Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1910-07-21

| r the WOOL cup Ill over tue OhiICu
| States should be reduced for the
b year 1910, as It has been in Ari-
iona, where the clipping Is done
earlier than in other sections OF
the country, the market will be high.
Arizona had the earliest clip in its
history this year. The clip Is usual
ly at its height in Salt River valley
and in other sections of the territory
about the middle of February, where
as this year the sheep were all shorn
and on their way back to the hills on
February IL. The Hocks wintered
well, but owing to the cold weather
the grass on the ranges continued
dry, and as a result the quality Of the
wool was improved, while the output
was curtailed. So pronounced was
this shortage in the clip that instead
Of the influx Of several hundred thou
sand of sheep into the clipping CEN
ters Of the Salt River valley, the num-
bers could be counted by the thou
sands.
The clipping began this year about
the tenth of January, and by the mid
die Of February was finished at Cave
Creek, Marinette, Beardsley, Hot
Springs Junction, Congress Junction
and Weden. Machines were used at
all these clipping centers with the ex'
ception Of Weden and Congress juno
ton, where the shearing was done by
hand. Shearing In the north was Ia
ter, but even there far ahead Of the
usual season. Conditions were about
the same in Mohave county, the clip
ping center for that district being
Kingman.
In former years 1t was customary
for the sheep men to drive their
flocks from Mohave county to the Salt
River valley for the Landing and
shearing season, using the forest
ranges running north and south fol
forage along the route both north and
south. But the new forest regulations
now prohibit this use Of the govern
ment reserves; the sheep men have
been unable to get their fiocks through
especially through the Verde valley
so that the movement south was aban
doned this season.
In addition to the restrictions placed
upon the forest reserves, the valleys
that in former years were green, ow
ing to the cold, dry weather and the
consequent lack of rains, this yeal
we're not green enough to support the
moving focks. The result Of this Is
that those flocks which were moved
south, for lack Of grazing in the cen
trail Arizona valleys, had to haster
back north, where the lambing proved
disastrous, not only to the lambkinl
but to the ewes as well. For thii
reason 70 per cent. Of the sheep shorT
IN Arizona for 1910 had the clipping
done in Yavapai county, midway be
tween the valley and northern ranges
this being the lowest altitude obtain
able where there was the combina
ton Of clipping facilities, nearby ship
ping points and fair ranges, BY thu
same token It Is now predicted tina
the lamb crop for the year win no
exceed 40 per cent. Of what 1t SHOULD
be, or would be under more favorable
conditions.
The largest shearing point in Yapava
county this year was at Cordes. wher'
between 10000 and 100000 pounds o
wool was clipped. The CHIP at King
man ran to $4,000 head, and the gov
eminent reports credit Arizona witt
an average yield OF fleece weighing
6.65 pounds per sheep, which wOulS
bring the yield up to more than 300,
900 pounds. Owing to the conditions re
ferred to IN the foregoing, the clip II
the northern part OF Arizona win b
later than us,isl this year, because thu
owners Of = prefer to avail
late clip iatDer than risk the losI
a the lambs.
Prices for wool IN Arizona this yea
ranged around the prices Of las
yoar. Agents paid On the ground b
tuesn 20 end a cent? Tor re Ell
e 80 Per cent g ~ Sheep ehofn A