The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1904-08-30

breds were unchanged to 5 per cent
Americans paid the highest
rates for suitable qualities.
The latest mail report from Brad.
ford says:
Elm spite of the holidays and a rath-
thin attendance, the market keeps
exceedingly firm. Merino is, so far az
Bradford is concerned, almost neglect
ed, but for crossbreds, and especially
for stronger grades, there lis continued
and keen inquiry. English woods are
also sought after, though bids are al
most invariably at a fraction below
current rates. Users are very obvi-
ously bare of stock, and the require.
ments in the way OF sample bales
indicate business in the near future.
Mohair is quiet, but quite firm, and
alpaca tends rather to harden.
''In the export yarn market mer-
chants have little to offer in the way
of new business. On the other hand
they are themselves unable to make
any speculative bids. Business is en-.
tirely of a retail character, and the
utmost caution is exercised in every
direction. Spinners, however, stand
firm for their quotations, and there
is no weakness whatever. In the
Botany trade, spinners find business
exceedingly slow, and higher prices
are quite out of the question. Mo-
hairs are firm, but for the time mot
active. Alpacas are also quiet.
''There is no improvement in the
home piece trade houses, but some
manufacturers report a few more or
ders for the spring"
Territory Very Active.
Territory wool is very active. Not
only has a large amount been sold, but
there are many good-sized trades UNI
der negotiation, to be closed in all
probability before the week ends.
Large blocks of Montana have been
sold in the range of 2Oh to Csc. A
good portion of it was in the original
bags, and on this PIC was the pre-
vailing price. A large amount of
graded woods, 100000 to 5000 900
pounds, has been taken during the
week at 20h@ 22c. The 25-cent Mon
tana wool was of course a very choice
thing in medium. In other than Mon
tana wool there has been a good bust
ness also, including fine, fine medium
and medium grades.
Good sized sales of Utah, Wyoming
and Idaho woods are reported, graded
and in the original sacks. Wyoming
fine and fine medium sold at 17@1Sc
and in Utah fine medium there have
been sales of, very light at 1SKc, and
heavy at 1872 @16c. Medium Utah
has been selling at 1870.
There is not much medium territory
in sight. What has arrived and been
opened up has been taken freely. From
5O@52c secured is the basis of much
of the recent business. The one-quar-
ter blood cost is estimated all the
way from 47@50c.
For fine territory 6Oc the secured
pound appears to be the limit. There
may be something obtained on a
lower basis, but the cost to the manu-
facturer is believed to be close to
6Oc on most of the business closed
this week. Fine medium is costing
little if any less than 55c, clean.
Texas, Oregon and California.
Texas wool is featureless. A mod
crate business in eight months at
18c is all that has been done. The
secured cost is about SIC. The small
supply of IL months on the market
is controlled by one house.
Oregon wool is very firm and quite
active. The demand for staple shows
no sign of abatement. 1t has beer
selling this week at 19c in the grease
costing about SIC, clean. No. l cloth
ing has been in demand, and sells or
the basis of 55c. 1t is short, but o.
good quality. A good sized bushes;
in valley Oregon has been closed a
25@26c.
California wool is rather quiet. A
sale of 100000 pounds southern a
14k @15hc is perhaps the bigges
thing of the week. There is some
thing under way, however, and a lar
ger business may be reported mex
week. The clean cost Of the southern
was 5O@52c. Defective secured sole
at 38@40c.