The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1898-04-23
NOT ENCOURAGING.


are looking forward to high prices for
this years clip, but they must not De
disappointed if the wool market does
not come up to their expectations.
While protective tariff has more or
less effect upon the price OF WOOL still
the matter or supply aud demand
figures largely in fixing prices, and the
following from the Wool Record OF
Apri, II, would indicate that the
demand this season will not be
las brisk as it was last, because
dealers are concelling their orders,
which affects the manufacturers, who,
unless they see large future demands
in sight, will not be active purchasers
in the markets this years:
Business among manufacturers ana
agents showed some slight improve
ment during the past week, but at pest
it is still ia more or less deplorable
state. Itwould appear, from the large
number of cancellations coming for
ward and the large quantities OF llght-
weight goods on hand, that clotnlers
eyer.estimated their purchasing power
and oyer-bought themselves, mistake
that is apt to have lasting influence.
The worst feature of this is that the
manufacturer has to bear the brunt OF
the burden of the clethiers' mistakes.
He is virtually forced to accept can
cellations and returns with the best
grace possible.
On the other hand, he is put In
very precarious condition. AS goods
are charged up, agents make advances
to the manufacturer, with the r'sult
that many of them are overbnrdeneo
with stocks upon which they have re-
ceived advances, and for which there
is no immediate outlet. The clothler
looks upon this eomplacently and con-
tyratulates himself that he was able to
get from under 20 easily, when II ne
had adhered to his contract in accor-
dance with his early purchases ne
would now be the one bearing the
burden.
The recent war scare has only aggra-
vated matters, as it has produced
more stingent money market, and re-
moves from the manufacturer his only
chance to tide over his difficulties.
The less sympathetic buyers do not
hesitate co condemn the manufacturer
for turning out what they call trashy
goods, and for resorting to various
methods to cheaper his products, but
these same buyers were among the
first to clamor for slightly goods to sell
at price, not taking into considera-
tion the increased cost ef manufactur-
ing. And yet today they are among
the first to condemn him for his mis-
takes and return goods upon theslight'
est pretsxt, regardless of the fact that
the manufacturer was producing goods
in accordance with the demand.
1t is such inconsistencies that have
brought about the present condition
of affairs, from which the manufactur-
er has no redress. To throw his goods
upon the market at any price they
will bring, is apparently the only al
ternatiye at present. 1t is needless to
saw that few manufacturers expect to
get out whole ON the goods in hand.
It is quite evident that there is some.
thing radically wrong in this method
of doing business, and in no other
branches of the textile trades are buy
ers allowed to take such liberties as in
that of woolens.
When a buyer contracts for his sea-
sons supply, and is induced to specu-
late on the strength of the market, he
is the one who should suffer the con-
sequences, and not the manufacturer
If his initial purchases are in accord
ance with the samples from which he
made his selections, there is no reason
why the buyer should not accept the
goods, and if this method was adhered
to, it would tend to put the market on
a firmer basis and tend to eliminate
conditions such as exist at present. AS
long as the buyer knows he can plunge,
secure long datings on his bills. and
then cancel undelivered orders and
return goods already delivered, the
manufacturer must submit to the in
evitabIe and accept it with best grace
possible, even if his profits suffer.