WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. 705 



other States, notably North and South Dakota, a number equal to the 

 natural increase of the flocks of Montana will be readily taken at good 

 prices for some years. However rapidly sheep may increase for many 

 years yet to come, there is- little fear of the business being overdone. 

 Settlers may occupy within a few years large portions of the range 

 now used by sheep-owners within present railroad limits, yet these 

 settlers can produce enough grain and rough feed to supply the flocks 

 with food instead of the pasturage which they displace. The settlers, 

 however, will mostly occupy land suitable for irrigation, and their in- 

 terests need not to any great extent conflict with those of the flock- 

 master. The sheep-owners who will be affected by the inroad of the 

 settler are the professional "floater" and the "squatter." The latter, 

 instead of owning his home ranch, simply squats on some suitable un- 

 occupied location. In the event of an inroad of homesteaders he will 

 have to emulate the example of the more progressive flockmasters and 

 own his home ranch. 



Another distinctive advantage enjoyed by Montana sheepmen are 

 the facilities afforded by the railroads. At all the principal shipping 

 points the railroad companies have erected large wool storehouses, and 

 have also extensive stockyards wherever needed. The Northern Pa- 

 cific Railroad has large wool warehouses at Miles City, Billings, Big 

 Timber, and Townsend, with capacity for a half million pounds or 

 more. The Great Northern Bail way Company has a wool-house at 

 Great Falls, and one at Fort Benton. The size of each is 40 by 245 

 feet. It costs the grower nothing to store his wool in them until he is 

 ready to sell or consign. 



In the last annual report of the State veterinarian, Herbert Hollo way, 

 V. s., under date of December 31, 1890, to the governor of Montana, are 

 found the following official statements regarding the condition of sheep 

 in the State: 



Probably for the first time in many years sheep are free from diseases of all kinds. 

 There is not, to my knowledge, a sheep in the State affected with a contagious dis- 

 ease. All deputy sheep inspectors report their various counties free from scab, which 

 is the only contagious disease with which we have to contend. During the year scab 

 appeared in a few flocks, and under the supervision of county inspectors about 30,000 

 head have been dipped, which, however, have now all been released from quarantine. 

 This is a great falling off compared with the number which it has been necessary to 

 dip in previous years. 



Now that our flocks are free from scab or any contagious disease, it is of the utmost 

 importance that all precautions be taken regarding the entry of sheep from other 

 States or Territories. Quarantine regulations can not be too strict in border counties 

 and on railroad lines. One of the worst outbreaks of scab with which we had to 

 contend during the year, and which caused much expense and annoyance, was intro- 

 duced into Fergus County by a flock of sheep brought from Oregon. These appear 

 to have passed through the State without scab being detected. It was ouly through 

 the most persistent enforcement of quarantine regulations that the disease was con- 

 fined to the original flock. 



Wool-growers have had a prosperous year, with good demand for all classes of 

 sheep, and sales show a higher price realized than at any time for the past several 



