The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1871-05-04
The Wool Clip Of 1870.

The Michigan Farmer, always re-
liable in wool matters, has the fol
lowing rather encouraging news to
those who have wool for sale this
spring. Tho Farmer views this mat
ter systematically, and we would
advise the few readers OF tho COURIER
who have wool for sale, not to let the
article below excite them beyond
reason, and that if some fellow comes
along and offers the price herein in
dicated, TO SELL by all means:
"Tho intelligence VIC gather of the
wool market abroad and at home
seems still to continue to be in favor
of tho wool grower, and to promise
him good return in his feeces as
soon as the clip begins to come in
and tho market to open, There has
been lately o marked advance il the
English continental trade. The deal
ers at the east vii hold what stocks
they have on hand firmly, and there
is general concession by those who
have most cried down prices, that
stocks are about used up. Still there
is a good deal of wool selling, even
at the advanced prices"
ave cannot yet say what prices
wool may open at in the west. There
is no doubt at oil that there will be
a competition for the purpose of So
curing supply, and this competition
may advance the range of prices
higher than can be maintained, OK.
cept Tor short period. h There will
not be a large clip either, which is q
point 10 be talseu into consideration.
Last year there was quite a decline
in the quantity or wool grown, or. &C
count OF the decrease in the number
of sheep kept by the farmers. We
think there has been no increase in
the focks at the West, and while the
consumption of wool is increasing,
We hazard tho opinion that tho in
creased production OF wool has not
kept pace with the increased con-
sumption. This will have tenden.
cy to make prices still firmer, when
it is well understood by those who
arc likely to be purchasers. There
is no ono therefore who can say ut
present what is likely TO be the open,
ing rates Of good fine clips whom they
arc ready for market. Certainly
wool growers seem to DO in condi-
ton to realize ut least from 40 to so
cents for good clean lots of well put
up feeccs, and perhaps something
more" s
Helmuth Schwarize, in his wool
circular of the first of March, thus
peaks of tho state of tho trade, and
Indicates that the prices have advan-
cod. Referring to the great quarter
ly sale of colonial wool at London
and Liverpool, he says: y, r..
"Ihere can scarcely be Il doubt
but that the decrease in the regular
consumption, consequent upon the
war, has been moro than counter
balanced by the exceptional demand
for wool adapted for blankets, army
clothing, etc. Hence the favored
position Of certain descriptions, and
moro especially of Cape wool, the
value of which has risen about 10
per cent. Snow Whites, bought in
preference to other sorts by the
Continental trade, have been I'D. to
I'd. higher than at tho highest time
in November, and relatively much
dearer than Australian kinds; a.
rather anomalous position which is
not likely to outlast it's immediate
cause, the war demand. In Cape
fleece and grease the advance has
scarcely been 80 great, but still sui.
ticiently marked. As for Australian
woods, prices, as compared with the
highest November rates, have on the
whole ruled in favor of sellers, but
distinct iiso can only be quoted, on
some descriptions, as secured Port
Philip and good combined fleece sorts
which sold at I'D. TO Id. higher than
in the preceding series.
CAS- for the prospects they appear
to DO generally favorable, the indus
try in England and Germany being
well employed and not much stocked,
while in France a speedy revival of
the old activity may be looked for
ward to. The war must indeed leave |
its traces, and it may be assumed |
that it has destroyed the chances for
the upward movement which clearly
existed before its outbreak. But it
does not seem probable that it will
cause further depression in prices,
and unless the supplies be excessive
there appears 10 DO reasonable
chance Of seeing tho present rates
maintained through tho remainder
of the year"
A medical journal says the daily