The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1904-05-24
LITTLE WOOL BUSINESS DOING
IN THE EAST.
ALL ARE EAGER BUYERS
Traders Confine Attention to Field
This Side of the Big
Muddy.

Nl~0Ss AASA ~ DOSSoA III
a little better this week is for the
most part quiet. But in the west in all
sections where the new Clip can be
bought CIR contracted fer business has
been decidedly lively, says the Bos-
ton Commercial Bulletin. There has
not been exceeded even in boom
years. Prices have steadily scared
upward. The battle has been waged
aggressively in Wyoming and Idaho.
Southern Wyoming has been pretty
we'll cleaned up, and in the northern
part of the state a good portion of
the clip has been contracted for on
the Sleeps pack. In Idaho it is said
that seven-eighths of the clip has
been contracted for. In the central
states the same conditions prevail,
and in the bright wool section every
thing for sale is being gobbled up.
Everywhere prices are above the level
of Boston.
All Are Operating.
Local dealers and SPECTATORS in the
various states and territories. Boston,
Chicago, st. Louis and Philadelphia
dealers are all operating and paying
the price. The best brains in the wool
business of the country are interested
and controlling operations. The future
is looked ito to justify the movement.
There is already a very strong sta
|tistical situation. 1t is estimated that
in round figures wool dealers and
manufacturers are carrying less wool
by 100, DOC, 900 pounds than a year ago.
goods and clothing are light. There
is opportunity for a boom in the raw
material. The question is will it
come. Leading merchants throughout
the country evidently expect one, at
least they look for much better times
here in the east, if not this summer
then early in the fall or winter. :
A republican victory such as, NOV
seems probable, will do much ito re-
store confidence in all departments OF
business. 1t should have a good effect
upon the wool situation. Last year
was a very Improbable one. Bad
years are often followed by good ones,
and the present may prove the rule.
PeddIing in Boston.
Here in Boston we have had a ped
dling sort of trade. Manufacturers
warts are not heavy. When a buyer
needs a thing he pays the current
prices. When sought the buyer is
thard to interest except at a very low
price. The general assortment on the
market is poor. There are scarcely
amy fleeces. Pulled woods n sold out
Where there were millions of pounds
of territory wool or hand a year ago
large houses have r%idiculously small
holdings. Receipts r expanding, and
shipments about holding their own.
The Mills.
New York reports are more cheer
full. The slight improvement in the
goods market apparent last week is
fully sustained. The orders are small,
but of fair volume, and Ire larger
than anticipated in some instances.
The better line of goods, those SELL
ing at $1.40 up, are in very good re-
quest.
This is a distinct Improvement
over a month ago, when the best sell
ers, in fact about the only sellers,
were those at 81 down. Several wors-
ted spinners write that they can at
last see some light. ALI reports agree
that there are fewer goods to sell than
usual. Less goods and smaller guam
titles of made-up garments than for
many years are encouraging features
OF the situation.
Foreign Markets.
Foreign markets keep firm, and the
activity at London was maintained to
the close of the auction sales on
Thursday. The next series begins
July 5 with the offerings limited to
100, 900 bales.
When the late series opened me-
rinos were practically unchanged, but
prices gradually improved, and they
closed 5 per cent higher than the
March series. The advance was most
pronounced on fine scoureds and
greasies. In heavy greasies the i'm
provement was less general. Fine
crossbreds rules 5 per cent higher
when the series opened. Medium
crossbreds, although in demand, were
not appreciably dearer. Coarse ad-
vanced 5 per cent at the outset, shah
by, cotted parcels being IN keen de-
mand. Later the better grades i'm
proved and final rates showed am ad-
vance of 7k per cent above the March
sales. Slipes were 5@7R per cent
dearer. Cape of Good Hope and Natal
snow whites and fair conditioned
greasies improved 2k OF per cent.
Heavy and wasting greasies were ne
elected and difficult to sell at 5 per
cent decline until toward the close,
when competition strengthened and
they closed unchanged. Punta Arenas
o~I Tyo1ly1o~l Te1orHc ororoI rnnhonn