The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1903-07-17
MILLS ARE BUYING FREELY
Market Active and Strong, With
Steady Demand from the
@., Manufacturers.

take a more optimistic view or the
outlook for wool than some other
journals published in that American
center of the great Montana staple.
In the opinion of the Bulletin a belief
in better prices is fully justified ny
present and prospective conditions,
as will be seen from the following,
taken from that paper: .
The market is active and strong.
There is a good, steady demand and
all kinds of manufacturers are in
cluded in the list of buyers. Many
small and several large transactions
have been closed. While medium
grades have the call the business in
other departments has been good and
the inquiry is quite general.
From some quarters there is an
urgent call for deliveries "a feature
that shows consumers in some in
stances are down very low on raw ma
terial. The large mills are also in
terested and are buying. The buyers
for the American Wooden company
have been on the market and there
is evidence that they will be a more
important factor in the business in
the near future than in the immediate
past. All indications point to a good
demand, for manufacturers are not
carrying heavy supplies and are TAX
ing a good volume of orders for
goods. -s..."
An Upward Tendency.
There is an upward tendency to
values and the situation is gaining
strength all the time. Medium grades
are higher and have sold this week
at the best prices of the year.. Similar
to that which went begging a few
months ago at q cents has sold dur
ing the weeg at three or foul cents
more. This shows the trend OF the
market and emphasizes the improve
ment that has, been gaining force for
some weeks. There is no boom on
and no speculation but a good, healthy
situation that is legitimately based
on the sound principle of supply and
demand. The supply is short and
the demand for actual consumption
good. There is promise Of steady
employment of machinery in the mills,
even if there is no great boom in the
industry. The disappearance of the
bears is apparent. t.-'" f.
Outlook Is Bright.
Those who held back early in the
season are prepared for the fray in
Montana. The presence of fourteen
buyers at Billings, in that state, and
numberless others in other localities
shows that there is to be a good, keen
competition here just as there has
been in other states since the new
clip began to move. Montana, though
on a larger scale, is Likely to show
a repetition If the events in other
sections. @
The clouds that hung owe the mar
ket a short time ago have disappear
ed. The financial situation is SOUND
and there is little rear Of money
stringency in the fall. Labor troubles
are being adjusted. The strike il
the textile mills in Philadelphia il
broken. the cotton corner is strong
The skies are now clear. The indus
trial outlook is brighter. The Phlla
deIphia manufacturers are scoring vic
tories. The employees OF the sever
mills have returned ITO work unde1
the old conditions. In the marke
for mems wear fabrics there is more
activity.
Many of the cheaper lines of nev
lightweights have been placed on tn
market and while there has been NJ
rush on the part of buyers a salts
factory opening business has beef
done on the whole.
Goods Have Advanced.
As to prices there is a variety O
opinions. Outwardly it appears tina
most lines are quoted at last year
prices burt the manipulation Of fabric
in many instances conceals the fac
that an advance has been asked. Il
a few cases actual advances over las
year are tagged. There is a genera
disposition to postpone the opening Q
high grade goods. It is believed tina
fancy worsteds will not be formal,
opened till well into August. AS t
clays and serges next week is expects
70 hiring DEVELOPMENTS. There is still