The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1903-06-16
LIGHT DEMAND KEEPS DOWN
WOOL PRICES.
SMALL STOCKS ON HAND
Statistical Position Of Staple lncreas-
ing in Strength, Causing More
Hopeful View for Future.

SSAOS3V0O OoAN 80 !
cluded in this were 100000 pounds
territory. The latter sold at from IA
to 1871 cents, the current price for
weeks past.
The wool market is very quiet.
There has, however been more look
ing around on the part of the smaller
mills, and quite a large number of
sample bales have been taken. These
have resulted in very little actual
business, but they indicate on the
part, of a number of more
disposition to consider woods.
What business has been accom-
plished has been in spots, most of the
large houses, as well as the smaller
concerns, doing practically nothing
says the American Wool and Cotton
Reporter. Some of the wooden mills
are receiving fair-sized recorders and
will buy at current prices such woods
as they need, but they will not pay
higher prices. The worsted mills are
still receiving an unsatisfactory vol
ume of orders, and there is much
idle machinery on worsted lines. On
medium grades of w%orsteds, here and
there, some are reported as doing
slightly better, but whatever improve
ment there may be, is hardly notice
able. Some Of the small mills are re-
ported as getting down on their stock
of raw material and are willing to
buy, but only in small amounts and of
such grades as they see an immediate
use for. The inquiry has been princi-
pally for medium stock. Medium ter
ritories have proven quite popular
stock selling at from 43c to 46c.,
secured, which enables manufacturers
to make a good fabric and sell it at a
popular price. Good medium terrific
ries will bear watching. There has
been also a good inquiry for medium
pulled wools-especially B supers-
and also for medium fieeces. Fine
woods have been in comparatively
smaller demand the past week.
Prices Rule Firm.
Prices ruled firm ON all kinds OF
wool, especially on pulled woods and
quarter and half-blood tieeces. At
tempts to secure advanced quotations
generally result in checking trade
but on the current level prices are
firmly held in view of the high prices
being paid in the west, reports of {
reduced yield in the domestic clip ant
the strong advices received from
abroad. Dealers are still buying il
the west. although some OF the east
ern houses have ordered their mel
to pull out for awhile, as prices ask
ed are in many instances too higl
for them to consider.
New Wool Taken Fast.
New woods are being taken abou
as fast as they are offered. The wool
are delayed in coming upon the NAL
ket, however, so that there is no az
emulation worthy of note. In Idah
prices range from 13kc to 14kc an
in Utah from 13c to lac. The ne'
woods are selling at a clean cost G
about SOC, and in some cases eve
more, landed. AS to the shortage j
the clip it IS unquestirnabiy everest
mated by some. In the fleece wOt
sections there will be some shortag
in Michigan, Ohio and Kentuck!
but it will be slight. Notwithstan'
ing some of the wild reports curren
a careful inquiry from trustwOrth
sources fails to reveal anything whic
would warrant changing our estimate
of the shortage as previously given
from 25,O 900, 900 to 4O,0 0 600 pound
But, of course, with the very Sma
amount Of old wool which is bein
carried over this year, this is regar
ed as significant and emphasizes tt
views of those who believe in high'
prices for wool later on. Then, ais
there are the reports from abroa
which indicate firm markets in En-
land, diminished supplies OF bot
clothing and carpet woods and a fu
Their advance in prices at the ne!
London sales, which will open Jul
Z, at which the selections will vel
likely be poor.
Situation Summed Up.
To sum up, therefore, the situate
statistically is increasing in strengt
and if the demand for o wei
of anything like normal proportion
there can be no doubt as to what II
course of prices would be. But tt