Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1927-01-14
STATE RANKS N
IN WOOL OUTPUT
BY MURRAY f. STEBBINS,
Secretary of Montana Wool Growers
Association.

Association.
NIXTY-SIX years ago John w.
- Bishop now living at Dillon
~ trailed the first sheep into Mon
tana from California. Little did he
realize that in trailing some two
thousand sheep into the territory OF
Montana, he was laying the founda-
tion for an industry which was to
become one of the chief of
the great Treasure state.
The first sheep reached eastern
Montana in 1876. In the fall of that
year George Miles, now president of
the First National bank of Miles City,
crossed the first flock Of sheep over
the Yellowstone river ear Fort
Keogh.
Sheep found many natural advan-
tages In Montana: the dry climate,
the abundance of nutritious grasses,
the unlimited area for grazing, all
combining to make Montana a real
home for sheep.
With the many natural advantages,
there were some difficulties to
be overcome. Cattlemen and horse
ranchers were much opposed to
sheep ranching and many a bitter
battle was fought we the range.
Largely through the sterling quality
of the men who stayed by the wool
growing and sheep raising industry,
the business was developed, however,
until today it has added to the wealth
of the state more than $4,000, 900.
Sheep in Montana increased In
number until 1901 when Montana
assessors counted approximately g.
100000 sheep, the peak Of the indus
try in Montana. from the standpoint
of numbers. Wool production reached
its highest point In 1904, when ST.
900, 900 pounds of wool were shipped
out of Montana.
The low mark of the industry was
reached in 1920 but since that time
the industry has enjoyed a substan-
tial recovery. Montana's wool produc-
ton of 16,000,992 pounds In 1920
had risen to 2~4,979,992 pounds in
1925, an increase of about so per
cent.
The 1926 production of wool plac-
es Montana second In. the United
States, surpassed only by Texas with
a production of 25,8O4.00O pounds.
According to Senator G.. H. Will
Jams OF Deer Lodge president OF the
Montana Wool Growers association
with the economic use Of our range
and forest reserves and the solving
of the wild horse problem, there is
room In Montana for as many sheer
as in 1901. President Williams state
ment Is backed by 40 years expert
ence and has the Endorsement OF
yossss W-B Elk the shrdlu the odw
many an old-time sheepman.
Montana is known the world ovel
for Its Hampshire sheep. This fall al
the two leading stock shows of the
United States, and In world competi
ton, Chicago, Mount Haggin Hamp
shires won SO awards, including -four
grand champions, two reserve cham
pions, and % firsts. Twenty per CEN
of the Hampshires of the United
States are registered by DR.. Gardiner
owner Of the Mount Haggin ranch.
The Rambouillet breeders of Mon
tana have a record that Is hard tt
match. Our state has many purebret
herds including Williams & Paul,
and Deer Lodge farms Of Dee
Lodge; ]. H. Carmichael, Augusta
Earl Slime and Arnett & Waddell
Bozeman; Schultz & Son. Sheridan
B. C. White, Buffalo; j. e. Morse
Dillon; A. e. Westlake, Bozeman
Swing, Sheridan, and many others.
M. F. Trask Of Ballantine produced
the best clip handled In Boston las
year out of a total OF 250,0O0,0 0t
pounds. Strength of fibre, length o
staple and light shrinkage were tn,
factors considered. The clip was from
1000 head of Rambouillets.
When sheep were first introduced
into Montana wool was the main cro]
and lambs a ~by-product. Now will
the average eve producing of WOO
from So to $3.50 a year and a laml
worth from 81 to So, the former by
product has become the main source
of income.
There Is much talk at presen
about the consumption of wool. A
glance at figures compiled by th'
federal department of agriculture
gives the apparent consumption o.
wool In 1900 OF 100000 pound,
and in 1928 of 622,617,000 pounds
The national production OF wool IL
1900 wal about 800. 100000 pounds
while In 1925, the production IL
the United States was 269.054,00t
pounds.