Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1903-08-19
THIS SEASONS WOOL MARKET.

TITO oGHoON WOOI u.
This seasons wool market is now
practically closed in Montana though
a number of clips from this county
are enroute to the eastern markets.
Although the prices paid were gen.
orally better than last year the grow
ers will hardly realize as much ont
of their industry owing to the losses
sustained during the winter and late
spring.
In some instances the prices paid
were not satisfactory, the quality If
the wool being considered. Particu-
larly is this true of small clips. Il
would seem that when men are run
ming small bands and able TO give
them better care the clips would be
in better condition and command the
top price. While some small clips
have done so 1t was noticeable that
generally speaking they were from
one to three cents lower than the
large clips. Now, this may be due [ o
the inferior quality of the wool, but
II car hardly be true in every in
stance. In fact, we are advised by q
large and well known grower that it Is
not from facts that came under his
own personal observation. Some Of
the buyers look almost contemptuous-
ly on a small lot of wool. and giving
1t scant examination, mark a price
and pass on with apparently the ut
most Indifference. He may want the
wool and expect to get il, and this is
a way he has of getting 1t at his own
price.
The grower is on expense, the
amount is too small to ship, and he
is in urgent need of money, so he lets
il go, even though he knows that II
is just as good If not better than some
of the large clips in the same market
Il may be, too, that a grower has not
a good knowledge of the value OF his
wool and is no match for the shrewd
buyer. whose business II is to gel
wool as cheaply as possible.
Another thing. the buyers stand to
gether, they are the autocrats of the
wool market. They have a perfect uE
d%erstanding. On the other hand the
growers are unorganized. 1t is a "gC
as you please" with all of them, 0
condition which leaves them at thu
mercy of the buyers.
A few years ago. many woolgrow
ers. owing to the demand for mutton
sheep, took to breeding for a heavier
sheep. hoping to profit by the change
even though they lost in the value 81
the fieeces. The decline or rluctua
ton in the mutton market has caus
ed some to regret the change andt hey
are going back to the Merino sheer
as rapidly as possible.
Surely, if men are going to rur
small bands they should have the very
best wool producing sheep. The time
Is coming when all sheep bands will
be smaller. but the quality will i'm
prove. No doubt there is some poo
wool sold in this county. but it should
be the exception. not the rule, i
money Is to be made out of the bust
ness. And when a grower has a goot
clip he should receive what 1t is
worth.
The Helena Record, commentin.
generally on the market just closed
mentions some things that may be
worthy of consideration by growers
1t says:
After an extremely satisfactory
season the wool market of Montan;
has now really come to an end fol
1903. Reports from all over the stat,
indicate that within a few DAYS tn,
buyers will he ready to move on
Prices paid as compared with las
year have been good. as a whole
though there have been disappoin.
ments. The average price paid viii
be shown to be higher. so those Wit
are well informed are inclined to be
lieye; but this will be Offset in max
ing the estimate of net returns to III,
hockmaster by the losses that wer'
suffered late in the spring.
Buyers of wool are not incline,
as a rule to take the public into the
confidence upon the matters of detai
that enter into the value of tn
f%eeces. but one of them Is authorit,
for the statement that the quality o