Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-07-20
The Wool Market.
ID. O. Bowen,
Sec. of Board.

Perhaps no agricultural industry is feel
ing the influence of national legislation to
the extent that it is being felt by those
who are specially engaged in sheep hus-
bandry; although farmers generally are
not little alarmed over the fate of pota-
toes, hay and other products included in
the Mills tariff bill now before Congress,
which, should that bill as it now stands
lied
The receipts of wool at Boston for the
period between Jan, |, 1888. and July H.,
1883 present a great contrast to the re-
ceipts for the same period in 1887 This
year the receipts have only reached l4S,
$50 bags, against 23l ,5i3 bags in 1897, a
falling off of S2,SS4 bags. These are re-
ceipts of domestic wool For the same
period this year the receipts of foreign
wool have been 1910 bales in excess of
what they were in the same time one year
ago, owing to the general firm position in
which foreign woods have been held.
Pending the final passage of the Mills
bill in its present or amended form, the
great wool buyers have SO long been I'M
decided that they now affirm any settle
ment, almost. of the bill would be prefer
able to the present state of uncertainty.
which has been the cause of very heavy
losses to them since the change was first
proposed. The proposed reduction in
duties has effected the wooden mills great
ly, but they were in better condition to
counterfeit this effect, as they did not have
the wool and so could reduce their output
to meet only the wants oftheir customers.
cn the other hand the holders of wool had
their stock on band which they had bought
at II . comparatively high prices ruling on
the clip of 1887, and they had
no alternative but to sell their
stocks at the best prices available and
pocket their loss. 1t has been hard
struggle and consequently they are in no
condition to GO into the country aud offer
any price that they are not reasonably
sure will leave them chance to at least
gcta new dollar for an old one, to say moth
ing of any margin.
In its review of the Boston wool market
of July Ii, the Advertiser SAYS that in
many sections prices in the country are
generally being worked down. Ii men,
tions the care of a Boston wool dealer
who has just returned from Ohio, Michi-
gan and Pennsylvania and reports fine
fleeces in Ohio moving some at 25c, while
In Michigan about y and BE for fine
feeces is buying some woods, with medi-
um at about - and 2Sc, according to con-
dition. In some instances the competition
of local buyers Is causing the price to range
about IL to lie above this, but no outside
operators will pay any more. These
figures. he claims, ARE fully &c above what
Eastern buyers can afford to pay. and
take their chances of getting any profit
for handling, and consequently the amount
taken up to the present date has been
>liali III tuh>N tNiut" iittbtie are Wa y
up in their views and almost no sales
have been made. This i generally one OF
the last fleece States to move, and thi:
year they are keeping up their record
Holders are generally asking about 800
for fine fleeces, but would probably lei
some go as low as 2se, while buyers are
not inclined to do much above 25c. Some
scattering clips have been picked up al
25c. but mos holders will not listen t.
any such price.