The Socorro chieftain. [volume] (Socorro, N.M.) 1902-1959, 1906-09-22
SHEEP AND WOOL MEN
Net in Albuquerque During the
Fan in Their First Annual
Convention.
;, AX.ADDREsS BY GOV. HAGERMAN
Who Points Cut the Importanss Of
ths sheep and Wool Growing
Industry

Following are a few para
graphs taken from. Governor
Hagerman's interesting address
before THE first annual convention
of the sheep and wool growers of
New Mexico held in Albuquerque
on Tuesday:
r'The sheep and wool industry
is now and is sure to continue to
be for many years, the greatest
aud most important industry in
this territofS. On the first day
of january. 1906, the United
States government showed
that New Mexico had almost four
million head of sheep within
her borders. Estimating their
value conservatively they are
worth fourteen. million dollars.
This years wool crop in New
Mexico will aggregate eighteen
million pounds, which at an
average value of eighteen cents
per pound, will be worth three
million two hundred and forty
thousand dollars. 1t is estimated
that one million lambs will be
shipped to market at an average
price of $2.70.per head, or in all
two million seven hundred thou
sand dollars, making a total in
come to the territory from the
interests represented by this con-
vention, of five million, nine
hundred and forty thousand dol
lars.
=" To-day is a period Of organiza-
tion, and it is absolutely neces-
sary for the producers of wool
and mutton to organize in order
to not only protect their interests
from the attacks of such organi-
..zationS as the beef trust, the
commission houses and the wool
buyers, but to secure needed
changes in forest reserve regula-
tions, transportation facilities,
commission charges and other
matters. These and many other
things you will doubtless thor
. oughlyadiscuss during the course
of this convention, and there are
only one or two matters that /
would Vsnture to call to your par
:, .,ticular attention as, in my Opin-
ion of unusual importance.
One of them is the question of
the proposed law now before the
congress of the United States
providing for the control of graz
!. ing, .op the public lands of the
United States. 1t is question
q vast Importance to all the
.stqckneu Off this country, and
;one which has been thoroughly
studied by men who are eminent
ly. qualified by training and ex-
pefience to pass upon it. The
president favors such a law and
from. Information. the accuracy
OF Which cannot be doubted, it
Seens that sone such measures,
either the one now before con-
gress or some other one will be
passed in the near future. That
such a measure is advisable un-
der'eOhditions that now prevail,
for the preservation of range
grasses and for the future of the
cattle and sheep interests of the
Country, seems to be the opinion
=: OF the u1en who have made an in
Yestigation, of the subject and
have particular charge of the
measure at the national capital.
+. "Several other issues of great
Importance TO the sheep growers
of New Mexico and of all the
country are very closely associa-
ted with policies of the national
;. goverHment. One of these is
forest reserve policy. A great
change has come about in the
sentiment of the people of New
Mexico in this matter. II was
feared, at first, that the setting
of large areas of the public do
main for the preservation of the
forests and conservative market.
ing of the grown timber. would
result unfavorably to the terri
tory. That such fears are
groundiess is now generally con,
ceded BY nearly all thinking men
Thin is especially true of thos,
sheep growers who have had ont
or two years experience in graz
ing their fiocks on the reserves
They find that the payment of .
moderate fee is not hardship
but rather, under the liberia
rules and regulations of the bur
. =. n ~: :