The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-12-29

minds. Flockmasters themselves look
forward with a hopefulness which
seems justified in the light OF the linn
itec supply of wool being carried over
and the present rate Of its absorption
by the manufacturers. The plants of
the latter are running full blast. and il
is printed and reprinted without con-
tradictIon that the quantity of wool
now on hand aggregates but $1,000 900
pounds. as against nearly 9,000 600
pounds a year ago. This contrast is
favorable to til expectation that users
VIII be ready to BAY the new clip when
it is taken off, and purchases of old
wool made within the last few days in
this locality on a basis of 10 cents, fore
shadow ante-shearing buying at an ad-
vance over last years average figures.
Range Conditions.
The desert ranges are good and the
season thus far promises well for the
growth Of the wool on the biddies
backs as well as a big crop of lambs.
The question Of summer range is one
o. continually increasing worry TO our
nockmasters, and with each succeed
ing year their operations are hampered
by the restrictions and limitations
which grow out Of this lessening of the
free area. 1t is not likely that the
changes which viii be made in the next
few years respecting the occupancy of
public lands win bring them great
ar freedom of movement; they
threaten. on the contrary, to restrict
present privileges. the effect of which
would be to materially alter the pres
ent methods of conducting the sheep
business in the state.
Utah sheepmen are not idly contem-
plating their situation. They are and
for several years have been actively
mixing in the quiet events which are
shaping their physical and other OPP
pOrtunities. If they are skinned event
ually by opponents who believe their
privileges should be curtailed, 1t viii
be under protest and such a process of
wriggling, kicking and prices.
bleating, as will fully advertise
the painfulness of the operation.
II the case of cattle the outlook now
is for a big demand for sheep in the
spring from outside sources. ThiF
writer believes that there viii be
much early trading in all sorts Of
sheep and an advance over present
prices
There is little to be said of the swine
drove of Utah. It's a small AFFAIR. We
ought to be raising hogs enough to
make our own bacon, hams and lard,
but as a matter of fact do not produce
enough to supply our butchers
with block pork. Our farmers
and ranchers viii not go into
the business. because they cannot
sell their grunters in large numbers
whenever they get them fat; and pack
ers urge that they are not justified in
fitting up plants here until the supply
Of hogs and fat cattle is great enough
to keep them running. The building
Of four small plants in as many sec
tons of the state at modest cost, and
would solve the problem. The supply
would increase as farmers found their
product would be taken at all times
in the year, when properly prepared, at
prices on a par with those paid else
where for conversion into hams, ba-
con and lard. And the packer, do
ing his own work, with his own means
and on such scale as the supply war
ranted. would find a demand at home
foT his manufactures which outside
could not successfully pre-
vent him from pTOftably extending. In
this climate. and with Utah's alfalfa
fields and small grain production by so
many farmers, this state ought to
breed and fatten today with profit to
all concerned fully LOCO. 900 grunters |
And we annually import over 81, 000, goo |
worth Of hog products, besides such /
as manufacturers have &C |
,ustOmed our palates to put up with. /
Improved Swine.
There is some improvement going on. |
however. in this department of our live /
stock business The quality of our /
wine is improving rapidly. Breeders /
ire bringing in excellent types Of ]
lerd bOarS and brood sOws with in /
frequency, and these import /
atoms in themselves may contain an i
Indication Of extending interest in a
reelected industry which has large l
hereabouts. {
Even the casual observer must have 4
loted the improvement in the horse ]
BUSINESS of the state during the past |
welve months. Evidence of it are to
he found on all sides. As a matter Of
act, we are selling for removal from
he state fewer horses now than we
xpOTted when they were bringing half
heir present values. But as a result
i the outside demand. we have worked |
I'D prices on our holdings very con-
iderably.
The English government is still buy
NJ great many thousands of our
festern horses of both sexes for ship
1ent to the TTansvaal. which has sup
iemented the domestic demand, and !
his drain, following several years o.
lattention to bree ding, because of low
rices and lack Of demand. is cutail-
ne the western supply.
Our own standard. which was for
lerly one Of superior excellence. has
an down considerably. 1t is again on
he mend AS a result of reawakening
lterest, backed by liberal expenditures
Dr. new blood of the right strains. The
is timely and commendabIe.
nd is almost certain TO be profitable.
From this writer's point of view
lerefOre, it seems that the cowmen of
ne state are better off than they were
year ago, and know it: that tbe
neeDmen are worse off than they
lought they were. but don't know il.
nd that all sorts of stockmen expect = /
ood year. and viii be glad of it.
Among the Old Masters.
New York Tribune)