The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1904-06-28
VOLUME OF BUSINESS LARGE
Western Enthusiasm Taking Root in
Eastern Centers-sentiment Re-
ported as Decidedly Cheerful.

al in the volume of business closed
and characterized by hardening val
ues, the seven days since last Thurs
day have been the most satisfactory
that the trade has had for a long time,
says the Boston Commercial Bulletin.
Sentiment is decidedly cheerful and
even bullish. The enthusiasm of the
west has taken root, and few there
are who do not admit that the situa-
ton shows decided Improvement with
the prospects bright.
Late last week the buying move
ment started. In the meantime mil
lions of pounds of territory, Texas
and medium feeces have been gather
ed in by the manufacturers, the large
mills being of course the biggest oper-
ators. The big -Four" have set the
pace. The smaller mills have also
been sampling and buying. The de-
mand comes pretty near to being gen
eral. How much has been actually
sold is a question. 1t is placed by
the minimum guessers at 5000, 900
pounds. From that anywhere up to
10 100000 pounds is estimated. One
house alone is credited with sales ag-
gregating 100000 pounds. Wool out
of the graded piles and wool in the
original bags is included.
Firm and Higher.
Prices are firm and higher. A good
many quotations in the list below
have been marked up and business at
the advance has been closed. Values
all along the line are hardening in
sympathy with western cost and high
and upward tending foreign markets.
Manufacturers have been willing to
pay a moderate advance, and dealers
have met them on the theory of quick
sales and modest profits. 1t is estab-
lished that manufacturers will have
to pay higher prices for raw material
this year than last.
In the west the operations in Mon
tana have continued active, and it is
v%ariously estimated that one-half to
two-thirds the entire clip of the state
has been bought or contracted. 1t
is a long time since the clip of the
country passed SO rapidly out of grow
ers' hands. By August / it will be
practically all cleaned up.
Pncfnn hos 0f oo,,rcn tolyn, thn
lead in buying, and st. Louis comes
next. Chicago and Philadelphia have
not been as important factors as us.
ual. Bearish opinion from Philadel-
phia may perhops be attributed to
the failure to secure a fair share of the
years clip.
The Mills.
Advances of 5 to 1Oc a yard in the
prices of heavyweight piece goods
, show that the goods situation is i'm
; proving. In volume of business there
is steady expansion. Duplicate or
ders have been received in such guam
tity that they go far toward making
up for the early deficiencies in this
respect.
The new lightweight season is open
ing earlier than usual, which fact is
considered anorner feature shown.
J the Frightening aspect OIL the men!
wear industry. On these higher price!
in keeping with the higher cost O
raw material are inevitable. Manu-
%facturers have become convinced tina
.ney must pay more for wool or els,
shut up their mills. They have cheap
ened their product all they can, an,
t the time has arrived for clothiers t,
K pay more for goods. The dress good
: : mills are busily occupied in gettin,
r. out new spring lines.
S Foreign Markets.
There is nothing new from Europeal
. Or other foreign markets. Londol
q reports are all very strong, and tn
D. next auction sales are expected t
develop higher prices. The primar
markets for English and Irish wool
Al are hrm and active with the tendenc
a upward.
l. The latest mail report from Brat
u for says:
2 THE wool market continues to b
j. very difficult, and although values ar
s firm and still tend to harden, the in
- possibility of turning anything over t
a profit has a bad influence. In tn
10 country and in London values are sue
that it is impossible to replace TOP
sold here except at a direct loss. o
the other hand, the few consumer
st who are obliged to buy find that the
n have to pay the highest price. In m,
'e h.;r s,noo smoT1 f,,r+hor n.-