New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-06-11
HOLDING WOOL HIGH.
WESTERN GROWERS TRY TO FORCE
MANUFACTURERS TO THEIR TERMS.

Chicago. June 10 (SpeciaD-Western wool
growers have "deadlocked" the market for their
product and there is every indication that the
woollen manufacturer will be forced to come to
their terms. The Western wool grower is serene
and confident, while the Eastern wooilen manu-
facturer seems to be timorous and afraid of the
future. The clothing manufacturer who stands
between the two. finds II to his interest to keep
the woollen mill in a panic il possible
and is doing all he can to keep him scared The
wool grower is. fortunately. in position to see
the little game and he is naturally holding off
for better terms. Every time there is a change
in the price OF pig iron the woollen mill man
has cold chill. the Western wool grower laughs
and the Western clothing manufacturer tries
10 frghten the mill into closing out his
next seasons output at any old price
There was probably a time in the his
tory OF the trade when the Western sheep man
felt of his ground he does now. While
the Fastener may have misgivings TO the
suit of next falls elections. there is no such
doubt In the mind of the Western wool grower
He feels that there will be no reversal of pres
ent policies. and he is waiting for the Eastern
manufacturer to get over his scare. In the light
Of the big demand for wooen goods that he
knows must come sooner or later from the clsth-
ing manufacturer, the wool grower sees his
opportunity II the mill man delays his pur-
chases beyond prudent time limits. he will find
the Western wool grower indulging in a mild
little hold up game TO make him pay the
penalty of his timidity. There is every indica-
ton that the Eastern mill man Is going TO make
precisely THIS mistake unless the Western cloth
ing manufacturer loses his nerve and is unable
TO delay his buying any longer.
The statesmen of the latter have now been on
the road long enough to know that sales OF fall
goods from the Chicago market at least, were
hiatt for hi rTb
was achieved too, by including the North
western wheat States. in which the crop condi-
tons are by fiattering as they are
in some OF the other portions of the West. While
the Western wool man is looking at the reduced
wool clip Of the country this year, and the
cellent promise of prosperity that will call for
all of it. the woollen manufacturer of the East
still has his eyes fixed on the London wool sales
where fine woods, on which the fastener
bitten some time ago, were again lower.
AS an illustration of the confidence with which
Westerners holding their wool the returns
at Pendletor. Ore. show that out of a total of
1500 600 pounds received there up to the first
OF this month only 10000 pounds have been
sold Experts who have been over that district
assert that there are between 100000 and
100000 pounds TO come forward but the grow
shows anxiety to bring it in. The fine
quality Of the wool made il especially attrac-
tive TO buyers but the small sales show their
inability TO secure much of it on the present
basis of prices. The wool growers of Utah are
as firm in their opinions of the market are
Oregon producers. Few clips have come out of
Utah this year, and few likely to come
less the Eastern mill man comes UP in his
prices South Dakota is in line with the Far
westerners. and has made arrangements to hold
its wool for another month, by which time ii is
the belief Of most Of the growers that the East
ern woollen men will have been forced to make
a move or go out of business. The Black Hills
Wool Growers Association has leased a ware
house at Rapid City, S. D., in which 1t proposes
TO store the wool OF the surrounding country
This warehouse is expected to cover 100000
pounds before the market really opens. The
association has set aside July IL and il as
special sale days, and is confidently counting on
saving it's members a great deal of money by
holding the wool for them until then, instead of
sacrificing it at the figures which the brokers
and commission men are bidding them now.
In contrast to the courage shown by the "ool
growers is the action recently taken by the
American Woollen Company. which announces
that 81 will show its line Of spring serges
Cnext spring. before the last of this month. This
is a fun month later than usual. and 1t is an
oren secret that the company feared 10 open its
line and set its prices now for fear that the
market could not be maintained through long
season. Other lines Of woollens Will also be held
back several weeks for the same reason. The
fact that clothing manufacturers must soon be
gin the manufacture Of their next spring line is
being used by the big company TO help itself
out OF what ii seems to think is bad situation
The is apparent to the Western clothing
manufacturers and cloth jobbers, and it is ru-
mored that the latter have formed a sort of
gentlemen's agreement to put off buying spring
piece goods as late as possible so bring
about a break in prices. The clothing manu-
facturers, of course, encourage the scheme, de-
spite the open secret in local trade circles that
they have already broken their records adj
vance fall sales.
Meanwhile the big wool commission houses
here. which move the clip from the grower
the mill man. are getting IN only scattered lots
OF the new crop, and these are coming from
scattered localities covering a wide territory
Though the first OF the clip of Arizona
wool TO reach the Boston market arrived there
last week, this city has had wool from that
ritory and from the other Far Western districts
for a month. Like the current arrivals, how
ever, the lots were scattered and usually small.
Local wool men have expended a great deal of
time and attention the situation this year. as
IL has presented some peculiar features. 1t is
not unusual Of course, for the Eastern woollen
man TO talk bearish in the buying season or the
Western grower to try TO get all he for his
clip The local man, however knows when
the mill man is putting up a poor mouth for
effect or when he is really scared. He also
knows when the grower is really confident and
when he is not During the black period when
wool the free list the Western wool
grower received a lesson which he will always
remember. Its shadow is enough to give him a
shiver any minute. He is having shivers this
year. He knows well any one man can
know his neighbors that there will be no free
years hence, and this is the that he is
turning down all overtures TO part him from his
wool at current values. This, at least, is the
way the local wool men weigh up the situation,
and they have certainly been al great pains and
expense TO find out the facts.