The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1903-12-22
PRICES ALSO MORE IN SELLERS
FAVOR.
STOCKS HAVE GROWN SMALL
Statistical Position Of Staple Daily Be-
coming Stronger, Giving Hold
ers Increased Confidence.

Sales of wool on the Boston market
for last week aggregated 5,66O,0OO
pounds. OF this amount 1,850,0OO
pounds was territory, which sold at
1920 cents a pound. The market
has continued fairly active, with a
demand for almost everything. Con-
sumers, especially the smaller con-
Germs, have apparently made up their
minds that prices have touched bot
tom, and a number of mills, which
have been out of the market for quite
a long time, and have allowed their
stocks of raw material to run down,
have come into the market and re-
plenished, says the American Wool
and Cotton Reporter. AS a result
quite a large amount of wool has been
sold the past week, including t%ieeces,
notably quarter-bloods, Texas, Cali
fornia and pulled woods, secured woods
and territories.
A Broader Demand.
Pulled woods have been in excellent
movement, some good sized transac-
lions in combing pulled being report
ed. All classes of manufacturers have
been representative flannel and
dress goods mills, the mems wear
worsted and wooden mills, the felt
mills, kersey and carriage cloth max
ers, and spinners of hosiery, yarns,
etc. In fact, there may be said to
have been more breadth to the de-
mand than has been witnessed for
some time.
The buyers for the combine have not
is it generally believed that they will
do so until after the turn of the year,
although they are taking some wool
all the time-enough to fill out with
here and there.
Prices Favor Seller.
There is a somewhat improved in
Quiry for staple woods, and some
choice fine territorial staple woods are
claimed to have sold at high as 55c,
clean. The ideas Of some of the
large consumers are set on a pretty
low basis, however, which prevents
their securing as many woods as they
would obtain if they were willing to
come up to the ideas of the holders.
FNh,,c 0rn p~or,irnrt ry0rcfnI roonyp-
facturer has his ideas set on 45c,
clean, for strictly fine wool; but it
is perhaps needless to say that he has
not succeeded in obtaining that grade
of wool at the figures quoted.
Prices have ruled rather more in
favor of the seller, if anything, than
they did a couple of weeks ago; GER
tainly no further concessions in prices
have been made since our last re-
port.
The sales of the past three or four
weeks have materially reduced the
available supplies of certain kinds OF
wool in this market, and to that extent
the statistical position of the raw
material has been strengthened. Wool
merchants are evidently prepared to
close up the years business with a
showing which falls considerably
short of expectations entertained
early in the season, but they are not
ready to give their woods away or
take as large a loss as certain con
sumers have expected they would be
obliged totake.
Holders Remain Firm.
While some good-sized deals have
been put through the past week, the
impression prevails that certain con
sumers who have not as yet operated
very freely in the market are getting
ready to do so, and by the end O.
another fortnight there will be some
large transactions to report. L
would certainly be a relief to SOM
holders of large lines, of territorial
woods if such business would mate
rialize, but such holders are not We,
prepared to make much further con
cessions in price in order to induce
such trade.
Some owners of woods are asking
prices which are above the curren'
level of the market. This is especial
" true with reference to medium
leeces, and more business could have
been transacted in the latter, excep
for that fact.
An improved Feeling.
While the tone of the market may
be quoted as a trifle steadier than i
was at one time, it is impossible tt
secure any advance on wool, and thu
sales which have been made the pas
week have in many instances beer