Rosebud County news. [volume] (Forsyth, Mont.) 1901-1906, 1903-05-28
IN THE SHEEP INDUSTRY OF THE
UNITED STATES.
STATE HAD ONLY 2,O24 IN 1870
Whil( Now 1t Has 4,710,81O, Valued
at Over $1O,OOO,OOO.

According to the statiscians, Mon.
tana has more sheep within her bor-
ders than any other state or territory
in the union, and last year her wool
production also exceeded that of any
other state or territory. Not only that,
but of all the northwestern states Mon
tana sheep are noted for their quality,
and the feeces produced in this state
command higher price than those
from any other inter mountain state.
Careful and intelligent breeding has
done that for the Montana sheep and
while this betterment of the f1ocks and
f1eeces has gone from year to year, the
the number of sheep has increased with
the improvement. In the report of Com.
missioner of Agriculture Ferguson
there are some interesting facts about
the sheep industry in Montana which
show how the business has increased.
The early Montana pioneer found
the native Rocky mountain sheep, but
all efforts at domestication and cross
ing with domesticated sheep proved
unsuccessful. The number of sheep in
the state was first given in the census
Of 1870 as 2,O24. Ten years later the
number had increased to 279, 277, while
in 1890 1852 1856 were reported. The
whole number of sheep in Montana, as
returned for assessment, is 4,719,61O,
with valuation of $40, $780, 1856. These
are classified as stock sheep, lambs
and rams. and the number of stock
sheep is given as 4,1O3,3l8, valued at
SO, $50, 144. an average 1922 each,
The number of lambs is 5S5, 627,
valued at $l,196,175, an average of
S2.O4 each; and there are 3O.665 rams,
valued at $157 ,567, an average of $515
each. Stock sheep are returned from
every country in the state, Fergus be-
ing in the lead with 61S.646. Chouteau
county is next with 652, 524. Eight
counties return more than 200, 900 head
and Flathead county has the smallest
number, sos.
Jefferson county has the highest val
uation per head, So, while Chouteau,
Fergus and Valley are the lowest at
So. Is per head.
Stands First of all States.
In the production of wool Montana
stands first of all the states in the
union. From small beginnings,
through many vicissitudes and vary
ing fortune, her flocks have attained
their enviable distinction, and their
fleece is now factor in the wool pro-
duction of the world. The early his
tory of the industry began with the
advent of civilization into the state.
Through all the trials and privations
OF early years, with their fluctuations
of success and failure, there were
those who persevered in their effo,t is to
advance the interests of the state and
to extend the boundaries of the stock
industry. To them more than to others
is due Montana proud position as a
wool producer. 1t was in the CO.'S
that the first sheep were brought into
the stftes from California-mostlvl
Merinos-and in a few years these had |
Increased to many thousands. In 1870
Senator Gibson became interested in
sheep growing and he soon decided |
that while the Merno was a good |
breed,it could and should be improved
He, therefore, bought in the east and
imported number of Delaine sheen, |
which he crossed with the Merinos
with wonderful success, and this cross
breed forms the principal part of all
the Hocks in the northern part of the
state and nearly all the balance are
Merinos.
The wool market in the early DAYS
was primitive affair at Fort Benton.
where all the wool was assembled for
shipment on the river and this con-
tinued until the advent of the railroads,
when the principal market for the
woods of Northern Montana was trans. |
ferred to Great Falls. The cities and
towns where wool markets are main.
tanned at present are: Billings, Miles
City, Big Timber, Glendve, Great
Falls, Fort BENTON, Chinook, Terry.
Dillon, Big Sandy, Harlem, Havre
and Missoula.
Total Production of Wool.
The total production of the state for |
1901 was given as 80, $50, 900 pounds of