PART IL-CONDITION OF THE SHEEP INDUSTRY WEST OF 

 THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER 



[Chapters i-iv by H. A. Heath. Chapter v by John Minto.] 



CHAPTER I. 



THE SHEEP INDUSTRY IN MONTANA, AND NOETH AND SOUTH DAKOTA. 



1VIONX-A.NA.. 



The young State of Montana has a population, according to the last 

 census, of 132,159, which gives her the relative rank of forty-fifth among 

 the States and Territories in point of population, yet in her sheep in- 

 dustry she stands well to the front. In no other Western State is that 

 industry in a more prosperous condition than in Montana. In compar- 

 ison with the other range and mountain States, Montana is peculiarly 

 fortunate in having the most profitable class of sheep for the flockmas- 

 ter, with a higher average value for each animal. The industry is sim- 

 ilar to that of Wyoming and New Mexico, in that it is general through- 

 out the State, every county being represented to some extent. It is 

 thus a State industry in fact, and any legislation necessary for its pro- 

 tection or encouragement is readily secured. In consequence of these 

 favorable conditions, the sheepmen, who are much abused in many other 

 States, are here leading citizens and the most prosperous class of far- 

 mers and stockmen. The sheep business in many portions of Montana 

 is largely the leading industry and fosters other interests which de- 

 pend upon it. This is especially true of the eastern portion of the State 

 where the sheep industry is comparatively new. Most of the sheep 

 have been brought in within five years, and the cattle business is grad- 

 ually giving way to sheep and horses. Many cattlemen have found it 

 necessary to change their system of ranching and fatten steers instead 

 of trying to raise cattle, owing to large losses of cows and heifers in 

 severe winters. As the numbers of cattle decline stockmen supply 

 their place with sheep or horses. Many former resident cattlemen of 

 the Yellowstone country and eastern Montana are now engaged in rais- 

 ing horses and sheep instead of cattle. 



The climate of Montana is peculiar. Although the State is of high 

 latitude it is of low altitude. The stock belt of Wyoming, Colorado, 



701 



