The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1889-07-04
THE PRICE OF WOOL IS RISING.
HOPEFUL SIGNS FOR INDUSTRIOUS
VERMONT WOOL GROWERS.

The Far Sighted Farmer Who Held His
Wool Now Comes Out on Top Confidence
In the Market Is the Ruling Feature This
Year-Variety of Quotations From Good
Authorities on the Subject of Wool Grow
Ing.
The Vermont farmer who has held his
wool clip until the present time has prov
ed himself to be a very long thinker.
The WOOL market has assumed a hopeful
situation, and the indications are that
the market will remain strong, with q
possibility Of slight advance. Farmers
in Rutland county have within a week
received 30 to 81 cents for coarse, un-
washed wool. A month ago 26 cents
was the ruling price. A year ago this
time wool was way down, clips selling
from IL to % cents; and the rise to-day
is all the more enjoyable, The Stock
man says:
Producers know the ground they stand
on, and display little if any nervousness
as to the outlook. The nervousness this
year is on the other side. Evidences is
accommodating every day that manufac
tuners are realizing that the situation is
not in their own hands, and are ready
to come to terms. Thirty-three to thirty
five cents looks like pretty solid basis
for choice washed fleeces now, and it
will not be surprising ifstill better prices
are realized for desirable clips. This is
the growers year.
About the only money there il made
on the farm to-day is in sheep and hor-
ses; and from present indications the
farmer who would increase his income,
with no possibility of loss, will do well
to enlarge his flock in as speedy man
ner as possible. The American Wool
Reporter says:
While present purchases of wool in
the interior in anticipation of a future
advance at the St aboard purely is specula-
tive, yet the feeling in the woolen goods
market is becoming more hopeful. As
there is no certainty OF any lower prices
of wool this year than those now current,
we should say manufacturers would be
very unwIse to take orders for goods eX
cept at profit above present prices of
wool. That the manufacture of wooden
and worsted good in the United States
is about to be lifted out of its present
slough of despond would seem to be
further indicated by the action of such
far-sighted manufacturers as Mr.. Fletch-
er of Providence, in extending their OPP
erations. The removal to Passaic, N j.,
of large plant hitherto engaged in the
manufacture of worsted yarns and coat
ings in Germany for the Amer mar
ket, also points in the same direction,
Confidence in active fall business is very
generally manifested.
The farmers are fast learning the horse
lesson will they also again take up the
sheep business, which was at one time
the Vermont stock mans glory? 1t was
not so many years ago that Vermont
was looked:to as the sheep centre of the
country, and it was by no means rare
event to sell a sheep for $500. 1t is not
expected that such price will ever be
paid again, but there is and will be good
money in Vermont sheep. The Boston
Advertiser says;
The sales for the week comprise 2, 1885,
800 pounds of domestic fleece and pulled
and S7l 900 pounds of foreign, making
the weeks transactions foot up 3,207 800
pounds, against 4 931 300 pounds for the
previous week, and /. $40 ,050 pounds do
mestic and 100000 pounds foreign for
the corresponding week last year,
The firm tone noted week ago con-
tinues, and values are even stronger on
most grades. Buyers seem satisfied that
there is no chance of wool selling low
this year. and where they are in need OF
supplies they are taking hold to some
some extent. The feeling is that prices
will rule high, but the excitement that
seems to prevail at many country selling
points, meets with but little response
here, and it is still exceptional cases,
where the mills are disposed to stock up.
The good situation has been more or less
settled by some of the leading manufac.
turers opening their prices at about 5 per
cent. advance and buyers are taking
hold quite freely at this price. This ad-
vance is not enough to cover the advance
in wool, however, if the prices now be-
ing paid in the country are taken for
basis, and il the trade generally are oblig-
ed to make their goods at so near last
years figures, considerable financial diff |
ticulties can be looked for among the |
wooden mills.
The season Is now SO far advanced |
that there is not much chance of the
price of wool breaking for some months |
at least. Manufacturers will probably |
follow their hand to mouth policy Of |
ouyluR aIonS 10 cover tnelT ORDERS, out
the price of the raw material
falls off Il is not thought that they will
do mu IA IN the way of stocking up al
the present cost of new feeces in the
country. Reports from Ohio say that
fully three-quarters of the clip there had
gone into second hands, and that the
price has worked from 30c for fine up
10 33c and above for choice lots.
No. Y. Vermont wool is now quoted
in Boston at 81 cents.