Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1900-01-03
WOOL SITUATION STRONG.
Resume Of the Years Business. Bright
Outlook for Producers in 1900.

Boston, Dec. 27.-The American
Wool and cotton Reporter will pub
lish tomorrow its annual review OF
the wool market. 1t estimates the
total supply OF wool in the United
States at the close OF the year, ex-
elusive OF manufacturers holdings at
157 .39S,S97 pounds, against 1886, ,O33, ,S53
n year ago. or this amount Boston
has 66, 49, ,743 pounds against l36,OSS,-
2l3 pounds year ago, including
wool in bond. Exclusive of wool i'm
bond Boston has an available supply
of 4l,3s7 900 pounds against TO-, 2,OlO.-
179 last year. New York's total
available supply is 25.2OO,5S5 against
42,074,45 pounds last year. Phila-
delphia has 2l,9Sl ,25l against 24,3S4,
600.
ceptionally small though, at Boston
being only 34,372,Gil pounds as
against 4O,923,O24 pounds last year.
The rise is owing to the phenomen-
rlly large demand for wool consump-
tion, which has swept through all
the wool centers of the country, the
total available stock on hand at the
close Of the ear has been reduced to
n comparatively low point. BY far
the greater portion of the wool this
year Is at the seaport markets. A
year ago the supply was pretty
evenly divided between the interior
and the seaboard. This year the in
terror markets have been swept
pretty clean, the wool being rushed
forward early In the season to Bos-
ton, Philadelphia and other eastern
markets, where it has been freely
sold to such an extent that the stocks
now, even ut the seaboard, are de-
cidedly less than year ago, al
though exceeding the estimates Of
some OF the members OF the trade.
At the close of the situation is n
strong one. No relief practically has
been obtained from abroad. There
is a scarcity of fine woods the world
over, foreign markets have been ad-
vancing by leaps and bounds. the
Australian clip again shows mat
erial reduction and has been eagerly
The total stocks in the three prn-
cipal markets Of the United States
are ll3, 20, ,59T pounds against 204, 1885,
S2S pounds II year ago. The sales Of
wool in Boston during the year have
been 3E,lS5,71G, against Ill l,342 ,5lO
pounds in 1898.
Sales in the three principal markets
OF the United States have amounted
TO 5l4,947, ,92S pounds against 23O, 1885,
3S5 pounds last year.
The total wool clip OF the country
IL placed at slightly less than 49,
0O0, 900 pounds, against about 2OO, ,OOO,-
600 last year. At the beginning Of
the year the total available supply of
the country was about 340,00O.OO0
pounds. Importations have been ex-
bought by the anxious users OF wool.
The London markets have risen be-
yond all expectations. Foreign buy
ers have been 30 anxious to secure
supplies that they have taken u large
portion OF the fine Australian which
had been here in bond, and the begin
ming OF the year 1900 witnesses II
very dear supply of foreign clothing
woods here to draw upon. While the
price OF wool Is not as pronounced
ns IL was Il few months ago, great
expectations are looked for from the
heavy weight season, which IL now
about To open. As regards the bust
ness actually transacted by the mills,
IL IL noted that the manufacturers
have had larger plants and more
hands In operation. Many mills are
being enlarged and new plants erec-
ted. Toward the end Of the year the
tight money market has curtaIlcd