The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1903-06-09
FEW BOSTON HOUSES REPORT
INCREASED INQUIRY.
STILL PRICES HOLD STEADY
Anticipated Decrease in Seasons Out:
put Materially Strengthens Sta
tisticaI Position Of Staple.

Sales of wool for the week on the
Boston market amounted to 1888, 600
pounds. OF this $4,000 pounds was
territory. The latter sold at from
IA to 1917 cents.
While a few houses report a slightly
better inquiry for wool, with more
manufacturers looking around, the
rank and file of the trade report a
quiet market. Some of the large
houses indeed have done practically
nothing and the volume of business
actually contaminated during the
past week is smaller than that OF
the previous week, says the American
Wool and Cotton Reporter. A number
of sales have been made subject to
approval, but they have been very
generally of small lots. Some good.
sized sales of Texas, which practical.
ly clean up the stock OF old wool in
this market, figure among the transac-
lions of the past week, as we'll as
some good lines OF pulled woods, and
low foreign woods, but aside from
these the transactions of the past
week are hardly worthy Of o than
a passing notice.
Prices Hold Steady.
While trade locally is quiet a fea.
ture OF the situation is the steadiness
with which prices r held. This is
due to the light stocks of old wool
on hand and the strong statistical po-
sition OF the raw material. There
is only one class of stocks of which
/. Ahers can be said to be any stable.
supply here. That is. Montana wool,
Of which there is reported 20 be about
one-third of the clip of 1902 now in
the Boston market, and Of this
amount two well-known Sumner street
Houses are said to be carrying some
tlreea or four million pounds each.
OF NeAce woods, pulled woods and for
eign woods stocks are very light. One
party claims that there is the small
est quantity of foreign wool in bond
in this country that was ever known.
With such small stocks carried over
and with the diminished supplies OF
foreign woods abroad and indications
of another decrease in the Australian
clip. holders of wool see no justitica-
ton for lowering prices. On the other
hand, if there should be a good heal
thy demand for goods, they are antici-
pating higher rather than lower prices.
Decrease is Expected.
The domestic clip will, in all prob
ability. show a decrease this year,
and this decrease is variously estl-
mated at from 100000 to 100000, 600
pounds. Statislically, therefore, the
strength OF the situation is apparent;
hut a determining factor of course will
he the character and extent OF tho
demand for goods, and in -his connec'
ton he opening OF the light weight
season is being awaited with an in
creasing interest. The size OF The
duplicate business on heavy weights
has generally not come up To eXpccta-
tions. Some mills, more especially
those making woolens and dress
goods, are we'll sold up, but the mems
wear worsted mills are complaining
of business, and there is much com
plant over the unrespolsiye attitude
of the clothing trade.
A Depressing Factor.
The extent of the strike at Philadel
phia serves as a depressing FACTOR.
OF course, some of the mills outside
of philadelphia may succeed in secur
ing some of the business which woulc
otherwise have come to the Philadel
phia and it is possible ina
the curtailment of production may
stimulate the placing OF orders D!
the clothing trade, although the lat
ter as vet show no inclination to bt
hurried into purchasing goods beyond
their actual requirements. Conserva
tism marks the operations OF both tn
clothier and the mill a The latte
would like to see more orders coming
in before purchasing any large line
of wool, and the former would Tx
to see evidence OF an improvement
in the general situation and a NOR
active inquiry from retail circles be
o ordering larger amounts OF goods
AS far as the mills are concerned
however, while they are PURCHASING
raw material only moderately, the.
are keeping a close watch on tn