The enterprise. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1899-1926, 1912-12-05

O0Cu OIIUUlU
NOT Be SACRIFICED
When the democrats came into
power in 1893. they were pledged to
reduce the tariff OF wool. No sooner
was this fact generally known than
the prices paid for sheep fell rapidly.
This fall in price was further accen-
auated by the general dep' ession
which prevailed. The outcome was
= wholesale sacrifice of many OF the
hooks in the United States. not only
IN the ranges but also on the arabic
farms. Some fiocks Oh the farms
were sold attl.o0 per head. and ~
but few Instances did mature sheep
net to the owners more than $50
per head. Such low prices would not
i've been reached bat tor the fact
that tho market Tor mutton. tor the
time being became Glutted because Of
~ very urge nnmberS that were
6nmped upon them Within short
time.
The wholesale oaeri6ce Of focks at
that time was peculiarly unfortunate.
Tbose who did not sell, respsd q
splendid harvest within the next few
years. because OF the prices which
followed. Thesacrifiee Of sheep at
tie time was based upon "a incorrect
idea. THAT idea was that the wool
produced by sheep WAS 90 important
i factor that unless relatively good
prize was paid for wool. sheep could
not be kept at = profit. That view
WAS not correct then, nor is it correct
now.
Even when wool valuese were at
the lowest in those days. some profit
could have been obtained from sheep.
providing the industry was handled
in the best way. 1t is generally con-
coded that the food consumed by
4 sheep or the arabic farm will be
paid for by the wool produced. This
js probably true when it is consid-
cred that sheep gather much of their
food from weeds that would other
wise harm, and from grasses that
would otherwise remain uneaten.
Such being the case, the lamb pro-
duced by a eve, less the food con-
sumed by the lamb, will represent
the profit. A eve will produce about
seven pounds of wool. Now assume
that the average price of wool is 90
and that the price should be cut in
two by reduced tariff. There would
still be the lamb to the good, less the
cost of its food, with 20 cents added
10 that cost. These two items would
not amount to more than S1.7O. The
average value of lamb at the pre-
sent time on the farm, when six
months old, is not less than say So. so.
The profit, therefore, at the present
time is very substantial, even though
there should be great reduction in
the tariff OH wool, or should 1T be re-
moved: but of course the profit that
would otherwise come to the flock
master viii be reduced by the extent
OF the reduction of the tariff.
| the owner of the sheep on the
range maintains large numbers of
wethers in his flock from year to
year, he will suffer much more from
a reduction in the duty dn wool than
the man whose holdings consist en-
tirely of ewes and their lambs, along
with such stock rams as may be
necessary. The wethers viii only
give a return in the fleece from year
to year, whereas the ewes will pro-
duce fleece and also a lamb.
The democrats are again in power
and it is a foregone conclusion that
there will be a marked reduction in
NE duties Oh wool. Even so, it
would be q mistake to reduce the
1locks, much more, to part with them.
The prices Of all kinds of meats are
soaring, and they are going to soar
for years to come. This means that
the mutton produced by sheep will
bring in SO good a return, that in the
face of q cut in wool values, the
t1ockmaster VIII make good money
from his sheep. Let it be understood
That this discussion is not intended to