The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1903-10-06
INQUIRY FOR fine STOCK
Low Grades Well Worked Off and
Trade Is Turning to Higher
Qualities.

pounds. Included in this were 1,570,-
900 pounds of territory, which sold
at 1921 cents a pound.
The market is not yet active, al
though there has been a somewhat
better inquiry the past week, but it
has been in spots, and the business
going has, as a rule, been of a hand
to-mouth character, says the American
Wool and Cotton Reporter.
Buying for Actual Necessities.
In all cases the mills appear to be
buying only what they are forced to
buy by their actual necessities, and in
many cases where they have taken on
wool, they have been insistent that it
be shipped Immediately. Some fair
sized lines of medium woods have been
moved, both in feeces and territories,
and staple territories, both fine and
medium, have figured a little more in
the business proportionately; but
there has been no movement of mil
lion pound lots such as characterized
the market a year ago.
The volume of business being done
is in marked contrast with that which
was being accomplished last year at
this period. Thus, while the sales
for the past week have been only
1926, 600 pounds, for the correspond
ing week last year they were NJ less
than %23,140,000 pounds. The mills
evidently are not prepared to operate
ITO the extent that they were last
year, but many of them will buy
freely of medium and low woods, es-
pecially OF quarters and three-eighths,
prices of which are actually higher
than they were 4 week or ten days
ago. But the supplies of these woods
are comparatively limited, and it has
not been possible to consummate a
very huge business by reason of the
lack of stock. This doubtless ac-
counts for the readiness with which
medium and unwashed woods in Ohio,
Michigan and in other sections in the
interior have been bought recently
for Boston account, which has cut
down the supplies of these woods in
the. fleece states to such small
amounts. Some of the large consum-
ers have been buying this grade of
stock during the past week, both
nearby concumers and those hailing
from the Philadelphia district, the
latter taking medium leeces and sta.
pie territories, both fine and medium.
Call for Fine Improving.
AS noted in previous reports the
demand continues to run mostly to
the medium and low woods, although
the inquiry for the finer grades is
certainly better than it was, with
moderate sales of fine medium terri
tories at 47@50c, clean, the latter for
Wyoming and Montana woods; and
sales of fine territory at 52@55c, &C
cording to staple and quality. There
is more willingness to sell fine and
fine medium territories than fleeces.
Some manufacturers are trying to
get fine medium territories at 45c, but
we do not learn that they have yet
been able to do so, although one sale
of fine medium, strictly clothing. is
said to have been made at a price
which was pretty close to that quo
tation. Some manufacturers will not
pay as much as others who are more
in need of wool.
The Goods Market.
The news from the goods market
is not essentially different from what
1t has been for some time. A number
of lines of woolens and dress goods
are well sold up, and makers of these
goods talk rather cheerfully as to the
situation; but makers of mems wear
wOrsteds are still complaining as tc
the lack of business, and are especial
~ careful in their purchases of wool
The strong statistical position of the
raw material, however, operates
against a very radical concession il
values on the part of holders, although
of course, on certain grades of terrific
rial woods which have long been drag
gy, there is O or less anxiety tt
sell. The strictly fine woods have
been in rather better request the pas
week, and we note that more atten
ton is being given to fine Texas
nne territory, fine pulled and fine Aus
t~ralian. although no very large bust
ness has as yet been accomplished il
either Of these classes of stock.