The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1891-06-19
FRIDAY, JUNE 10. 1891.
ABOUT WOOL PRICES.

There are not at the present writing
any reliable data at hand to indicate thu
ruling price for Montana wool during thu
season. Advices from the east state that
"Only a few small lots, chiefly odds ano
ends of Montana woods, are in stock
There is plenty of inquiry but no sale tc
report" From another wool firm it is
learned that the Boston market ~"contin'
ues steadily dull, and even with the in
creased receipts of territory wool it seems
almost impossible to arouse any great in
terest on the part of manufacturers who,
although when in the market they are
always ready to examine the new arri-
walls and possibly take sample bags. are
indisposed to purchase in any large
quantity, and can not be induced to
speculate in the way of buying to antici-
pate future wants. They are o re,
ducing their stock of wool very materi,
ally, as they have been pursuing this
conservative policy ever since the first of
the year, and by July it is probable
that a good many mills will need consid-
cradle replenishing of their storehouses,
but if they purchase as they did most of
last summer-simply from hand to mouth
and it is more than likely that this
will be the case, they can easily control
the market. and We can see no possible
chance for any upward turn of values;
=, f,-% .- L - +l,,1- that -,,.l IN
probability enters into the calculations
of even the most sanguine buyers or
holders of wool; therefore if the present
market values can be sustained ii ic all
that can be expected. 1t is certainly un-
wise to count upon more than this, hence
early shipments this season seem to us
TO be decidedly the most likely to meet
with a satisfactory result to the ship
pers. as they will probably at least save
interest, being on the spot and in the
proper shape to be sold when an appre-
ciative buyer turns up"
Again it is stated that the makers of
mems early wear or summer and fall
goods are now preparing their light wear
samples and are anxiously awaiting the
opening of the season. If they do not do
a more encouraging business than they
did with their heavy goods a great deal
of machinery will be entirely stopped.
Many mills are now running short
handed. As to prices the following are
reported:
The demand for new territory wool has
been fair and prices unchanged. There
have been sales of fine at Is to 20 cents,
fine medium at 20 to % cents, and medi-
I'm at % to % cents per pound. On "a
secured basis the principal sales have
been at 81 to 63 cents for fine, 60 to 81
cents for fine medium, and 90 to 81 cents
for medium. Some of the new woods are
held at very high prices, costing clean in
some instances fully y to 10 cents. Such
woods are not selling, but the lighter
shrinkage woods are in steady request
from manufacturers, in small lots for
test purposes and to piece out with.
Harding e. Caverly under date of the
9th inst. report the arrival of afew pieces
from Utah and Wyoming, and that a few
sales have been made upon a secured
basis, but that in some cases sellers have
asked such high prices as to prevent
realization. The firm also report that
buyers are making a very persistent effort
to reduce the secured basis on fine terri
tory clips to 80 cents, but thus far with
comparatively little success, and then
adds: 1--WE think it safest, however, to
reduce our valuations from 60 cents,
IS the secured basis of fine, to say
CO cents, and GO cents for fine me-
dunn, and at these figures we could read
lily move a large line of wool" There is
nothing definite in this. but if the firm
figures correctly prices should stiifen.
Sellers, however, should not put SO much
confidence in what may happen as in
what the ruling rates at present indicate
for the future.
The matter of shrinkage, of course,
cuts a very important figure in the price
of wool in the grease. The shrinkage of
Montana woods this year should be much
less than usual. If the average be GO
per cent heretofore the shrinkage this
year, taking the Montana clip altogether,
should not exceed 30 per cent and may
probably fall below 30 per cent. The
per cent of shrinkage in the finest
Australian woods is not above a. per
cent, while the s~hrinkage Of the inferior
is not under GO per cent. Certainly the
rain washed Montana clips this year will
not contain the dirt inferior Australian
wool contains. Still prices may not
materially advance or that account. In
summing up the TRIBUNE would express
the opinion that Montana woods will
start out at about the figure this year
they did last year and probably maintain
about the same prices through the
season.