The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1904-02-26

from opening prices. The shipments
to the United States in October, 1908,
were 1874 bales, in November 269 bales
and in December zoos bales, max
ing a total to January / of 1881 bales.
OF the amount shipped in December
1852 bales are on the bark Freeman,
which sailed about December 20 and
is now due here.
The latest mail report from Brad
ford says:
"The market is still steady. In
merinos there has been decidedly
more business of late, as is proved
by the fact that even wool-combers
have been getting more to do. Prices
are quite firm, and there is also more
inquiry for Sos crossbreds. AS re-
CARDS strong qualities, spinners are
not buying at all freely, but there is
a demand for export, and there are no
longer any cheap lots to be picked up.
Dealers in English woods are quite
firm, and Lincolns ire the turn against
the buyer. Mohair is almost a dead
letter, as regards business, and prices,
although steady, are purely nominal.
"In the yarn export trade a fierce
struggle over prices is going on, and
all sorts of devices are resorted to
in order to squeeze spinners down,
such as the Withholding of particulars
on recent purchases. But practically,
as there is no relief for the spinner,
prices are quite firm. In the Botany
trade there is undoubtedly a little
more doing in fine yarns for the dress
trade, but coatings are still very
quiet. Mohairs are inactive.
"In the home trade business in
pieces is exceedingly slow, and the
month of January has seldom, if ever,
been worse. The outrageous uncertain
ty about cotton makes business diff
cult to do, but cotton warp agents
have really done better under the
circumstances than might have been
expected"
The market during the week has
been very quiet outside of the steady
business in medium stock. The largest
sale of the week is 10000 pounds one
quarter and three-eighths at 25kc.
There have been smaller sales at
that price and something dome at 26c.
There are plenty of holders who ask
26c or better and for three-eighths
bids of 25hc have been turned down.
The large sale of the week, it may be
explained, was in the nature of an
extension of old business. In fine
woods very little has been done. For
best Xxx 34c is asked and small lots
have been sold at that during the
week. The stock of really nice Xxx
is limited. Fine unwashed is difficult
to sell at either 24c Or 23c and there
is little left on the market that would
bring either price.
Territory Woods.
Territory wool is as active as any
thing else in the line of domestic
wool, rather more SO, perhaps, as the
stock on hand is larger than OF other
kinds. There is a good, fair call for
fine and fine medium clothing that
can be bought to cost secured from
4S to SOC. Am extra good lot actually
sold on the basis of sic during the
week. At better than 48c or possibly
49c, however, it moves slowly. Fur
Their sales of strictly fine clothing,
Nevada woods are reported on the
basis of 52@53c.
Good staple Montana is in steady
request and has sold at 19c in the
grease, and is worth 55c, clean, for
strictly fine.
Medium territory sells steadily on
the secured basis of 45c and occasion
ally at Acc. Low medium is wanted
at 42@43c, clean, and is in light sup
ply.
All territory woods are selling at
close to cost. Holders admit thai
higher prices cannot be obtained. On
a line of 1900 900 pounds of nice
wool the seller has found it hard to
get a bid that was even up to cost
Yet the market is in good position fol
price improvement, but for reason
or another it is held down. There
are still more sellers than there are
buyers.
Texas, California and Oregon.
Texas wool is quiet and unchanged
Beyond a modest business in fall a
15Rc nothing has been done. The
secured basis of fall is 45c. The mar
} ket lacks any SiZable line of eithe,