Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1904-03-02
Montana Sheep Men Are in Good
Shape Despite Early Losses and
Low Prices.
THE INDUSTRY is CHANGING
A Gradual Reduction in the Size Of
But Increase In Number OF
Owners.
Montana Correspondent to the Amer

astrous one to sheepmen in Montana.
The fact is that Montana woolgrowers
are in good condition. While no fig
.ures will be available for nearly two
months. it is estimated by the secre-
tary of the state board of Sheep Com
missioners that the output of wool
in this state during 1903 was in the
~neighborhood of 80, 600. 900 pounds or
a trihe less. 1t will not average up TO
last year. however. The quality OF
Montana wool is recognized as super
ior and il invariably brings a better
price than that of any other north
western state. The wool is each year
growing finer and cleaner and the
quality is growing better. With the
improvement of the grades of sheep,
by the introduction OF better blooded
rams into the flocks. the standard OF
wool is gradually growing higher.
The disappointing feature Of the
business during 1903 was the price Of
sheep. At no time during the year
do the sheepmen feel that their ami
mails sold for what they were really
worth. The price Of mutton in Nor
tana did not follow the price of wooi.
Usually the two are said to hold to-
gether pretty well, but 1903 was an
exceptional year in that respect.
Had the prices of mutton been sat
~isfactory there would have been a
much greater movement of sheep 20
market from this state last fall AMI
during the early winter. notwithstand
ing the fact that a large number was
sent eastward the way the market
was. The lambs sold for feeding puT'
poses brought a fair price. Not many
of them have yet been marketed from
this state, but the movement com
mences about February /.
The wool industry in this state is
undergoing a great change. The day
has passed in Montana when sheep
men believe they can go through a
winter without putting up any feed
| mere WAS d tlIht WHth thN hNAtui
some sheepman depended entirely up
on the range for winter feed. witt
THE contraction of the public range
and the overcrowding Of that which
Iremained il became no longer practl
cable to rely upon the open range fol
feed. Now almost every sheepmau
with the possible exception Of those
in the eastern part of the state, has
his stacks of hay and some OF then
also raise grain, 1t is the safer way
although il lessons the profits. In Z
severe winter, however, feedin;
means the saving of bands that woult
otherwise peris... The practice o
feeding sheep in the winter has CONF
to stay: it is a practical assurance
that the wool grower in this state n
longer neglects.
Slowly but surely the big sheepmel
in Montana are reducing their hold
ings. There are now less than tel
sheepmen in this state VINO own NOR
than 10000 head. There are fewe
outfits with more than 10000 thai
formerly. The number OF persons IN
terested in sheep, however, is stead!l,
increasing.
The assessment roll of the stat
shows there were only a few NOR
sheep in Montana during % than /
1902. During 1903 Abb. 1874 sheep @
all classes were reported for taxa
ton, as compared with 4,719,60S tn
year before. The losses of the sprin
of 1903 account in some measur 10
the slight increase. Usually sever
storms killed a large per cent @
lambs in northern Montana, Will
portions of Fergus and Meagher cour
ties also suffered heavy losses. Wher
the losses did not occur during tn
winter the lamb crop was short an
the number of dry ewes exceptional
large.
While 1t is too early to make an
predictions, interviews with prom
nent sheepmen show that they expe.
: equally as good prices as were r.
, ceived for the fleece last year. Man
, of them believe that the price will b
higher than last year. If the price
are fair the Montana sheepmen loo
for an exceedingly prosperous yea
On the whole the industry is on
firmer and more lasting basis than {
any time during the history of MOI
tana. which promises to keep its lea
as the principal wool producing stat
of the country.
The year Just closed gave emphas
to the fact. as stated by Mr.. Mos
that there is a tendency on the pa
4 of Montana wool men to feed sheep
this state. In past years many thou
2 ands of sheep have been shipped
South st. Paul, towns in Nebraska an
k other points in Minnesota and low
for feeding purposes. The high prict
of feed at many Of those places, e
y pecially at South st. Paul. turned Il
attention of many of their own stat
h as a feeding ground. This was o
pecially so last fall. The first fee
/. ing on a large scale was done in ii
d Yellowstone valley, in the vicinity
Billings. |. ID. O'Donnell, the phones
in the business, has been feeding 1,
years. and has made a success of
This winter IL is an exceedingly II
If portant industry in the YellowstoI
valley. where it grew mor and mo
d each year as alfalfa became known
a good feeder, together with a lit
st grain. for the finest alfalfa in u
If world is raised here. Nowhere in Il
state is so much of this forage grow
T. as in the Yellowstone valley. IT
ar land there appears to be especial
ID adapted to its raising, although It mi
II be grown in large quantities In lie
favored sections.
a Billings and that section oil Il
lie Yellowstone valley. however, have
lie no means a monopoly on the she'
10 feeding business. Three years a!
TWO or three yenturesome meh In u
~ Gallatin valley began to feed shee
n They made money. and their examp
was followed by many until durl'
the present winter there are ma