The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1904-12-09
TRADING IN WOOL CONFINED TO
SMALL LOTS.
STOCKS ARE ALMOST Mill
Strong Outward Movement and Prices
Continue Firm, With No Sign
of Weakening. e

Trading has been of a retail character
and individual transactions of 100000
pounds or more have been few, says
the Boston Commercial Bulletin. The
clean up of small lots of medium I'M
washed fleece, about half a million
pounds, all told, is perhaps the largest
movement in any grade. However,
there is a good outward movement OF
supplies, as the weeks deliveries
show, and what is lacking in new
business is made amends for by the
interest which buyers OF n kind or
another show in what remains on the
market for sale. AS for some weeks
past, there has been plenty OF inquiry
for what dealers have not. Stocks
and selections are poor, and 1T 1t safe
to say that 1905 will be ushered in
with the smallest unsold stock in the
hands of dealers ever known.
No Loss Of Strength.
There is no loss of strength with
Nu0 Qul0L pC1IOu IA0I oPPO04o " AAoNS
been inaugurated. Quotations are on
a very firm basis with nothing in the
situation inviting a break. Whether
there will be further advances is a
question for the future to decide.
Many in the trade believe values are
as high as the situation warrants,
and that any further advance will be
sure to curtail the demand. Large
consumers are literally supplied and
are independent, or practically so. 1t
will be difficult for the small con-
sumner to pay present prices, and any
further crowding may cause a shut,
down. .
That contracting in the west for the
1905 clip has been temporarily, at
least, suspended, is a development in
the right direction. 1t is said that
pressure had to be applied in some
cases to call off the spectators.
Tariff revision possibilities are a
theme for discussion among members
of the trade, more particularly as hay-
ing a bearing upon the future OF the
market in the agitation OF revision
unsettlement and a check on any fu'
ture enhancement of values.
The Mills.
The mills are apparently prosper
ing. They are running full where con
ditions warrant, and the general feel
ing among manufacturers is Cheerful
and optimistic. The duplicate order
ing of spring lines is said to have
been unusually heavy. Interest in the
new heavyweight season grows
greater with the approach of the time
for the formal opening. All talk ia
vcrs a material advance in. prices
But it is uncertain how much OF al
advance the market will stand. Any
thing very radical along this lint
would undoubtedly cause clothiers, TO-
the time being, at least, to put up
strong fight for more lenien. treat
ment.
Foreign Markets.
There is rather more interest in thu
doings at foreign markets than in de
a decline of five per GER in merinos
according to m of last Saturday
cables, shows the first break in price
abroad. Without giving actual figure
other cables indicate a somewha
. easier market on merinos. Any SCI
ious decline, however, is not looke'
for.
Crossbreds continue very firm a
all Australian markets with a harden
ing tendency, according to latest ad
vices. The London auction sale
closed last Tuesday with prices quot
ed on the higher level establishe
early in the series. Fine greasy me-
mos advanced w per cent, fine cross
breds 5 per cent and medium an
coarse crossbreds 10 to Is per cen
IAAO oSOuAOu o11pOo 60AAOu IL pei COA
medium and aorse Is per cent, an
short inferior 20 per cent. Cape {
Good Hope and Natal wool opened III
changed, later hardened and closed
per cent higher. the purchases fo
this country were 1000 bales. Th
Withdrawals of only 1000 bales, or II
per cent, were unusually small, pra'
lically assuring clean boards with tn
opening of the new year.
All advices, by cable and mail, frol
the United Kingdom are bullish. En-,
lish and Irish woods have advanced
penny at Bradford. There is ever
prospect that prices all AROUND wi
continue on a high level.