CHAPTER II. 



THE SHEEP INDUSTRY IN WYOMING, COLORADO, AND UTAH. 

 WYOMING. 



The Dew State of Wyoming ranks high as a wool and sheep produc- 

 ing region. When it is considered how short a time sheep-raising has 

 been an important branch of its animal industry, its success is marked. 

 The industry now bids fair to become the greatest live-stock interest 

 instead of the least, as it has been heretofore. Stock-raisers of Wyo- 

 ming, as well as those of Montana and South Dakota, realize as never 

 before the importance of raising sheep, and that cattle are not the only 

 profitable class of domestic animals. The depression which has befallen 

 the cattle business set men to thinking, and they were not long in dis- 

 covering that a country which will sustain cattle is not wholly unsuited 

 for sheep. Five years of practical experience convinced them that there 

 is more profit in sheep than there is in cattle, and stockmen seeking 

 localities for a stock ranch also learned that one- third the capital required 

 to stock up with cattle is sufficient to start with sheep, and this was a 

 strong inducement to try sheep rather than cattle. 



Wyoming, during its Territorial days, was noted for its live-stock 

 interests cattle-raising being in the lead. The best ranges were fairly 

 \\ HI stocked with cattle or horses. Previous to 1870 thelive-stock indus- 

 try was of little consequence, but soon thereafter the grazing lands came 

 into demand, and the number of animals increased rapidly every year 

 until 1884, when it was estimated that there were about 2,000,000 head 

 of cattle, with a few sheep and horses; and the desirable ranges were 

 generally occupied. Many wealthy cattle companies had been formed, 

 Eastern and foreign capital poured into the Territory, and cattle specu- 

 lation was the craze. It was difficult for the sheepmen to get much of 

 a foothold, as they were ten years behind the cattlemen; besides, they 

 lacked the financial backing of the cattlemen. They had to rely upon 

 their own resources strictly, and had necessarily to select ranges not 

 occupied with cattle. Since 1884 the cattle business has declined, and 

 the sheep business advanced until at the present time there are more 

 sheep than cattle in Wyoming, and as the State improves the number 

 of sheep as well as horses will increase, and together they will excel 

 the cattle business in importance. The grazing lands of the State are 

 better suited to horses and sheep than to cattle, as they are close grazers, 

 and much of the pasturage consists of short grass with some browsing. 



Of the ten counties of the State the following are the principal sheep 



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