The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1903-02-10

SS AAOAA
day lit having been previouhly under
stood that they were to close on Sat
urday) and that the attendance on
the last day was very small. One
house in the trade announced that
choice fine merinos held the advance
established at the opening all the
way through, and that after allowing
for the easing off in crossbreds, the
latter closed at about the opening
rates. The sales towards the close,
however, evidently failed to manifest
the vim and eclat which had been an
ticipated by some.
Conflicting News.
From South America the news re-
ceived is somewhat conflicting. Ad-
vices received since our last issue in
dictate a decline in prices in Buenos
Ayres, and that in consequence of the
free purchases of the past six weeks
in that market, American buyers are
inclined to await developments in the
goods market and the course of at
fairs in London. On the other hand.
a cable received in this market on
Tuesday of this week reports that
prices have advanced one-quarter
cent within the previous few days,
and that the highest prices yet es-
tablished were ruling when this cable
was sent. This is in marked con
trast to the character of the closing
on crossbreds at the London sales.
Low South Americans cost SIC,
clean, landed, but good 4Os at the last
London sales could be landed at $50
4Oc, and these are the woods that con-
sumers have shown more disposition
to buy.
Domestic Demand
The demand for domestic stock in
the local market has been mostly
from the medium and smaller sized
mills, the large mills having done but
little. Some of the large mills are
pretty well stocked, and state that
they are not likely to be very free
buyers for some time yet. No very
large individual lines have therefore
been disposed of. There is still a
good inquiry for fine stock, but the
trend of the demand is more pro-
nounced toward medium grades,
ruhich Sc naturally tho ooco o~ tho
heavyweight season develops. This
is reflected in an excellent inquiry for
B supers, some good-sized sales of
which have been put through, as is
noted farther on in this report.
News from the West.
The news from the west is of a
rather interesting character this
week. Some of the early shorn woods
in Arizona have already been taken,
and last week it is reported that
about $4,000 pounds were sold to IL
Boston house at 15hc. These woods
last year sold at 13c. They are said,
however, to be of a lighter shrinkage
than they were last year, but will
cost, clean, landed, 4l@4Sc. The
woods run from a medium to a fine
medium. The fine woods will open
later.
Texas, California and Oregon.
Texas woods are very ..uiet, but
such stock as is here is firmly held.
Consumers are trying to buy for 19c,
woods which are held at 20c, bit thus
far without success. A little II
months stock is reported to have
changed hands at zoe, equivalent to
a clean cost of about soc. Eight
months wool is unchanged. being
held at a clean cost of 52@55c. Fall
woods are worth 45@47c, clean.
California woods are also in small
demand. Some eight months spring
is reported to have sold at 4S@5Oc,
clean, and some nice fall wool has
sold at 44@45c.
Oregon woods are still quiet. Sta
pie wool is held at 1S@19c, and cloth
ing woods at 16@17c. Some nice wool
has been moved at a clean cost OF
about soc, clean.
Territories.
In territories there has been quite
a falling off in the volume OF business
transacted. A few stable lines have
been sold, but the bulk of the bust
ness has consisted mostly of medium
sized lots. The tone of the market
as to prices is very firm, however,
and what business has been done, has
been generally at full prices. Some
holders are a little more anxious to