The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1904-05-03
BUYERS GET BARGAINS ON BOS-
TON MARKET.
new BRINGS GOOD PRICES
st. Louis Buyers Competing With
Large Operations Reported.

The week has been a peculiar one.
1t has been a very dull period with
most houses, many of them reporting
no business of Importance, and others
absurdly small aggregate transactions
of $4,000 to 100, 900 pounds. On the
other hand, says the Boston CONNER
cial Bulletin, the transactions OF the
American Wooden company have
been big, running up to many millions
of pounds, including, it is said, some
Montana, and certainly a large block
of staple Oregon, about 100000
pounds, n fully 1000 bales OF New
Zealand crossbreds. There were
plenty of rumors about these opera
lions, some placing the figures at
much more than the actual amount
sold.
The domestic wool was sold wholly
by one house, and the crossbred sales
were distributed among three or four.
This large business does not mean
that the general market is active. 1t
is far from that. AS has been said
there have been only trif1ing sales
made by most members OF the trade.
Nor do the operations indicate a
firmer market. On the contrary they
were closed at comparatively low
price, much lower than would
have been accepted a month or six
weeks ago. 1t is the consensus Of
opinion that the buyer got some good
bargains. To make way for the new
| clip was the purpose OF the seller.
Fairly Large in West.
All the interest in this market has
| been centered around this business.
NThere has been hardly a stir else
| Mhere. In the west, however, notably
Mn Utah and Wyoming, where the
buyers are mostly gathered, opera
lions in the new clip have been fairly
large for thus early in the season.
Boston buyers have been operating
everywhere. In Utah, st. Louis buy
ers have been prominent. Anywhere
from 1917 to lac is the range OF prices,
with little bought at less than 13c.
and a good deal at as high as lac.
Grease prices are fully as high as
last year, and higher in some in
stances. The shrinkage is greater
this year than last, variously esti.
mated from l to 3 per cent. The
landed secured cost in Boston is
we'll up to half a dollar.
The Mills. Is.
There is no improvement noticeable
in the goods market, and mems wear
fabrics continue very dull. The un'
seasonable weather is a check upon
the clothing trade which is seriously
felt in the commission houses and
the mills. Manufacturers are waiting
patiently for duplicate heavyweight
orders. 1t is perhaps as dull a period
as has been experienced for some
cry is large and growing. For one
reason or another the industry ap
pears to be in the doldrums. The
long and cold winter. raising eXpecta
lions of an unusually large concump
ton of heavy clothing. has not beer
felt in the industry. 1t may be late
on. Manufacturers have not lost hope
and admit that the situation nigh
be worse than it is.
Foreign Markets.
News from the foreign wool mar
kets is very bullish indeed. The lates
cablegrams say that there is rathe
more activity and stronger prices. A
Bradford and all continental market'
there is a shortage. Crossbreds ar
very firm, and merinos are dearer
especially on the continent.
The Antwerp auction sales, which
opened this week, developed activ'
competition and higher prices, me
rinos and fine crossbreds, accordin;