East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1906-05-15

sheep IA the United States. which II
PLACED in a fingle line. would extend
2s.5I5 miles. ore once around the
world. and back again from New
York 20 san Francisco.
According 10 the advance sheets OF
the annual census Of sheep and the
wool business Of the United States.
just issued by the National Association
OF Wool Manufacturers and considered
the authority on the subject by every
one In the business. there are 3ss2l.-
47s sheep fit for shearing in the
United States. as compared with 3s.-
5iz.072 the preceding year.
The slight excess over the figures
for 1904. the foregoing figures
being for the fixed date Of April !.
1909. when the census is made. does
not necessarily mean that the numbe r
Of sheep in the country has actually
made to the flOcks in Wyoming and
some changes in the totals were
made between the census date and
the final making up ofsthe tables at
the end Of the year.
However. that there has been an
increase there is no question. and this
not taking stock Of the lambs. which.
II they could be counted. would make
a much larger total than $4,000. 900.
The spring lambing was fully up to
the average AMI the associations
correspondence points to an increased
number Of sheep for the coming sea
sons clip.
In all section Of the country. with
the exception Of Wyoming. heavier
fieeces were indicated. owing to
changes and improvements in the
breeds. The total increase in the
weight is -hundredths Of pound
per fleece. TIE total quantity OF wool
produced. on the basis before men
toned 38,621.476 sheep. not including
pulled wool. is 253.4ss.43 pounds as
against 24s,7s3.032 pounds the pre-
yious year. Its equivalent in secured
wool is s7.967.121 pounds. The amount
Of pulled wool did not vary particu-
larly from the year before, $1,000
900 pounds.
The shrinkage was 20 per cent,
per cent less than the year before.
making the pulled wool yield equal
28.5sO. 900 poundt cleaV wool The
total production III wool for the en-
tire country. therefore. was 295.4ss,-
43s pounds, or 1Z6,52I121 pounds OF
secured wool. or 2.5O1.974 pounds
more than the year before. The aver
age weight Of fleece for the entire
country was 6.56 pounds, as against
$50 pounds IN 1904 and s.25 pounds
in 1903. The average shrinkage was
51.3 per cent. compared with s1.6
per cent in 1904 and sos per cent in
1903 Last years valuation of the clip
increased 23.s per cent over the year
before. while the average value per
pound Of fleece and pulled wool in
creased 2O.9 per cent and 22.9 per
cent. respectively.
The value of the clip in dollars in
creased from $64.94s,959 in 1904 to
sSO.415.514 in 1905. Montana has
the largest number Of sheer of any
state In the Union. 5.200000. which
produced last year 37.700,O00 pounds
OF wool. washed and unwashed. This
shrunk to 12,s18,OO0 pounds when
secured. or 66 per cent and the valu-
alton was 2s.844,42O. The average
weight Of a Montana fleece was 7.25
pounds, and the average price per
pound was go cents, against So cents
the previous year.
Wyoming is next in line with A.
5000 sheep, producing last year
31,50O.O0O pounds Of raw wool,
shrinking So per cent to 1O,OSOOO0
pounds OF the secured product. worth
$7,O56, 200. Fleece averaged seven
pounds each, and the shrinkage 68
per cent.
New Mexico Is the third state in
size OF flock, with 100000, produce
ing 17.050,000 pounds Of washed and
unwashed wool. shrinking so per cent
to 6,S20.000 pounds Of secured wool.
and worth S4,433,000 or an average Of
65 cents per pound, as compared with
so cents in 1904. Fleeces weighed SIS
pounds, and the shrinkage was so
per cent.
Fourth on the list Is Idaho with
1900, 900 sheep. Idaho's raw produc-
ton was 16,10O,0 900 in 1905, shrink
ing 66 per cent to 5.474,000 pounds,
secured, worth ss,777,060. Fleeces
averaged pounds each, and the av-
erage pound price was SO cents, IA
cents more than the year before.
The fifth state Is Utah. She has
flocks totaling round 100000. This
produced in the aggregate 5000, 900
pounds Of washed and unwashed wool,
the shrinkage being 65 per cent,
bringing the secured product down to
$500, 900 pounds, which brought $3,-
048,500 in the market, or 81 cents per
pound. against So cents the year be-
fore. The fleeces averaged 6.5 pounds
each.
Oregon's place is sixth, with 1900
600 in her flock, producing 1920, 900
pounds Of raw wool, averaging 8
pounds TO the fleece, ana shrinking 10
per cent. to 100000 secured. The
valuation was 33,146,40O, SO cents
per pound, gain OF IA cents over
1904.
California stands next with total
OF I,750,000 sheep. We come east
ward now, for Ohio comes next with
total OF 1,809,225, shearIng 1901