this summer in North
Yakima. Wool is selling at ~ to 12lac
a pound, l0c a pound yielding very
satisfactory profit. The ranges are
somewhat overstocked, which means
that eventually the runs WILDE smaller,
say 100 to 500 on range. Our wool has
to be secured at Pendleton or at The
Dalles, Oregon, as there are no mills in
this state. The establishment of a scour-
ing mill in Seattle in connection with the
wooden mill would be good investment
for capital. The principal markets for
our sheep and lambs are Puget sound
and Chicago. At rough estimate
should say that the Sound purchases
over 100 900 head a year from us. 1t is
impossible to fix the number going an
nually to Chicago. Sheep and lambs are
being bought and sold on an average of
s.. 80 head in both our markets. The
Chicago market principally wants our
lambs, which are among the best, ii not
the best the dealers there can secure
This demand is steady and will show an
increase every year The same holds
true for sheep in a lesser degree. The
Sound, as l stated, is also using a large
amount of mutton and lamb, the de-
mand by your local houses being very
heavy. Part OF the shipments to this
portion OF the state, OF course, are des-
tined for Alaska, but the logging camps
also consume much mutton. Seattle
Post-lntelligencer.