History of Utah, 1540-1886 - Brigham Young University

SHEEP AND WOOL. 731
mals with remarkable powers of endurance; and it
was claimed that those raised in Utah had^ better
lungs, hoofs, and muscles than could be found in most
parts of the United States. The lungs gain strength
from the mountain air, the hoofs from the dry climate,
and the muscles from the distance to be trav-
elled for grass and water. 36
Until 1870 most of the sheep gathered in Utah, apart
from the few herds which the early settlers brought
with them, came from New Mexico. Since that
date ewes of the Spanish-merino breed have been
introduced from California, together with long-wool
bucks from Canada, and fine-wool rams from Ohio,
the Cotswold, Kentucky, and other breeds being also
represented. 37 Though Utah wool sold at higher
rates than that produced in neighboring states, the
breed still might be better. The fleece was dry and
dusty, readily absorbing alkali, though after the introduction
of the merino the wool improved considerably
as to fineness of texture. In value it usually
ranged from 15 to 20 cents a pound, and as the number°of
sheep in Utah was estimated, in 1883, at not
less than 450,000, 33 the clip, allowing five pounds per
fleece, 33 may be estimated at about $500,000. For
many years sheep were exempt from taxation, and
hence large amounts of capital were invested in this
industry, some of the largest ranges being in Cache
Valley, where they get little fodder in winter, and
under favorable conditions this industry yielded a profit
of 40 per cent a year. 40
36 In a letter of H. J. Faust to the Spirit of the Times, it is stated that one
of these horse? travelled 113 miles in 14 hours, over plains and mountains
where there was no road; another made 65 miles in 6£ hours, and a third,
belonging to the pony express, 22 miles in 1 hr 20 min. Stock-Ramnj in Utah,
3J In 1869 $5,000 was appropriated for importing improved breeds. Utah
Compiled Laws. 186. , , M . rTj , 1QOO
*«Ulah Gazetteer, 1884, 296. Hollister's Res. and Attract, of Ltah, 1882,
^0, places the number at about 400,000; the governor, in his message of 1882,
at 000.000. In Stock-Raising hi Utah, MS. , 6, 800,000 is given as the number.
'•Although there are many herds that shear 10 lbs to the fleece hl.,Q,
where the average is placed at 6 lbs. For wool-clip of 1SS4, see 8. L. vy
Tribune, Aug. 16, 1884. ,
"In former years, especially in 1S60-1, sheep were sometimes almost de-