The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1903-08-04


tiative and gone in and contracted TOT
woods without waiting for the action
Of the combine, which, while it has
been buying to some extent, has not
taken on nearly as much stock as 1t
has in some previous seasons up to
this time.
Prices Are Strong.
Prices of wool are strong all along
the line and consumers find it difficult
to wiring concessions from holders,
and the bulk of the business OF the
week has been done at top quotations.
In the west, notably in Montana, there
is rather more business doing and
increased sales Are reported at prices
ranging from 15c to 17Mc at Great.
Falls, the latter for $4,000 pounds
very fine choice wool, the average
prices being from 1914 to tic, and
from Ii hto 16k C in Billings. Buy
ers are paying for fine clothing clips
prices equivalent to SOC, secured,
landed in Boston, and for medium and
fine staple clips. 16@17hc in the
grease.
A. to Montana Woods.
The Montana woods are reported
as light this year, as compared with
those of last year, but it is claimed
by some that they r not up in style
and appearance to last years, pos
sessing a more grayish cast. Some
of the clips are running a little more
brashy, rejecting the poorer iced and
the severe winter through which the
sheep passed. 1t is thought that there
is likely to be very littye good fine
| staple as compared with last year,
on account of the severe winter.
The London Sales.
The London sales closed about as
was expected. Prices were firm.
| Americans took about 5000 bales,
mostly crossbreds. The Withdrawals
were $4,000 bales. Prices on good
| merinos were about on a parity with
the opening. Woods spinning 36s to
46s closed 5 per cent up from the
opening. Inferior merinos were 5 per
cent off from the opening.
Texas, California and Oregon.
Texas wool has not figured very
prominently in the business of the
past week. A moderate business has
been done at 50@52c, clean, for eight
months and 56@57c for choice II
months. Practically all the good
woods in San Angelo are reported to
have been taken and few woods gen.
orally are left in the state of Texas.
California woods are quiet but firm.
There is some inquiry for best north
ern wool, which has changed hands
at a clean cost of 52@53c. Middle
counties command 10000, and south
ern free wool, 47@48c. OF the Cali
fornia woods only a few comparatively
have yet been received.
In Oregon woods there is decidedly
more activity to report. AS before
stated, one large mill has bought free
ly of such stock, and it is estimated
that between two and three million
pounds have been sold. The bulk OF
this wool had been under negotia-
ton for some time. 1t "a staple wool
and is understood to have brought
about SIC, clean. In the grease staple
woods have commanded TN DISC
and choice clothing Ice. Medium
Oregon has sold at 45@46c, clean.
Territories.
Territory wool has been quite &C
tive and some good-sized lines have
= been moved. Woods grading quartel
and three-eighths have been in espe
pecially good request. Thus low quar-
ter and medium Utah, low Colorado
and Wyoming qu~arter-blood have
: been in steady demand. Quarterback
1 territories, in fact, with some houses
. have sold about as fast as they hav'
. been opened, commanding about 44c
l clean, and some 45c. Half-b blood an
Z th~ree-eighths blood stock has sold a
1 46@47c, clean. A fair amount O
h~alf-blood has been taken at 47c. Il
the grease territory quarters com
mand 18@21c. Wyoming quarters
u combing and clothing together, sell a
u 18c; Montanas have brought 21c
Utahs, zoe. Wyoming quarters woul'
4 bring 19c, if n could get any grea
, in the original packages at Ice in tn
= grease. Sales of Montana staple ar
u reported at 19kc, to cost 55c, clear
e r;na Mo,t.,. no. ia ~ ,oo "a -,