The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1904-07-19
UNUSUAL ACTIVITY AND PRICES
AT BOSTON.
ALL LINES MOVING FREELY
Large Mills Are Buying Literally at
Marked Advances Over
Past Figures.

It has been a big week. The city
has been full of manufacturers, and
their scramble for wool is unprece-
denied. The boom years of 81 and
80 are recalled, and there is a daily
repetition of the e n then enacted,
says the Boston Commercial Bulletin.
About every branch of the wooden and
worsted industry is represented in the
long list of buyers. If anything the
buying fever is more acute than at
any time in the past three weeks. The
"big four have not yet concluded
their operations. All have taken on
more or less during the week. Mills
almost as big have helped swell the
sales, and the smaller fry have bought
where they could. The week has been
notable by the presence on the mar
ket of a lot of Philadelphia buyers,
who have bought literally of territory
wool.
But manufacturers are not the only
bukers. Speculation between dealers
has been started, and a large amount
of secured wool has changed hands
in this way. Anything that looked
cheap has found a buyer. Some OF
the big dealers have been operating,
and have paid prices several cents a
pound higher than the same secured
woods could have been bought at a
fortnight ago.
A Healthy Market.
The market is in a very healthy
condition. Business has been we'll
distributed, and on the part of con-
sumers there is very little grumbling
about the prices they are forced to
pay. Since the buying movement com
menced some weeks ago 10 per e n
advance in prices has occurred. This
advance is fully maintained, and it is
believed that still higher prices may
be touched in the future. OF course,
the present unusual activity cannot
continue. There is sure to be a lull.
But with so much wool sold ahead
dealers can afford to look with equan-
unity to the future.
statisticaIly Strong.
Wool is wool today. Its statistical
position was never stronger. The last
Australian clip was 98,035 bales short,
according to official figures. There
was q shortage in the South Ameri-
can clip placed at 80 per cent. And
now the clip of our own country is
estimated to be fully 10 per cent less
than following that of last year, fol-
lowing a shrinkage of perhaps 30,O00,-
900 pounds in 1903. Some bullish
statisticians think that the current
clip of the United States will be 50,-
OOO, 900 pounds short.
The Mills.
The improvement in the worsted
yarn situation is the most satisfac-
tory development in the industry. 1t
is thought to indicate the end of the
depression, so long existing in that
branch. A worsted season is a possi-
bility. One spinner had about de-
cided to shut down indefinitely when
the turn came, and now his plant is
working to it's full capacity. The
mems wear lightweight season is pro-
crossing satisfactorily and to date the
volume of business is quite large. 1t
is better than last years and better
than the early part of the heavy
weight season. The problem is in the
price. Enough Leading lines are open
at last springs prices to show that
no efforts are to be made to secure an
advance on the initial orders.
AS the manufacturer knows his own
business best it is presumed that the
policy is wise. Goods certainly should
sell freely in view of the advance in
the raw material. The higher prices
may come on duplicates.
Foreign Markets.
: The situation as being developed
at the London auction sales is exceed
!, ingly strong. Gables received Tues
day quoted a further advance of I'D
in medium crossbreds. Some advices
: report fine merinos stronger, the &C
tual advance being placed at 10 pei
cent. The series is booked to close
: today.
: The latest mail report from Brad
, , ford says
Pending the opening of the sales
tomorrow the trade is simply marking
time. There is no tendency to antici
pate by further operations here, and
topmakers, of course, are quite firm in
| their demands. That prices will he