The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1903-08-11
BOSTON REPORTS WOOL TRADE
LESS ACTIVE.
PRICES REMAIN VERY FIRM
Dealers Make No Concessions from
Figures Asked Earlier in Sea-
son-New Woods Good.

The weeks sales OF wool or the
Boston market aggregated 100000
pounds, This included 1,040, 0I0
pound territory at from 16 to 1919
cents.
The market has quieted down coE-
siderably during the past week, but
there is still a fair business going.
with the deman.4 pretty vel distrib-
uted over the various grades of wool.
although the chief inquiry is still for
medium and lower grades, says the
American Wool and Cotton Reporter.
A little more call for fine and fine
medium grades of territory is noted
here and there and one house reports
quite a sizable business in this class
of stock: but the bulk of the weeks
transactions have been in the lower
woods.
Medium-Sized Mills Buying.
The big mills have not been such
prominent factors as formerly, most
Of the buying being by the medium
sized concerns, and individual transac-
tons have not been very large. A
number of lots ranging in size from
100, 900 to 100000 pounds each have
been disposed of, however, and the
aggregate of the business done foots
up about an average total. A num-
Der OF houses have not yet got their
woods opened, and are not in a posi-
ton to meet inquiries for any large
lines. One house reports that it
could have sold a million pounds of
fleeces, if it had had the grades ready
to deliver that were wanted. but Is a
rule the wool merchants report the
demand TO be OF a piecemeal charac-
ter, and manufacturers to be buying
only such woods as they are absolute
ly in need of.
Woods Which Are Selling.
The woods which have figured chief
ly in the weeks business have been
quarter, three-eighths and half-blood
f1eeces, and medium low, and fine me-
dunn territories. Fine delaines have
attracted some attention with sales at
top prices and a little more interest
has been shown in fine Australian.
Pulled woods would have figured 0
prominently in me weeks business ii
the stock here had been larger. While
the large mills have not bought to any
great extent they are keeping in close
touch with the market. Philadelphia
consumers are beginning to feel
around the market to some extent but
they are behind the procession" here
in the matter OF prices offering 10
1A,c per pound under the prices
which are being realized here. In one
or two instances, however, they have
taken some wool, one concern pur-
chasing 100000 pounds OF three
eighths Michigan or Missouri at 23k
@24c; and another concern, about
100000 pounds staple territory at a
clean cost, it is understood, of about
SIC.
Prices Very Firm.
Prices continue very firm and in
no instance do we hear of any conces-
sion being made except on off" stock.
The new woods which are coming in
are very generally found to be OF
light shrinkage, and a
pay a higher grease price fer them
without paying a higher secured cost;
and in a number of cases the actual
clean ccgt at which woods are bought
is Slightly lower than the grease que
tations would INDICATE to those mac
quainted with the exact condition OIL
the stuff sold. The territorial woods
1t is claimed, are a a whole yielding
less staple than last year, but this
is not an unfavorable development in
view of the proportionately good de
mand for clothing woods in distinction
from staple.
Fancy Worsteds.
The opening of fancy worsteds a
relatively low prices, some being a
the same prices as last year, ant
some at ~, 5 and even 7h cents be
low those of a year ago, was a littl
disappointing to some members O
the trade, who could see no ~necessit,
for making any concessions from las
year; but it is pointed out that thes'
comparisons may not NEAR much il
view of the ability of manufacturer.
to change the weave, the fabrication
or the materials which enter into tn,
goods to such an extent as to Offset il
cost of construction any slight advan
tage offered the buyer in the matte