Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1906-06-29
WOOL MARKET TO
OPEN NEXT WEEK
Conditions in Montana.
CONTINUED from page -


ent gives the following interesting re-
view of conditions in this state:
"A splendid lamb crop in all parts
OF the state where sheep are run Is the
report of the Montana correspondent
of the American Sheep Breeder for
June. While the state was visited by
cold dreary rains for several weeks
in May, it was fortunately warm. and
as the net result but few lambs, CON-
paratively speaking, were lost. The
sheepmen are more than satisfied for
the percentage saved this year was
considerably above that of several
years past. Early grass assisted ma
terially in saving many lambs which
otherwise would have persisted dur
ing the stormy weather.
The early grass made an abundant
supply of milk for the ewes. which
We're thus able to nourish their OFF,
spring during the rainy weather. The
rain, however, was blessing to the
country generally for not in many
years has the entire state received
such thorough urenching as this sea-
son. For two solid weeks it rained
at frequent intervals, the storm being
general, and doing thousands of dol
lars worth of good. Thus the supply
lars worth of good. Thus the supply
of grass this fall is assured and sheep
men are happy. The water holes,
which We're dry last year, and sur
rounding which there was plenty of
grass unable to be reached by the
sheepmen. are now accessible.
The general percentage of lambs
saved throughout the state will De
probably between eighty and ninety
of the number of sheep lambing. This.
of course, is exclusive of the dry sheep.
There is practically no activity in
the wool market. Some few clips in
Fergus county have been sold, but
aside from a very minimum amount
OF wool practically the entire clip of
the Treasure state remains unsold.
The only wool sold was some very
choice clips. and which the woolmen
wanted. For these high prices were
paid.
But few wool buyers are in the
state at the present writing and it is
moi oynoctod tho+ opv ,,,oro co1oe will
be made until the auctions begin.
These will take place this year at the
usual places-Great Falls, Billings, Big
Timber, Fort Benton, Miles City and
Lewistown. The wool buyers figure
that they will be able to get wool just
as cheap at the auction sales as they
would now be able to contract it for,
as the prices are high as quoted by the
producers.
THE wool clip this year in Montana
will be several million pounds short of
a year ago. This is due to the large
number of sheep sold and, shipped out
of the state last fall and winter. Such
a skirmish for sheep as took place
has never before been witnessed in
the history of Montana and the west
Buyers came from Indiana, Kansas,
Colorado and other feeding states
They contracted for lambs early in
the spring for fail delivery, and bought
right and left. AS the natural result
many thousands of head of sheep We're
taken from the state and this leaves
shortage this season.
1T is estimated that 100000 head
of sheep We're shipped out of north
ern Montana alone, while other parts
of the state suffered equally. Flocks
were similarly depleted in Wyoming
and other eastern states, where similar
buying took place, as the result o.
which there is a marked shortage il
the sheep supply. This will be espec
tally noticeable at the auction sales
and if buying continues this fall afte
the manner of last year there will b'
a further and more marked shortage
in the wool supply next year.
with splendid supply of gras
and water now assured there will b.
many fat sheep this fall and the ship
ments of mutton to market promis'
/ to be good