The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1911-03-25
GRAZING SHEEP
PROTECT FORESTS


serves will solve the problem of forest
fires was the general conclusion of q
| joint meeting Of the officers of the Ma
tlonal Wool Growers association and
the district supervisors of the forest
at the Federal building in Salt Lake
Wednesday, where cooperation be
tween the sheepmen and the forest SER
vice was discussed.
Short talks were delivered at the
meeting by Chief Forester H. s.
Graves and Frank r. Gooding, presi-
dent of the wool growers and exgover
nor of idaho. Graves outlined the work
ahead of the forest service and an
nounced that the intention of the gov
ernment was to eliminate all friction
which in the past has existed between
the forest service and the wool grow
ers.
President Gooding declared that he
had been informed by representatives
of the government at Washington that
the restrictions on grazing are TO be
removed to large extent. He de
clared that 100000 head of sheep in
the Cour 'Alenes in Idaho last sum
mer would have prevented the disas
trous forest fires which swept through
that section of the country, running in
valuable property and leaving death
and privation in its wake.
The government has arrived at the
conclusion that the sheepmen are
factor to be reckoned WITH said Mr.
Gooding. "The sheep do more to pre-
vent forest fires than all other pre-
cautions that can be taken, for the
oba ha tot rhon .a
green that otherwise becomes dry and
serves to spread the forest fires with
lightning rapidity. 1t is proposed by
the government to Craze large herds of
sheep in northern Idaho and other
heavily forested districts for the spe
cife purpose of preventing fires
Knollins Presents figures.
Figures intended to show the cost of
raising sheep in the range states were
presented by A. J. Knollins, eastern
vice-president of the association.
According to these figures $780, 1877
800 is spent every year by the sheep
men of the range states. This sum,
Mr.. Knollins said, is distributed into
all channels of trade
owe have heard reports that the
sheepmen are too prosperous said
Mr.. Knollins, "and | have prepared a
list of figures to show the actual cost
of preparing sheep and wool for the
market. Not less than $2S,000,000 is
expended annually by sheepmen for
labor alone; $6,335, 900 goes for pro
visions for the men; $735, 900 for salt;
$2,0s5,000 for taxes; 81, 10000 for
hay and grain; S2,695, 900 for pasture
and forest fees.
"In addition to these main items,
depreciation and wear and tear on i'm.
provements cost the sheepmen 1910
000 every year; 900 more goes
for dipping, and $1,400, 900 for depre-
citation of outfits such as wagons and
saddles. The interest on borrowed
money and moneys invested amounts
to $9,625, 900 annually, while the aver
age loss of sheep amounts to seven per
cent, or "a total value of $l0,430,o0
Thirty five million sheep are grazed
every year in the range states.
WHAT Railroads Get
"The railroads receive $l0.500 900
in freight on sheep shipped to mar
ket; $4 ,2S7 900 more on wool ship
ments and $4,000 for freighting of
miscellaneous supplies. Charges for
yardage amount to $1,225,00O, and in
cidental expenses of men for hotel bills
and livery on business trips amount to
$l,540,000 Camp equipment such as
lanterns. dishes and similar supplies
costs $s05,000 a year; 100000 is paid
to blacksmiths branding materials
cost 100000, and the actual expenses
of owners, travelling about, not allow
ing any salary, are $3640,000 annual
ly.'
In closing his talk Mr.. Knollns de
clared that were it not for the sheep
the west would be twenty five years
behind its present condition.
To Go to Washington.
Representatives of the association
were chosen yesterday to go to Wash
ington, to be in attendance when con
gress convenes for the special session,
April 4. to work against revision of
the tariff schedule on wool until such
time as the commission appointed by
President Taft to investigate the cost
of production has made its report.
The men chosen were Frank r.
Gooding, of Gooding, Idaho; p. G.
Johnston, Blaekfoot, idaho; f. w.
Perkins, Flagstaff, Arizona; J. y. Mob
litt, Cokeville, Wyoming; George Aus.
TIN, salt Lake tltY; George N. Reed
er, Craig, Mont; A. ]. Knollin, Chi.
cago, and Jay Dohbin, of Joseph Ore.
All wool growing states viii be asked
to send one or two representatives to
Washington to swell the delegation
which viii present the sheepmen S side
of the tariff question. Those appoint,
ed will leave very shortly, preceded by
Secretory Mcclure.
1t was decided to establish an of
fee at Chicago, but no one has yet
been appointed to take charge in the
Windy City. The new man will be
named by the president, F. r. Good
ing, the eastern vice-president, A, J
Knollin and the secretary, s. W. Ne
Clure. All three of these officers de.
elared that they had not yet consider
ed the appointment and had no idea
of who wOul1 he selected In fiji the