Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1903-06-03
There is another factor in the sit.

There is another factor in the sit
uation, however, which wool mer.
chants believe is destined to count for
much. That is the very strong sta
tistical position of wool Old stocks
on hand are exceptionally small. both
at home and abroad, and indications
are that the yield OF Australian wool
will again show a decrease. especially
In fine wool. In Australia some spots
have been favored with rains, but
there are still large areas suffering
from the want OF rain especially in
New South Wales, where the size OF
the flocks has been reduced $50 per
cent. The large losses OF sheep in
the territories of the United States
are being reflected in somewhat re-
duced yield already, and II is esti-
mated by careful observers that the
wool clip OF the United States will be
noticeably smaller this year than II
was last year. Influenced by such con.
siderations as these, representatives
OF eastern wool houses have been
buying the new wools more freely in
the territories and paying for them
prices which show an advanced ten.
dency. In some cases prices have ad-
yanced 1c per pound over those cur.
rent about ten days ago, and as com.
pared with those Of year ago. they
are fully &c per pound higher Wools
are being bought In the territories to-
day to cost soc, clean, landed in Bos.
ton. which wools could not possibly
be sold at that price on today's mar.
ket. II the woods shrank as much as
they did last year. they would cost
considerably more than that price
But much of this years wool shrinks
2Q3 per cent. less than last years
wool so that the grease prices as
quoted In many sections are not so
excessively high, as compared with
those OF year ago as would appear
on the surface. when reckoned on the
secured basis. One thing is certain,
however; the price of wool must eth.
er advance from Its present level at
the seaboard. or there will be some
losses In the wool trade.
For territory wools the demand has
been generally quiet. A few stable
lines have been moved. however and
certainly do not reveal any weakness,
although, on the other hand II has
been very difficult to secure any ad.
vance. But holders are not making
any concessions in prices, and we note
sales Of fine medium, strictly clothing.
at iSc. clean. fine at 50T52c, clean.
and fine staple at 52M 53c. clean.
There is still good call for fine woos
of the Nevada type, but there are
scarcely any Nevada wools here now
and they readily command 53c. and
bring more. Medium territory woods
sell at 45c, clean and slightly better.
according to the amount of staple In
IL and its general condition. Thus
among the sales Of the week may be
noted one Of $4,000 pounds of medium
Montana at 16c. shrinking 64h per
cent. costing 45kc. clean: the staple
was all in this wool, although II was
not strictly staple lot. Among 9th.
er sales was one Of 10000 pounds fine
medium Montana at 15hc. heavy wool,
with the staple in. which cost, clean.
51@52c. Another sale was $4,000 |
pouiiub VI nHt HtuluHl ludUO ut /
clean cost Of 49c, mostly clothing. |
One lot of 100000 pounds OF fine and |
medium territory, clothing, was sold |
at 48M5Oc. clean.
In the west prices have ruled strong
with an upward tendency. In Wyom-
ing. l4kc has been paid. In Idaho |
woods have sold in some instances at |
prices which are &c per pound high. |
er than those OF year ago. The sea.
son has been backward there, as we'll |
as I'm other sections of the west, but |
buyers are now operating with COM |
paratiye freedom. In Nevada the old |
woods are all gone and the late wools |
have not yet come upon the market. |
There will be a big sale of Nevada |
wool at Reno June l7th. One million |
pounds will be offered for sale on the
sealed bid plan. At Rawlins, Wyo.,
recently. one well known wool clip |
was sold at l5kc 10 a well known |
Boston house One clip Of 10000 |
pounds was sold at l5hc. This was |
also taken by a Boston house.
Correspondence from Boise. Idaho. |
indicates that the sheepmen have met |
with tremendous losses. running from |
10 up TO 80 rer cent. of their stock. |
They are determined 10 get all they |
can for their product Tne freight |
rate was cut TO 2.l2lac on May .. |
On May 90, a very inferior clip was
bought at about l3c by Boston