*** Source: History and Business Directory of Humboldt County, Lillie E. Hamm, November 1890, Eureka, Cal. *** ---page 059--- [ad] J. E. MATHEWS, Agent for Daily, Weekly and Sunday EXAMINER [ad] HISTORY OF HUMBOLDT COUNTY 59 [tem]perature is preserved the year round, which dispenses with any necessity of providing shelter for the immense bands of sheep which roam through this part of the county. This is the paradise of sheep raisers, many of whom with nothing but determination and hard work have built up fortunes by this industry. But the days for accumulating immense wealth in this direction have departed and gone. Not that the business of raising wool is not profitable but it requires close management to realize any large amount. The annual clip of the county averages about 2,000,000 pounds. In regard to the tariff we give the conversation we had with a leading wool grower, and his views are the voicings of a great majority of others. "In the first place," said he, "people have a wrong conception of the cost of growing wool. They imagine that all the expense is to hire a man and a dog. They do not consider the cost of clipping, hauling to points for shipment, the freight charges, commissions, wharfage and storage, which when all paid leaves little or nothing to the grower. To simplify the matter, take 2,000 pounds of wool and follow through the expense account: 2,000 pounds of wool at 12 cts, say.................. $240 $...... Clipping ............................................ ..... 30 00 Hauling ............................................. ..... 15 00 Freight and insurance ............................... ..... 7 50 Wharfage ............................................ ..... 2 00 Storage and hauling ................................. ..... 10 00 Commissions, 5 per cent. On $240 .................... ..... 12 00 ----- ----- Total ................................................$240 $76 50 Leaving a supposed profit of $163.50. Now, it takes on an average of 300 sheep to yield 2,000 pounds of wool in a year. A man will cost $600 per year without his board, which is extra, say altogether, $750. Now, he can care for about 3,000 sheep, so that when it is all taken into consideration the wool grower receives about $60 or $70 per ton, which is very little considering the capital invested and the risks from diseased animals and accidents which are in attendance with this business, so that really a band of 6,000 or 7,000 sheep earns but a small revenue for its owners, and what little benefit is received from the tariff we shoud have, and any reduction would drive many out of the business." The above statement expressly shows the feeling of those engaged in the wool business, at least a majority. The eastern and southeastern parts of the county, which is so favorable to the raising of sheep, is not less adapted to agriculture and fruit growing. It is also rich in minerals, and the day is not far distant when the farmer and miner will begin to make extensive inroads in this vast and fertile country, as they have already to some degree taken advantage of the cheapness of the lands and settled here. Some of the large land owners are putting their property on the market at reasonable prices and easy terms to settlers. Water is abundant in this section of the country, there being numerous living springs and perennial streams are also to be found near the surface by digging wells. The grasses are very nutritious and [ad] Gibbard & Lever make a Specialty of Bedroom and Parlor Suits Cor. 3D and H Sts Pioneer Bdg, Eureka [ad] ---end---