752 SHEEP INDUSTRY OF THE UNITED STATES 



able bought sheep, and others leased or bought on time, and in this 

 way the sheep boom was started. The settlers observed that the few 

 scattering pioneers who had been engaged in the sheep business were 

 the most prosperous farmers of the State. 



Not only were farmers attracted to and interested in sheep, but mer- 

 chants., bankers, and speculators, as soon as they began to investigate, 

 discovered that sheep promised better returns than any other class of 

 stock. The whole State became interested, sheep were in demand 

 everywhere, and in they poured from all parts of the country. Inex- 

 perienced men brought in sheep that were unfit, and many mistakes 

 were made by beginners. The experienced flockmasters of Mon- 

 tana and other Western States and Territories took advantage of the 

 unusual demand to get rid of the culls of their flock to ignorant buyers 

 or speculators desiring cheap sheep. Fortunately the inexperienced 

 farmer was able to secure only a limited number, and by taking good 

 care of them, together with their natural increase, he was enabled to 

 learn the business as he went along. The winter of 1S89- 7 90, when 

 most of the sheep were brought in, was unusually mild, and, as a con- 

 sequence, those having aged stock met with light losses, notwithstand- 

 ing the great risk incurred by starting with unsuitable sheep. 



While nearly every county in eastern South Dakota has a consider- 

 able number of sheep, yet the great stronghold of the industry is in 

 James Eiver Valley, which contains the most select agricultural lands 

 in the State. The bulk of the sheep now owned in South Dakota are 

 confined to the half of the State which lies east of the Missouri. The 

 west half has been until recently occupied by the Sioux Indian Reser- 

 vation, but in 1889 about one-third of the area was ceded to the Gen- 

 eral Government and it is now utilized by stockmen to some extent. 



In most of the Western States and Territories the pioneers in the 

 sheep business were usually ranchmen who were located where the range 

 Avas open and free to almost any occupant who took possession of it. 

 The sheepman was not necessarily a landowner unless he possessed a 

 home ranch*which contained the sheds and other improvements, in- 

 cluding winter quarters. His pasture was usually Government land, 

 and in those States, most of the promoters and pioneer sheepmen hav- 

 ing started with ample means, large flocks were the rule. But in the 

 Dakotas it was different. Most of the men who handled sheep were 

 limited as to means and embarked in the business as a last resort the 

 only thing left to save their homes and lauds. Consequently most of 

 the flockmasters had to start with small flocks, whether they purchased 

 or leased. So great was the demand for sheep that in order to accom- 

 modate as many as possible they were sold or leased in small lots. 

 When sold on time, at big prices, the payment was secured by mortgage 

 on the stock or other available chattels or by real-estate mortgage. 

 Whether they were sold on time or leased on shares a cast-iron contract 

 was entered into with such arbitrary conditions that the inexperienced 

 farmer was reluctant to take a large number of sheep. In the end it 



