880 SHEEP INDUSTRY OF THE UNITED STATES 



remainder from the following-named States: Texas, 72,712; Missouri, 

 50,227; Colorado, 33,752; ^ew Mexico, 9,126; Nebraska, 8,490; Ari- 

 zona, 5,511; Indian Territory? 2,481; Utah and Wyoming, 799. Of the 

 sheep received at Kansas City over 200,000 were taken by the local 

 packers. 



The Kansas City market received during the first five months of this 

 year 147,167 sheep from Kansas, which represents sheep fed by the 

 growers and feeders. 



If Kansas produces a good corn crop the present season there will be 

 Dot less than a quarter of a million sheep brought in from the south 

 and west to be fed during the coming winter. 



The feeding the past season in Kansas was not confined to aged 

 wethers, but a number of yearlings Avere fed, and fully 20 per cent 

 of the number fed consisted of ewes. The success made by the feeders 

 last season will no doubt induce many new men to engage in the busi- 

 ness, when the results of 1890- 7 91 may be duplicated in losing the 

 feeders money, especially if prices advance on the range and grains 

 should be scarce and high priced. 



TESTIMONY OF SHEEPMEN. 



Herewith are presented brief statements from representative sheep- 

 owners of the different sections of Kansas relative to their personal 

 experience regarding the industry in many of its phases. A careful 

 perusal of what these men say will give the reader an insight of .the 

 business from the standpoint of the grower, which is an important con- 

 sideration in a comprehensive review of the industry: 



George R. Mann, Olivet, Osage County: 



I have been keeping sheep in this county for over twenty years, and I find it more 

 profitable than any other branch of farming. Kansas is destined to become one of 

 the leading mutton and wool producing States, as she has all the necessary qualifi- 

 cations in the way of climate and feed. 



W. J. Snodgrass, Gordon, Butler County: 



When I tirst came to Kansas, in 1870, I bought Texas cattle and soon failed. Had 

 I put the same money in sheep at that time I might, with the same success that I 

 have had since, been a millionaire. It does seem to me that any good, careful rust- 

 ler could make a stake in the sheep industry but, every man to his trade. 



Y. B. McClure, Logan, Phillips County : 



I have handled sheep twelve years in Kansas, six years as a herder and the same 

 time as owner, and I like the business. I think there should be more sheep kept, as 

 there are grass and feed enough wasted nearly every year to pay half the mortgages 

 on farms if converted into wool and mutton. 



E. T. From, Louisville, Pottawatomie County: 



Have had twenty-five years' experience with fine-wool sheep, and in all that time 

 they have paid expenses, except the year after the tariff reduction of 1883, when feed 

 was very high and wool very low. Then they ran me behind about $1 per head. 

 This part of Kansas is well suited to keeping small flocks of mutton sheep, but would 



