OCR Text |
Show Wool and Sheep in Montaoa i Special to The Tribune. HELENA. Mont.. Oct. 20 The wool clip of Montana this season aggregatnu 3t.500.000 pounds, according to an csti-mato csti-mato made by W. R Sheldon, general agent of the Wisconsin Central, with headquarters in this city. Mr. Sheldon has kept close 'tub on wool shipments out ot Montana for a number of years past and also has acceded to the figures of the buyers, so that hla estimate Is as neitrly right as an estimate could be. The wool clip of 1003 has been estimated at 40,000,000 pounds, and If this estimate Is right, there has boon a. decrease this vcar of G.aOO.OOO pounds of wool. Tills is chiefly due. nol to a decrease In the number of sheen, but to the fact that the average weight of the fleeces this year was "lighter than a year ago. ibis lighter weight being; ascribed to the hard winter. The average price of wool this year was 194 cents per pound, a dccrea:-e of 21 cents over last year's quotations. This mokes the value of tho Montana wool clip this year approximately 5i5.S00.O0O. which is Sit. 000. 000 less thun tho estimated esti-mated value of last year's clip. "From the information I have obtained. ob-tained. I look for a decrease in the size of next year's wool c'fn. but for a belter average orlcc." taid Mr. Sheldon toda. -With the gradual settling up of tho range, nianv outfits aro retiring from bublncts and the number of sheep .is becoming be-coming less, as the new .settlers are not taking to the breeding of sheep as they are to the breeding of cattle and horses. Then. also, the present indications are that the general tone, of the market will bo stronger next ycur thun It was this year." Speaking or range conditions. Mr. Sheldon said that In the past month there has been a considerable Improvement Improve-ment in the range in northern Montana, but 'that a good many of thu stockmen will be short of feed if the winter Is severe, Consequentlv muny of them are reducing their ho'dings bv marketing their surplus. This has glutted tho market mar-ket and brought the mice of mutton to the producer, at least-very low; hmci. In fact In a number of Instances, than it coat lo produce the mutton. |