The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1943-03-18
Huge Sum
To Montana
Sheepnnen
By Harry Carlson

NA-Up)-Montana sheep
men received Sl3, 10000 for their
1912 wool clip, the largest wool
income in yearly records since 1909,
according to report issued by
Jay G. Diamond, senior statistician
of the bureau of agricultural eco
Monies.
The income, which exceeded even
the Sl2,869,000 peak reached in
1919 placed Montana second only
to Texas last year and topped third
place Wyoming's wool income by
almost a quarter of a million dol
lars, the report stated. The 1912
wool income in Texas was S30,748-
600 and in Wyoming, $12,9g5 900.
Montana's wool income last year
was approximately II per cent
larger than the 1,27l, 900 total of
194l, according to the report.
The average price per pound re-
ceived by Montana growers last
year was 40 cents, compared with
the national average price of 40.l
cents and the Texas price of al
cents The 1912 price was the best
since 1925 when it averaged az
cents but was we'll below the world
war | peak of go cents paid for the
1918 clip, the report said.
Montana's total wool production
in 1912 as finally estimated from
railroad shipment data was 32,964,-
600 pounds, about 6 per cent below
the 33, $4,000 pounds shorn in lo41.
The 3,583,000 head of sheep shorn
IN 1912, however, was 38 per cent
larger than the previous year The
smaller total wool production was
due to the 1912 lighter weights per
fleece, Diamond said. Average
fleece last year was 90 pounds, COM
pared with 96 pounds in 194l
Diamond predicted the 1943 wool
production will probably be below
that OF last year, pointing out that
sheep numbers have decreased APP
proximately eight per cent.
Total production of wool in the
country, both shorn and pulled,
was 459,073,000 pounds. Of this
quantity, 392,373,0 900 pounds was
shorn and 66,7O0,O0O was pulled
wool, Diamond said.
Consideration of establishment of
prisoner of war camps in Montana
to furnish agricultural labor has
been promised by the war depart
ment, according to state commits
sloner of agriculture Albert Fl.
kruse.
Kruse quoted letter from an Of |
fetal of the war department to
Sen. Burton K. Wheeler and for
Warded to him that the location of |
additional sites in the program for
construction of internment camps
was being considered
THE principal areas to be con-
sidered are those where agricultural /
labor shortages exist and you may
be assured that full consideration
will be afforded the area suggested
by Mr. Kruse when the plans for
future construction are under
taken" the letter read.
kruse had suggested that a num-
Der of former CCC camps in agri-
cultural areas throughout the state
be converted to internment camps
for prisoner of war farm labor.
The cattleman's pure feed act
became law late last week with the
signature of Gov. Sam c. Ford.
The bill was designed principally to
protect Montana farmers and ranch
ers from fraudulent or adulterated
commercial feeds.
It's provisions require that all
commercial feeds sold in the state
must be analysed by the agricultural
experiment station at Montana
State College and registered by the
state commissioner of agriculture,
labor and industry before being
placed on the market.
Seed manufacturers must attach
label to their product giving the
minimum percentage of crude pro-
tein and fat, the maximum percent
age of crude fibre and the name of
each ingredient used in its manu-
facture.
Farmers may obtain gasoline for
their tractors, engines and other
non-highWay equipment for a pc
riod of six months instead of three
months under a change in ration
ing regulations made recently by
the Office of Price Administration.
The time was extended, OPA of
ficials said, because Of the variable
ity Of farming operations which
make it difficult for farmers to esri-
mate their requirements for only