The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1900-12-28
INCREASED INQUIRY FOR WOOL.

ua A44L O4ALlAN
INCREASED INQUIRY FOR WOOL.
Cold Weather Helps the Fleece Market
Outlook Is Better.
The colder weather Of the past weel
or ten days has started a somewhat
better business in the clothing trade,
which is reflected in a slightly in.
creased inquiry for wool, but the
amount of business actually transact.
ed in the latter commodity shows nc
lmprovement-in fact, it is slightly
less than that of last week, says the
American Wool and Cotton Reporter.
The general feeling is, that the vol
ume of business in the wool market
will be Of moderate proportions from
now until after the turn Of the new
year. Some very good duplicate
orders on light weights have been re-
ceived by the mills, although at a low
margin, and they have been mostly on
low priced goods. The large manu-
f%acturers will show their overcoatings
about the first of January, and their
heavyweight suitings about the goth
of January. On the size of the orders
received for those goods will depend
the size of the demand for wool.
In the meantime manufacturers are
buying wool only to meet pressing
wants, and acknowledge that as far as
stocks of wool are concerned, they are
pretty well down to bare boards. The
wool trade, therefore, naturally an
ticipate a decidedly improved demand
for wool, after the turn of the year,
unless the next heavyweight season
is destined to prove a decided failure.
Manufacturers are in the meantime
keeping in close touch with the mar
ket, and when they decide to buy
wool, are willing to pay current mar
ket prices. They seem to have arrived
at the conclusion themselves that
wool is not likely to sell materially
lower-at any rate a number Of con-
sumers express themselves to this
effect, but they are not buying wool,
for the reason that they do not need
it. When they do need it, they will
buy it. 1t is possible, however, that
they may all buy at once, as the great
majority Of them have held off so
long, in which event there could hard
ly fail to be some appreciation in the
value Of wool, in the minds of sew
eral members Of the wool trade, al
though all recognize the fact that sup
plies Of raw material are very large.
The outlook for general business is
considered as good, and the belief
prevails that the wool market will
share in the commercial prosperity
which, it is believed, is to characterize.
the year 1901. During the past year
wool, owing to the exceptional condi-
lions surrounding it, has been charac-
terized by a greater degree of depres-
sion than has marked most other COM
modities, but it is believed that the
year 1901, inasmuch as many Of the
depressing factors in the situation
have been removed, will bring to the
wool trade a more satisfactory bust
Members of the trade are en-
couraged in their anticipations of a
better business next year by the tenor
of reports from abroad, which show a
continued improvement in the de-
mand and a hardening in values. Re-
cent reports from the manufacturing
districts in England are decidedly
more cheerful, and higher prices seem
to be looked for in London after the
turn Of the year.
Quite a large business has been
in territory woods, the de-
mand running mostly to fine medium
and medium stock. Some woods have
sold at under As cents, but they were
short, kenny stuff. Some of the
shortest can be secured as low as AZ
cents, but the woods which possess
any staple or character sell at prices
ranging from 46 to SO cents. A very
good fine and fine medium clothing
wool can be secured for AZ to As cents.
For a fine, choice Nevada, holders
could get SO to 81 cents. Staple
woods may be quoted at 48 to SO cents.
In the territories holders are very
firm, and will make no concessions
Included in the sales of
the week were 600, 900 pounds Of fine
medium Montana at a clean cost Of 48
cents. Medium territories have sold
comparative freedom at 40 to 43
cents.
TRAIN OF FLOODED HORSES