984 SHEEP INDUSTRY OF THE UNITED STATES 



ranges are overstocked to such an extent that the grass is being killed out very rap- 

 idly. A large per cent of the stock is owned by men who have no interest in the 

 country devastated by their stock, but, as you are aware, live 50 to 100 miles away, 

 and drive their stock to the mountains for summer range, to the injury of those who 

 are trying to build up homes in the mountain valleys. Another class own nothing 

 but their stock, and camp wherever they can find water and feed. It seems to me 

 that one of two things should be done : These mountain ranges should either be sold 

 at a nominal sum (say 10 cents per acre) or leased for a long term of years at, say, 1 

 cent per acre. Settlers owning adjacent lands should have the first preference as 

 purchasers or tenants. The purchaser or tenant should be limited in the amount of 

 land he could acquire, both distance and the amount of agricultural land already 

 possessed being taken into consideration. The number of domesticated animals that 

 perish every year is appalling, if the whole truth were known. It would be better 

 for all concerned if the stockmen were compelled either to own the ranges or rent 

 them. If the overpasturing of the mountain ranges continues ten years longer they 

 will be nearly or quite denuded of grass. Something must be done, and that 

 promptly. 



Mr. Henry Hahn, Princeville, Crook County, Oregon, sends me the 

 following statement: 



In compliance with your request concerning the sheep industry of eastern Oregon, 

 regarding the merits and demerits from a financial point of view, I wish to state that 

 I keep from 15,000 to 20,000, according to season, one-half to five-eighths Merino. 

 They yield about 7 pounds of wool per season ; average price for last three years, 17 

 cents per pound. The proportion of lambs raised from ewes bred is about 70 to 75 

 per cent, according to season. The estimated cost of running sheep per head per 

 year is from 75 to 85 cents, according to season, if sound and healthy ; 85 cents to $1, 

 according to season, if scabby. I raise sheep for both wool and mutton. In feeding 

 I use wild meadow hay, oats and wheat, rye and alfalfa. 



The principal disadvantage in raising sheep here consists in the ownership of the 

 ranges by the Government, which causes great strife among the stockmen, and thereby 

 tends to injure the stock interests by lessening the profits and threatening the per- 

 manency of vast live-stock industries which consist principally of small herds. An- 

 other important disadvantage caused by our present range system is the spreading 

 of diseases among all kinds of stock, and more especially scab among sheep, which 

 causes a very large item of expense to sheep-growers who are compelled to range 

 their stock. The greatest freedom of action in ranging sheep is desirable in the 

 winter, and is conducive of the best results. In matter of shelter, open low sheds 

 or wind-breaks have proven most advantageous. In matter of feed, wild meadow 

 hay and alfalfa have given the best results. 



In conclusion, I wish to say the foregoing views are the result of ten years' observa- 

 tion and personal experience, and I am fully convinced that the best interests of 

 the live-stock industries in our dry range country w r ould be greatly promoted if the 

 stock-growers could purchase or lease from the Government the lands now used by 

 them, for the following reasons : Under purchase or lease these lands would be fenced. 

 The stock turned into these pastures by reason of unrestricted liberty would do 

 much better, grow larger, and in sheep would grow 20 per cent more wool and of a 

 better quality and much cleaner. It would do away with the present contention and 

 strife between the stockmen and farmers, and the ranges would be capable of sus- 

 taining one-third more stock than can be ranged upon them under the present de- 

 structive system, and would give the live-stock industry a permanency and stability 

 which it can not hope to attain under our present system. It would also minimize 

 the present notion of overstocking. 



From the increased and increasing difficulties of running sheep upon 



