The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-11-28
INTERESTING FIGURES BY BU-
REAU OF STATISTICS.
ANNUAL LARGE LOSS SHOWN
Present Methods Of Handling Product
Regarded as Defective-Some
Early History.

reau Of statistics has completed the
chapter on wool in his Forthcoming
biennial report to the governor. In
it he deals with the yearly production
and the. value of the product and gives
other facts that will prove of inter-
est not only to those engaged in the
industry. but to all others as we'll who
take pride in the states industries
and advancement.
''In the production of this great
staple" says the commissioner, mon
tana stands first of all If the states
Of the union. From small beginnings,
through many vissitudes and varying
fortune, her focks have attained the
enviable distinction and their fleece
is now a factor in the wool produc-
ton of the world.
"'The early history of the industry
began with the advent of civilization
into the state. Through all the trials
and privations Of the early years, with
their fluctuations of success and fail
ure, there were those who ~persevered
in their efforts to advance the inter-
ests of the state and to extend the
boundaries of the livestock industry,
and to them more than to others is
due Montana's proud position as a
wool producer.
ksT% xryoc IN Tho E0'C fhof tho frCf
sheep were brought into the state
from California, mostly merinos, and
in a few years these had increased to
many thousands. In 1879 Senator
Gibson became interested in sheep
growing, and he declared that while
the merino was a good breed, it could
and should be improved. He there
fore bought in the east and imported
a number of Delaine sheep, which
he crossed with the merino with won
derful success, and this cross breed
forms the principal part Of all focks
in the northern part of the state,
while nearly all the balance are me
rinos.
"The market in early days was a
primitive affair at Fort Benton, where
all the wool was assembled for ship
ment on the river, and this continued
until the advent of the railroads, when
the principal market for the woods OF
northern Montana was transferred to
Great Falls. The cities and towns
where wool markets are maintained
at present, and which attract east
ern buyers are: Billings, Great Falls,
Miles City, Fort Benton, Big Timber,
Chinook, Glendive, Dillon, Terry, Har-
lem, Big Sandy, Havre and Missoula.'
The report shows that the total pro
duction of wool in the state in 1901
was 3O,553, $50 pounds, unwashed,
whic!, was sold at an average price OF
Ia cents a pound, and produced when
secured II, ,976 pounds of clean
wool, the shrinkage being 63 per cent.
For 1902 the crop is estimated to be
IS, 57G, 900 pounds of unwashed WOOL
which sold for prices ranging from
10 to II cents a pound, averaging Ia
cents, or a total of $4,979.3S0.
"The shrinkage in securing con
tinues the report, "is given as 63 pei
cent, leaving 13,159,79O pounds oi
secured wool worth AZ cents a pound,
or SG,1S5.1OO, showing a loss in val.
les to the state of $1,2O5,72 equal
to more than Z per cent on the total
value of all the flocks.
in 1901 there was considerable dis
satisfaction among growers VINO dld
not sell on the home market, but con-
signed their wool to eastern commits
sion houses, with the result that in
1902 but little wool was consigned,
the preferring to deal direct
with the buyers, a course which seems
to be fully justified. 1t is clearly evl.
dent that some change in the system
of marketing wool is impending, as
under present conditions, without
proper arrangements to hold the
crops, and the price being fixed by
the rates prevailing in the Boston
markets, the growers are completely
at the mercy of the buyers.
"It is impossible at this time tc
refrain from calling attention again
to the terrible loss to the state occa'
stoned by shipping wool in the grease
and dirt, which loss can only be avert
ed by a decided change in methods
and which is at once apparent IN a
comparison of the price obtained by
the grower and the prices in Boston
few davs later for the same fleece
secured"
The number Of sheep in the state Is
estimated by the Annual Wool lie
view to be 5,OS1, 900, or 361,39O more