Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1904-01-27
SHEEP COM'R'S
ANNUAL REPORT
The Newly Appointed Official, 8. C.
White, Makes Statement Of Sheep
and Wool Conditions.
INDUSTRY ON A GOOD BASIS
No scab Among the shep Of Fergus
county-Priee One Cent Higher
Per Pound.

As stated in the Argus Of two
weeks ago, Hon. David Hilger. of this
county. has resigned his position as
sheep commissioner of Fergus coun.
ty. Upon his recommendation Hon.
B. c. White. of Ubet, was chosen to
take his place. During the twelve
years which he has held the office
Mr.. Hilger has performed the duties
in a painstaking. conscientious man
ner. While woolgrowers generally
were sorry to hear of his resignation,
they will be glad to learn that the
place is to be filled by such a worthy
successor. Mr.. White understands
the sheep business from start to fin.
lsh and is most competent to take up
the duties of a commissioner. He
has prepared his annual report to the
Montana State Board OF Sheep Com.
missioners, of which the following is
copy:
Number OF sheep on hand March
/, 1903, 724,74S.
Number Of sheep brought into this
county from other states since March
l. 1908. none.
Number of lambs docked since
March 1, 1903, 204,9lS.
Number of lambs and sheep slaugh,
tered or sold and shipped out Of the
state since March /, 1903, 155.O12.
Number pounds of pelts sold since
March |. 1903, and price per pound
received for same. Price, Sc per lb;
1928 pounds.
Number Of pounds Of wool sheared
since March 1, 1903, and price per
pound received for same. Price Is
Bloc per lb.; 5.176.757 pounds.
Number of pounds OF wool consign
ed and at what advance. 246,000 lbs
IL SIC advance.
Number of sheep destroyed by
wolves and coyotes during past year
1879.
General health and condition OF
sheep now in this county, excellent.
General details OF scab OF any Other
infectious disease. II any, existing
during the past year and to date:
No scab or other infectious or contag
ious disease.
Remarks and information relating
to the industry. Please state IL you
have any wool stored in Montana (af
ter September 1st); No wool stored
The general health of tue sheer
throughout the county is excellent
There have been no cases OF scab ol
other infectionus disease and only
two cases of quarantine upon repor,
Of sheep having been exposed, and In
neither instance did the sheep devel
op scab.
The general range conditions are
are over crowded, but had there beer
any market for stock sheep. many
thousands more would have been sold
than were.
The sheep men are generally wei
prepared with hay and winter range
to care for their focks. and thus fal
the winter has been favorable and the
sheep are wintering we'll
The complaint is quite genera
among woolgrowers OF the county
that the present system OF selling
wool Is unsatisfactory, and that tn,
sheep business bears an unjust pro
portion OF taxation as compared will
the other industries OF the state. Ir
fact. 1t Is pointed out that stock sheeI
have not sold for their assessed value
during the last year. The repeal o
the bounty law, which provided for |
$500 bounty on wolves and coyotes
did not meet the general approval o
the woolgrowers. and these rang
pests were being gradually extermi
mated under the old law. They arr
now on the increase and more stool
is being destroyed than under the oil
law.
The price OF wool averages a frac
ton more than cent a pound OF
the Fergus county clip as compare,
with year ago, but owing to tn,
climatic conditions the clip was 310
7SS pounds less than in 1902.
In conclusion. we can say that tn,
wool growing industry is upon a yer!
sound basis. Sheep are In excellen
condition and woolgrowers are max
Ing year by year more preparation
for feeding their sheep.
II Is TO be regretted that Hon. Davi,
Hilger. who has been the efficien
shep commissioner OF Fergus count
for the past twelve years. has foun,
II necessary. owing to pressing pr
vate business interests, to resign. an
under his administration Of the offic
he has kept the county free fron
scab and other infectious diseases an
has given general satisfaction TO tn
woolgrowers.
Respectfully submitted on this 27t
day OF January, 1904.
B. C. WHITE,
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