The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1904-01-05
LITTLE WOOL SOLD ON BOSTON
MARKET.
RESULT OF HIGH PRICES
Mills Threaten to Resort to Adultera-
ton in Manufacture Of Heavy
Weight Goods.

for the week aggregated ~2,932,0OO
pounds. Included were 100000
pounds of territory at 14@2O cents a
pound.
The year draws to a close with
trade in a very quiet condition M
with a noticeable falling off in the vol
ume of business as compared with
two or three weeks ago. This con-
dition, however, is natural at this
time of the year, II in the midst OF a
holiday period, when the trade, as
well as consumers, are directing their
attention to matters incident to h
closing up Of the years business,
says the American Wool and Cotton
Reporter.
Same Old Story.
Manufacturers are showing some in
terest in wool, and some deals are
pending which, it is hoped, will mate
soon after the turn of the year. They
have taken out quite a number OF
sample bales, and if the clean price
can be made right, they will very
likely operate with a little more free
dom.
It is not difficult to sell stable
dimes of wool if the price is made
right, and if holders had been willing
to make some concessions in prices,
during the past week or ten days,
there would undoubtedly be more bust
ness to report. We know of offers
being made on several hundred thou
sand pounds of territory woods, at
prices, however, which holders do not
feel like accepting. Some buyers and
sellers are apart on the question OF
shrinkage.
An Unsatisfactory Year.
The Reporter publishes it's annual
review of the wool situation. Perusal
of it shows that the year 1908 has not
been an altogether satisfactory one
to the wool merchant and that the
trade will go over into the new year
with ample stocks Of territorial woOls
which have been comparatively slow
sellers, except the lower grades. The
hopes of the trade are now centered
on the e heavyweight season
which will be opened next month. II
a good demand develops, they fee.
that the bulk of the stock will be
moved.
If the goods market moves slowly
and nsum adhere to the policy
which they have pursued all this veal
of buying wool only from hand te
mouth, there will be more or less Of
a stock to carry over into the new
clip, which is now only a little more
than three months off.
Resort to AduIteration.
The weather lately has been very
favorable to a good demand for heavy
weights, but some of the large mills
it is understood, intend to make al
effective drive for business, which
may mean that they intend to nam
lower prices than last year. Buyer!
of wool intimate that lower price:
will be named, and that the clothins
trade will buy ~conservatively, an
that in heavy weights there will BIZ
considerable adulteration this year
as the mills seem determined tt
place before their customers goods a
a price which will prove tempting.
The members of the wool trade
on the other hand, point to the hard
ening tone of the European and Aus
tralian markets, the fact that the mill
are lightly stocked, the relatively low
prices ruling here, the limited stock
Of low grades of wool on hand, anoth
er shortage of $4,000 bales in the Aus
tralian clip and the advancing ten
dency in South America.
Prices Hold Steady.
The result is that prices are bein
very steadily held, and We hear of n
further concessions being made tn
past week in order to move wool.
The inquiry seems to have run t
very fine stock and quarter-bloods an
low stock. There has been a prett
good demand for staple stock in bot
fleeces and territories, but no larg
business has been put through i
anything, vs. far as be learned
Some of the large mills have bee
Y represented in the market, but the