The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1903-10-20

is being sought for. Quarter-bloods
still hold strong, but some lines OF fine
and fine medium secured, for instance,
a be bought perhaps &c less than
they could have been secured for a
while ago.
Taking the market as a whole,
however, in view of the strong statis-
tical position OF wool, there are ap-
parently few manufacturers who be-
lieve that they are going to secure
their woods on a much lower basis
than at present prevails. But they
are buying very carefully, and In
consequence we have a quiet market,
which presents a marked contrast
with that of a year ago, when a large
business was being accomplished, as
will be seen from the following table
giving the sales for the past four
weeks dn this market, as compared
with those Of the corresponding four
Week ending 1903. 1902.
October IA 49,. 4.57O,OOO 1880, 900
October z ...... $780, 900 23,14O,OOO
September 3d.. 3,825,OOO 100000
September Ia. 2,667,O 100000
It will be seen THAT the total amount
Of wool sold during the past four
weeks has been only 1 1922 600 pounds
as against 45,02O,OOO pounds for the
corresponding period last year. Such
an increase in transactions last year,
as compared with this year, is nearly
enough, it is estimated, to Offset the
decreased amount of wool which has
come forward to the Boston market
this year, as compared with last, as
far as domestic woods are concerned.
But the supplies in the Boston market
this year are more unevenly distrib-
uted than they ore last year, and
while a few houses have larger stocks
of wool, especially territories, than
they had then, others, including some
which usually do a large business, are
carrying very much less this year than
last; and those who are comparatively
we'll stocked are of course more bull
ish on the situation than those who
r not. On most lines of wool, how
ever, consumers find IT. hard to secure
decided bargains.
Texas, California and Oregon.
In Texas woods, but very little bust
nes has been done. Some eight
months stock, which is in larger sup
ply here than II months, has sold
or the basis of about SOC, clean. The
fall woods are being shorn in Texas,
and are accommodating there. Some of
them are showing some defect. Not
as much fall wool will De shorn this
year as usual. No transactions in
these woods have yet been reported
from Texas.
California woods continue to move
slowly at unchanged prices. The
choice northern woods command 500
SIC, clean. By the end OF another
month, California wool, it is expected,
will nov in larger volume.
Valley Oregons have attracted more
attention recently and sales are re-
ported at prices ranging from 21h to
23c. There are no Valley Oregons be-
low 21@c for No. 3's and 23c for No.
rs. In fact, some holders are asking
o than 23c lor No. Us. The clean
cost of Valley Oregcns may be given
as follows: No. /, 46@47c; No. 2, 43@
45c; No. 3, 38@40c.
Territories.
There as been a good cali for terri
tories the past week, although the vol
m of business done has not been as
large as during the preceding week.
Some good-sized lines have been
moved, however, including about
half million pounds of fine staple terri
tory, nice wool, which is reported to
have brought 53@54c clean, and
some is claimed to have been moved
even at 55c. A dress goods mill DIS
reported to have taken on consider
able staple wool. Sales Of very fine
clothings are reported at 50@53c, and
a considerable business has been put
through at SOC for fine wool. Fine
medium territory has sold at prices