WEST OF THE^ MISSISSIPPI RIVEE. 783 



unsuited by condition to run through the winter. These classes, together with the 

 culls of different ages, are disposed of for muttons. As an experiment we will 

 hold over one band of four-year-old wethers and turn them off at five years old to 

 feed for muttons. We have our winter feeding stations in Nebraska. Our wool is 

 promptly consigned to Dewey*, Gould & Co., of Boston, as soon as shorn. Our wool 

 clips for 1889 amounted to 302,745 pounds. In preparing this for shipment we baled 

 tlif wool instead of sacking, and saved $1,422.81 by that method. The freight rate 

 from Cheyenne to Boston on sacked wool is $2.47 and for baled wool $1.80 per 100 

 pounds. 



Robert C. Morris, Cheyenne, Wyo. : 



The suitableness of climatic peculiarities, with indigenous grasses and nutritious 

 herbage, to profitable sheep husbandry in Carbon County appears to have been rec- 

 ognized in a practical way much later than its adaptability to cattle-growing. Ten 

 years ago, before the division, the 22,080 square miles contained only 1,540 sheep, 

 grazing in small flocks over the vast pasturage. The last five years have greatly 

 increased this industry. At this time there is, within but little more than half the 

 same area, hardly less than 200,000. An estimate based on reliable information 

 shows the assessment enumeration to be much too low. This great increase holds 

 no inconspicuous place among the causes of decline in the cattle business. While 

 the latter has been prosecuted with actual loss and dubious prospects for three or 

 four years past, but now brightening considerably, the former has yielded encour- 

 aging returns, besides adding to capital by augmentations of numbers in rapid 

 natural increase, notwithstanding large shipments to eastern markets. The immense 

 flocks on the ranges must compel cattlemen to smaller holdings and more judicious 

 care within fenced ranges for the future. And there is certain reason to fear that 

 the sheep enterprise may be overdone. The last wool clip of the county is estimated 

 at about 1,500,000 pounds. The sheep and their fleece are of excellent quality, 

 largely infused with Merino and other choice blood, producing superior grades for 

 all purposes, singularly exempt irom the contagious distempers common elsewhere 

 among these animals, especially in New England and the East. Everywhere the 

 animals are healthy, in splendid flesh, and promise an unexampled increase in the 

 coming season. 



LAWS AFFECTING THE SHEEP INDUSTRY. 



As the animal industry of Wyoming constitutes the chief business of 

 her people, it has been necessary for the best interests of all concerned 

 to have special laws relating to the live stock of the State. The follow- 

 ing extracts from the statutes at large relating directly to the sheep 

 industry are included as a necessary complement to this report: 



SEC. 4144. The county commissioners shall appoint a sheep inspector who shall be 

 a citizen of the county for which he is appointed, for each county containing two 

 thousand (2,000) sheep, who shall hold his office for two years, unless sooner removed; 

 and any inspector may act in an adjoining county having no inspector on request of 

 the county commissioners thereof. 



SEC. 4145. It shall be the duty of the sheep inspector, whenever he has knowledge 

 or information that any sheep within his jurisdiction have the scab or any other 

 malignant contagious disease, to inspect said flocK and report in writing the result 

 of his inspection to the county clerk of said county, to be filed by him for reference 

 for the county commissioners or any party concerned, and, if so desired, once in every 

 two weeks thereafter to reinspect said flock, and report in writing the result and 

 treatment, if any, in the same manner until said disease is reported cured : Provided, 

 That in case of removal of the flock 6 miles from the range of any other sheep, as 

 hereinbefore provided, he shall only make one inspection every three months. 



