The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1904-07-12
BOSTON WOOL MARKET coNTlN.
UEs TO BE ACTIVE.
VISIBLE SUPPLY NOT GREAT
Available Stock Practically Limited
to This Years Product and
Small Foreign Crop.

The activity continues, large and
small buyers are operating and the
business Of the week is fully as large
as last week, Notwithstanding the
holiday.
The most important transaction
was one aggregating in the neighbor-
hood of 1000, 900 pounds on the part
of the Wanshuck mills, including ter
ritory and Oregon, says the Boston
Commercial Bulletin. There is a gen
eral desire on the part of manufac-
turers to own wool. 1t is CONSERVATIVES
~ estimated that considerably over
3O,000,00O pounds have been marketed
the past two weeks, the buying being
sumers. Yet the end is not reached.
There are still a good many manufac-
turers to be heard from in a large
way.
Supply Is Limited.
1t has been demonstrated that the
mills were lightly stocked, and it is
asserted that even now there is not
n with more than a six months
supply on hand. Comparatively little
old wool has been carried over by deal.
ers. Dependence must be placed on
this years clip and what little foreign
wool can be imported. The short sup
ply abroad precludes heavy importa-
lions into this country. At the cur
rent series of London auction sales the
net available supply is 10000 bales
less than at the corresponding series
a year ago. At the two sales to fol-
low the aggregate offerings are esti-
mated at $4,000 bales, against 22O,-
600 bales in 1908. With only this
amount for everybody to pect at the
course of values is easy to predict.
There is a shortage of wool. This
was apparent a year ago, as the Bulle.
tin then claimed. In the summer Of
1908 the statistical situation warranted
what is now taking place, a general
advance in prices. The present is an
overdue market therefor. the time be-
ing ripe with money easy at 81 to 4
pei cent, against z per CEN a year
ago.
There is nothing new from the west.
For what is left of the Montana clip
there is a lively scramble and prices
have continued to climb. For several
clips 100 has been paid, and at least
one sold at 1910. The landed cost
in Boston is, of course, rising zoe.
The Mills.
There is on the whole a good feeling
among manufacturers. With the
heavyweight season for mems wear
goods more satisfactory than had
been expected, and the new light
weight season opening auspiciously,
the prospects for the industry are ex-
cellent. There will certainly be an
average amount of machinery fully oc-
cupied this summer and the balance
of the year. The conditions and pros
poets are much better than they were
a year ago. The advance in wool
should have an influence on prices OF
goods, preventing any decline and
warranting an advance. Flee to 10 per
cent advance in prices Of piece goods
would scarcely be felt in the cost OF
the made-up garment.
Foreign Markets.
The opening of the July series OF
auction sales at London was the event
of the week in foreign markets. The
predictions were realized. Prices
opened strong at a slight advance
on merinos and fine crossbreds and
~ to 10 per tent higher IN medium
and coarse crossbreds, according, tc
one cable. Another quotes 7h pei
cent advance on choice coarse cross
breds, and 5 per cent advance or me
dunn crossbreds. The tendency il
against the buyer and still higher
prices are predicted as the sales pro
gress. The closing is booked for the
10th.
The latest mail report from Brad
ford says:
Notwithstanding the reluctance O
users to consider any further advance
the tendency of the market continue!
against the buyer. The remarkable
strength is accounted for entirely b!
Tho koonnocs Of huvers in the cOuntrv
American competition perhaps partl!
explains this, but no doubt the pres
sure of the shortage is being felt OF
every hand. In merinos it is singula
that Capes should be actually making
as much money as Australian tops