The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1904-02-26
WEEK ON BOSTON MARKET
PROVES FEATuRELEss.
TERRITORIES in FAIR CALL
New Clip Moving Slowly at Reduced
Prices, Owing to inferior
Quality

Commercial Bulletin, in its summary
Of the Boston wool market for the
week ending, Saturday, February 20.
The general report from dealers,
large and small, is one of quiet bust
ness and steady prices. The presence
on the market, however, of buyers
for some of the large mills shows
that interest is still taken in the sit
uation and, while no big trades have
followed, it is believed that there will
be something doing ere long. The
transactions this week are made up
of small lines of about everything
in domestic wool. On this business
previous prices have been obtained.
Fractional advances have been paid
for ~One-quarter and three-eighths
blood and more has been sold at 26c
than in previous weeks. They, as
well as all low medium woods, are
well taken care of and in strong posi-
ton. It cannot be said, however, that
they are quotably higher, and expecta-
lions that they would materially adj
vance have not been realized, despite
the steady depletion of stocks and
the strength of foreign competing
woods.
AS a whole the market is in a
healthy condition. There is a fair
amount of selling right along, to
meet absolute needs. Consumption
is good, but requirements have been
practically covered by most manufac-
turers. The heavy transactions of last
month give them a good supply to
draw from. They have also left the
lofts of Boston dealers in quite a
clean condition and buyers who have
thoroughly %canvassed the market say
that the selections offering are COM
paratively poor and limited.
New Clip Moves Slowly.
1t 10Y looks as though last years
experiences in the west would not
be duplicated in 1904. At Phoenix,
AriZ., at this time last year the new
woods were being disposed of as rapid
~ as they arrived. This year buy
ers are more conservative and pur-
chases to date have been comparative.
ly small. From 10 to 14Ac has been
paid. the landed secured cost in Bos.
ton being given as 45@46c.
Advices confirm previous reports
that the clip this year is generally
in poorer condition that last, so that
prices 1k@2c lower than in 1908
are warranted. However, there ap
pears to be no great scramble on the
part of the Boston buyers for the
woods.
The Mills.
Business in heavy weight mems
yea fabrics has been on a good
steady basis this week. There has
been no rush for goods any more thar
earlier in the season. The volume OF
orders to date, while not wholly salts
factory, has been quite large. Initia
ordering has been conservative ant
it is expected that a good duplicate de
mand will be felt. The mills runninf
on medium and low stock are work
ing to their full capacity and ar
making money.
The fever for cheap suits and over
coats is by no means spent. This il
apparent in the excellent sale low
priced piece goods have met with, alst
in the active demand for medium ant
low woods and in the condition O
stocks of made-up garments in tn
hands of the clothing trade. Tn
4 counters are. we'll cleaned of chea
goods and fairly well filled with tn
more costly garments.
Foreign Markets.
A quiet tone pervades all foreig
markets. There is nothing special
new from Australia or London. Blu,
ers who have returned from the la
ter market say that on the closin
day prices were about the best of til
series.
The latest from Buenos Ayres say
that sellers are rather Indifferent ar
that there is no change in prices. tt
latter condition makes it look
though buyers there were also indiffe
ent. Certainly they are not paying II
advance, if there has actually be-
one recently.
Owing to the strikes in vario
trades it is still hard to make sh!
ments. A good deal of wool is he
back in the country. All advic
agree that the Argentine clip is t
!. best for years, which fact probat
accounts for the activity of Europe