Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1903-06-17
Market Not Yet Stable But is 6ecom.
ino Much More Steady.

ing Much More Steady.
The wool market is very quiet, saws
the Boston Wool and Cotton Reporter.
There has, however. been more look
ing around on the part Of the smaller
mills. and quite large number II
sample bales have been taken These
have resulted in very little actual bus
mess. but they indicate on the part
Of a number Of consumers more dis
position to consider woods.
What business has been accomplish
ed. has been in spots, most of the
large houses, as well as the smaller
concerns. doing practically nothing.
Some of the wooden mills are receiving
fairsized recorders and will buy at
current prices such wools as they
need, but they will not pay higher
prices. The worsted mills are still
receiving an unsatisfactory volume 4
orders, and there is much idle ma
chinery on worsted lines. On medium
grades Of worsteds. here and there,
some are reported as doing slightly
better, but whatever improvement
there may be, is hardly noticeable.
Some of the small mills are reported
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 principally
for medium stock. Medium territor-
les have proved quite popular-stocll
selling at from 43 cents to i6 cents,
secured. which enables manufacturers
1 an lrn fol hxfn nll q
a popular price. Good medium terri
tories will bear watching. There has
been also a good inquiry for medium
pulled wools-especially b supers-
and also for medium feeces. Fine
woods have been in comparatively
smaller demand the past week.
Prices have ruled firm on all kinds
OF wool, especially on pulled wools
and quarter and half-blooded feeces.
Attempts to secure advanced quota
tions 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 a reduced yield In the domestic
clip and the strong advices received
from abroad. Dealers are still buying
in the west, although some of the east
ern houses have ordered their men to
pull out for awhile, as prices asked
are in many instances too high for
them to consider. But the new wools
are being taken about as fast as they
are being offered. The wools are de.
layed in coming upon the market, how.
ever. so that there Is no accumulation
worthy Of note. In Idaho prices range
from 1874 cents to 14h cents and in
Utah from IL to IA cents. The new
wools are sellingat clean cost Of
about so cents. clean, and in some
cases even more, landed. As to the
shortage in the cl'p Il Ia nnnr. stion.
ably oyeresunateu " some. In the
fleece wool sections there will be some
shortage-in Michigan. Ohio and Ken
tucky-but 1t will be slight. Notwith-
standing some of the wild reports cur
rent, careful inquiry from trust
worthy sources fails to reveal any,
thing which would warrant changing
our estimates of the shortage as pre-
viously given-from 25,000,000 to 40,
000,0 pounds. But. of course, with
the very small amount of old wool
which is being carried over this year,
this is regarded as significant and
emphasizes the views Of those who
believe in higher prices for wool later
on. Then, also, there are the reports
from abroad, which indicate firm mar
kets In England, diminishing supplies
of both clothing and carpet wools,
and a further advance in prices at
the next London sales, which will op-
en- July Z. at which the selections will
very likely be poor.
To sum up. therefore. the situation
statistically is increasing In strength
and IL the demand for wool was of any
thing like normal proportions, there
can be no doubt as to what the course
of prices would be. But the demand
is much below the normal, and there
is little In the manufacturing situation
to impart strength to the wool mar
ket. and. In fact. as one dealer ex-
pressed II, "if We were not on the eve
of the opening of a new season, prices
would be dropping" The only thing
which has held them up. has been the
very small stocks on hand (there be-
ing no class of wool here In any siL-
able amount except Montana) and the
strong position OF the staple as far
as supplies are concerned, the world
over. Some figure that the shortage
in the clip will Offset the stoppage OF
machinery, and that II wools do not
advance, they cannot certainly recede
much. II they should recede much
more, they would be at the point
where they could be profitably export
ed. especially II the foreign markets
continue to strengthen as they have
done during the past several months.
Territory wools have been In com.
paratively small demand, In fact, the
volume of business put through has
been the smallest recorded In any
one week this year. Some houses
have succeeded In moving some old
Montanas, but very few transactions
OF any sizable amounts have been
made. Quite a number of sample
bags. however, have been taken out
which may result in business later on.
Some sales Of new territories, includ-
ing tabs and Arizonis, have been
made at 4S@50c, clean. according 20
staple and condition, which are re.
ported TO have shown a slight mar.
gin OF profit TO the seller. Medium ter.
ritories have been In request at prices
ranging from 43 to 4i cents. Prices
are firm at the present level in view
of the high prices paid in the west but
holders are not getting any advance.
and there is but little snap to the de-
mand, although. as be'ore stated. con.
sumers show a little more Willingness
IA La l.
demand as ever for staple wools. The
prices at which sales AVE been made
may be quoted as foll)ws: Fine and
fine medium clothing. 4S@50c. cleah.
Very choice wool will bring a trine
more. A fise medium strictly clotl
ing sells at 4sc. Fine staple sells
SEA 53c. but very fiie clothing wi.
bring about the same. The demand Is
so small for staple wOls that quota.
, tons are largely nominal. For strict.