Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-12-07
SHEEP RAISING.
One Of Most Profitable Branches of
Agriculture in the World.

Strange as it may appear upon
fact that scarcely anything is ever
heard in public way, of what prom
ises to become at no distant date
the most profitable branch of agri-
culture in the world. and what is now
the most profitable in Australia, and
one ot the most lucrative. perhaps the
most, for the amount of capital in
vested in the United States-sheep
raising.
South America, Russia and South
Africa have all gone into the business
and are all actively awake to its Won
derfu possibilities.
Now and then d short item may
appear in some Of the newspapers
bearing on the subject, but this is
usually in reference to some fracas
between sheep tenders and cowboys,
who are sworn enemies and almost
always at war.
The cowboy regards the sheep
horder as a usurper upon public do
main and sheep a pest not to be quiet
ly endured. while the sheep man
stands up manfully for his rights, as
equal to those of the cowboy. and
always has it in for the cattle tender.
At the moment war is raging in
the Wind river country of Wyoming
between cattle and sheep men. and
supporters of both sides are said to
be gathering in large numbers to take
art. County authorities are power
loss. and unless cool heads on both
sides interfere much blood will prob
ably he shed.
| 1t is the old war between the sheep
men and the cattle kings as to who
shall have the open range.
flock of $500 sheep which had
strayed from the sheep country into
the cattle lands was attacked by the
cowboys. and the entire lot driven
over Il preclplce and killed.
Some time ago when the sheep
raising industry was in its infancy in
the United States. the sheep We're
kept almost entirely on the public
domain or grazing grounds Of the
West. which grounds since the dis
covery of the country. the cattlemen
always regarded as their own. AS
sheep and cattle won't mix it was
not to he wondered at that conflicts
between cowboys and herdcrs for the
possession of good ranges were fire.
uuent ard often bloody. usually re-
sulting in the Punishment or dcStruc
ton of the sheep.
Recently these conflicts. although
they bad not entirely subsidized. as is
evidenced by the above statement.
have not been 50 frequent. as the in
crcasing competition for the open
range as well as the great curtail-
ment of these ranges in some sections
of the West has resulted in most of
the large sheep men of today owning
their own lands.
since this change was undertaken.
the industry. free from handicap.
has grown by leaps and bounds, and
is still tremendously on the increase
in certain sections of the West.
Montana is now the leading sheep
raising state. and it is estimated
there are between six and seven mil
lion sheep On the ranges Of this state
today Wyoming follows Montana
closely in the number OF sheep
raised within her borders annuallv.
California in some sections is also
becoming Interested in sheep rals-
ing 1t is estimated that at present
there are nearly 10,000,000 sheep In
the United States That there is de-
mand, which might be doubled. for
a goodly portion Of this enormous
quantity Of lamb and mutton is evil
denced by the fact that at the union
stock yards in Chicago alone 1t mas
been no uncommon thing in the last
wear or two to slaughter annually be-
tween four and five million sheep'
valued at about $40. 100000.
Sheep. unlike cattle. who require rlch
grazing grounds, thrive on very scanty
vegetation and if given fairly Tree
range, which is quite possible, Where
land is poor, and consequently cheap
they increase abundantly. requiring
small attention, one or two fheh a.
most with well trained dogs De'ii5
oui,e sufficient to take care OF hu50
flock. .
These her1ers live out on the ranges
with their flocks for months at 'iiiie
Camp tenders supply their wants anu
at the same time maintain LOOKOUT
for good ranges.
The only protection which sheep
ouire from the winter storms are ro"7'