WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. 837 



NUMBER OF SHEEP AND VALUE OF THE INDUSTRY. 



The number of sheep in Nebraska on January 1, 1892, was much 

 larger than generally supposed, owing to the fact that they are fed 

 during the winter, and do not therefore enter into the estimates of the 

 officials who usually take their figures from the assessment rolls of the 

 State, which is misleading both as to numbers and value. For example, 

 the number, value, and average of sheep as returned by the several 

 counties of the State of Nebraska, as assessed for tax levy of 1891, is 

 182,393, valued at $120,214, an average of 66 cents. The highest value 

 is for 253 sheep assessed in Douglas County at an average of $2.38, while 

 the lowest average is given in Dawson County for 574 at an average of 

 23 cents. The Government figures and values for January 1, 1892, are 

 more nearly accurate, and are as follows : 269,804 sheep, value $690,- 

 887, or an average of $2.56, nearly 50 per cent greater in number, and 

 about 400 per cent greater in value, a remarkable difference between 

 two official reports. Careful investigation shows that the Government's 

 figures are approximately correct, although conservative. The State's 

 figures, as compiled, are purely for taxation purposes, but absurdly 

 are used as making an exhibit of the State's resources, a manifest in- 

 justice to the sheep industry, while on the other hand the Govern- 

 ment's statistics are compiled for the purpose of making an exhibit of 

 the industry on its merits, hence are more accurate although frequently 

 dependent for information on local correspondents who are not always 

 sufficiently competent, or are, perhaps, inexperienced regarding stock 

 statistics, or are apt to rely too much on the figures of the local assessor. 



In this report, however, the author has endeavored to be as exact 

 and accurate as possible in order that the sheep industry of Nebraska 

 should have a reliable review of the condition and resources of the in- 

 dustry, hence no trouble has been spared to verify facts and figures 

 for the purpose of a proper exhibit of one of the industries of the State. 

 The result of the investigation gives the number of sheep on hand in 

 Nebraska in January, 1892, exclusive of those brought in from other 

 States for feeders, 321,948. To this number should be added 291,700 

 feeders, which would make the total number in the State 615,648 at 

 the above date. The value of the same in round numbers was not less 

 than $2,000,000. The net price realized for the wool clip of 1891 was 

 $266,120, and for the muttons disposed of, mainly in the early part of 

 1892, not less than $1,500,000, or in round numbers the product of the 

 sheep industry of Nebraska for the past season was over one and three- 

 quarter million dollars, a creditable exhibit for the infant live-stock 

 industry of the State. In other words the sheep industry of the State 

 represents a total cash value of not less than $5,000,000. This includes 

 the industry in all its various branches, the sheep and all property 

 pertaining to and necessary for conducting successful sheep husbandry. 

 In an exhibit of the resources of the State there will be found no other 

 industry which yields so large returns for the capital represented as 

 does sheep husbandry in Nebraska. 



