THE WOOL BUSINES
Always looking for a way to increase my income, I tried different ideas
and solutions. First I tried buying sheep pelts. The pelt buyers just said
take them to Salt Lake City yourself. The price was to low, they weren't going
anymore. Not enough money to interest anyone.
We were going to Salt Lake once a week for mink feed anyway, So I would
buy some pelts and Mary would take them to Salt Lake and sell them each week.
It took some time before I learned how to buy cheap enough to make any
money. but I soon learned. As soon as you lose, you see your mistakes pretty
plain. This buying and selling put me in the area where wool was being bought
and sold. I became acquainted with the wool buyers and talked with them every
chance I could. Andy Anderson was buying for R~ C. Elliott Co .. I started to
buy a little wool and sell it to him. When Elliott's found out that I was selling
to Andy they soon put a stop to that and gave a checkbook so I could buy for
them directly. Andy soon retired and I took over the whole area.
I first received wool at the Railroad Depot on fifth west. When the train
stopped coming and they moved the rail lines I arranged for a building behind
the stores. I worked out of this building for several years. They wanted to
clean up the area and wanted the building gone. I made a deal on the building
and moved it from town to the farm south of town. I hired Morris Crisp to move
the building for $500.00. He jacked it up, put some wheels" under it, borrowed
his brothers' tractor, pulled it west to the road, then south to main street,
up main street, south to the farm, turned it around and parked it where it sets
today. Had the whole job done before noon? It's a well put together building
and has withstood the moving and the wind storms pretty good.
The building will hold enough wool to fill a semi-truck, plus enough room
for some supplies. I have been able to buy about five or six semi-loads each
year. The sheep business is slowing down, this year I have only bought three
semi-loads. I have always been able to get some boys to do the loading and
moving the heavy bags.
When I started there were several buyers and the competition was keen.
Now I am the only buyer in central Utah. It will be hard to find someone to
replace me. Well made not just someone to work as cheap as I do.
It's been a good experience for me and has helped with some income when I
needed it.
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