WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVEE. 781 



which will insure the perpetuity of the sheep industry of Wyoming. 

 The pasture land possesses great value, and when irrigated for hay land 

 it has a value equal to, if not greater than, any corn crop in other sec- 

 tions of the country. The hay produced in the mountain regions is of 

 superior quality and fineness, and of greater value per ton than that 

 produced in the East. It is like the native grasses, having a fine fiber 

 and is very nutritious. 



PEESONAL EXPERIENCE AND COMMENTS. 



The following extracts from correspondence or interviews with rep- 

 resentative sheepmen are given here because of their pertinent relation 

 to the industry of Wyoming. The pointers are especially valuable, be- 

 cause they represent the observation or experience of men practically 

 engaged in the sheep husbandry for some time. 



W. D. Currier, Albany County : 



Here on the Laramie plains the sheep business is about wiped out. Six years ago 

 there ■were forty sheep ranches, now there are six. Cause, no range. Parties 

 bought the railroad land in large blocks, and then fenced in both railroad aud Gov- 

 ernment land and allow no one to go inside the fence. There are blocks of 50,000 

 and 100,000 acres so fenced here. I used to run 20,000 sheep here — now run 6.000 

 or 8,000, and shall have to move out next year, as they are now fencing the last 

 of my ranges. It is a dog-in-the-manger business, as there is not one-fourth the 

 cattle or sheep on the Laramie plains there were six years ago. 



T. J. Gorman, Uinta County : 



Last year losses were 50 per cent among sheep, depending on range. Sheep are 

 run on Government land entirely ; no leased land here. My experience is, with sheep 

 shearing 7 to 8 pounds and wool worth 16 to 18 cents here and good iiiutton $3. 

 Hay for three months each winter, makes it a safe and profitable business, otherwise 

 it is unsafe and unprofitable. 



A. Pomeroy, Uinta County : 



Our usual way of conducting our shearing is by having a corral made on or near 

 our lambing ground — on good ground ; then we hire men who usually travel and do 

 nothing else but shear sheep. We pay about 10 cents per head for the she.iring. 

 The problem then is the disposing of our wool. We always try to sell at home, for 

 when we ship to commission men we invariably get swindled, and so rather than 

 ship we would make a sacrifice. 



B. Sweeney, Sweetwater County: 



This country will not carry much stock, not as much as many men suppose, and 

 the hard winters with an overstock will spoil the business. There is only one way 

 for profitably conducting sheep husbandry that I know of here ; that is, keep the 

 sheep as fat as possible in the summer on good range, and let them take their chance, 

 with good care, in the winter. Feeding is impossible here. There are some men 

 here who have as high as 35,000 sheep ; the flock is divided into bands of about 2,000 

 each. It will not pay to ruu less than 2,000. Last winter pretty nearly broke a 

 good many sheepmen in this country, but it was an exception. Ten per cent would 

 cover the losses for some time before, say four years. If it was not for the hard 

 winters and wild animals the sheep business would pay yet. 



