The Dickinson press., 1906-04-28
The PROBLEM FACING
SHEEPMEN.
Range Sheep Industry
Must be Re-orqanized
and Re-adjusted to
Meet Present Condi-
tionS,

From the address of Hon. VIM. Lind
say of Glendive before the wool growers
convention at Miles City, we quote as
follows:
"No intelligent stockman TODAY will
attempt to blind himself to the fact that
the wool-growers and the livestock pro-
ducers are face to face with conditions
which must, in the very near future, rev.
olutionize the methods of conducting the
livestock industry in the open range
country. The constantly increasing cost
OF producing wool and mutton, the evil
dent determination of the Federal gov
eminent to bring under control and re-
strict the use of the public range, the
disposition of the transportation and
stockyard companies and the commits
sion houses to exact the last farthing of
tribute the industry will stand, are all
controlling factors in bringing about
Conditions which must sooner or later
receive radical treatment at your hands.
."The increased cost of labor and sup
plies, the growing necessity OF adopting
more humane methods of handling
sheep upon the range, the decreased
carrying capacity of eur ranges, making
1t necessary for the fockmaster to own
and control his winter ranges. or place
his sheep in the feed lots during the
winter months, or take desperate
chances upon the open range, the in
creased transportation charges and cost
OF marketing the products of our indus.
try have all contributed to increasing
the cost of production. But by far the
most important factor bearing upon this
phase of the business is the continuous
curtailment of the public range. The
locating of the water ways by the farmer
and small ranchman, the sale and fenc-
ing up of large blocks of lands and the
fact that the great tide of emigration
that in former years has been carried
through to the states lying west of US is
now beginning to flow within our own
borders, all admonish the sheemneh to
prepare for the radical changes that are
sure to come. This development uf the
dormant resources OF this section ol tie
state will eliminate the speculative tea
lures of our business, it will at:d to its
security and stability but We ~ll have
to re-organize and re-adjust our business
to meet it.
"The question is, how will we do it:
If may be allowed to answer the ques-
ton, would say by running lever and
better sheep, by carefully culling our
aoeks every year, keeping the best back
and sending to the shambles every sheep
that does not come up to a certain
standard, from either mutton or a wool
producing standpoint. Breed only the
best, never turn scrub or grade ram
into your focks. The hockmaster who
buys cheap ram of any type or breeds
to ram inferior in any point, not only
throws his money away, but he chalks
down big item on the wrong side of
his ledger which shows against him on
his balance sheet for some years to
come.
IL have watched with good deal of
concern the policy Of the government i'll
creating and controlling forest reserves
and my observations have convinced me
that it would only be matter of time
when the government would attempt to
extend that policy to the entire grazing
lands of the public domain. And while
heartily indorse that policy so far as it
is necessary to protect and conserve the
growth of timber and the sources of our
water supply, am absolutely opposed
to any policy, so susceptible of abuse
and favoritism, being applied to the tree
less, open grazing lands.
"This question is of vital importance
to the ol-growing industry of Mon
tana, for wherever reserve has been
created, or whenever grazing privileges
have been granted on Indian reserva-
tions, the sheepmen have been excluded
or restricted to such an extent as to Sc
riously hamper and embarrass them in
their operations. 1t is clear to every
close observer that the policy of the
present administration in controlling
reservations already created, is one Of
discrimination against the wool-growing
industry. But it is only fair to admit
that we ourselves are largely RESPONSE
bic for this discrimination. The dispo-
sition of So many of us to absolutely
ignore the range rights of others and
Craze out the small ranchmen, the utter
disregard SC. frequently shown by sheep
men for the range rights of eowmen and
or, , II Aock kourarc u,ho have 6va1 loca