The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1923-10-12
Recovery From Depression
Which Struck 1t Three
Years Ago Is Noted.

prepared by the United States Department
of Agriculture)
Rapid recovery from the depression
which struck it three years ago is being
made by the American sheep industry
under the stimulus of fairly good
prices, and improved credit facilities,
say reports to the Department of Agrl-
culture. Sheepmen generally are OPP
timistic and in good financial shape,
and mutton and wool production,
though still below normal, is increas-
ing.
Proof that the industry is getting
back on its feet is seen in the fact that
the number of sheep in this country ac-
cording to an estimate as of January
/, has increased by $4,000 over the
total on the corresponding date In 49,.
1t is still 243,0OO below the 1921 total
of 81, AS, 900, but the rate of increase
suggests that the losses Of the lqulda-
ton period will soon be made up. VI
ficials Of the Department of Agricul-
ture do not, however, think that the
high figures of the war years VIII De
reached for some time. The peak OF
the war period was touched at 49,
956, 900 head in 1915.
Effect of Open Ranges.
Settlement of grazing lands for farm
ing purposes has proceeded so rapidly
in the last few decades that 1t is I'M
probable the United States Will ever
again be as big a sheep producer as
it was in the days of the free open
ranges. Countries of sparse popula-
ton and low-priced lands are best
suited to sheep raising, and the United
States has emerged from that category.
The number of sheep dropped from o3,-
965, 900 in 1903 to 81, 1870 In 1913
largely owing to the diversion of graz
ing lands to farming. There is room
for considerable expansion. of the sheep
industry from its present position,
however, if only as natural swing
back from the extreme depletion 1t I'M
derwent in 1920 and 1921.
The liquidation in that period was
the greatest ever known. Flocks were
reduced by approximately 12,OOO,OOO
head. Income from wool was wiped
out, returns from mutton and lamp
were greatly reduced, and hundreds of
fiockmasters were ruined. From so
drastic d shake-up, which diminished
wool and mutton production far below
current needs, some recovery was in
evitable. When congress placed duty
of 21a cents a pound on fresh mutton.
4 cents a pound on lamb, and 81 cents
a pound on wool of clean content,
sheepmen were encouraged TO build up
their fiocks again, and foundation
was laid for re-establishment of the in
dustry on a normal footing.
Wool and Lamb Prices Good.
Wool today has higher relative pur-
chasing power in this country than any
other commodity, and lambs are one of
the few agricultural commodities that
are ruling substantially above the 1912
level
In attempting to guess what the i'm
mediate future holds in store for the
American sheep industry, it is neces-
sary to bear in mind, say officials of the
Department of Agriculture, that the en-
terprise has a dual character Sheep
raising involves the production of both
wool and mutton, and market condi-
tons for each must be favorable to en-
sure stability and progress. The wool
outlook seems favorable. Americans
use more wool than any other people.
Per capita consumption has risen from
about three pounds in our early his
tory to about 61a pounds. Although a