Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1905-10-06
WOOL GROWERS
NOT ANXIOUS
The Contracts Thus Far Secured on
Next Season Clip Are Not
Very Heavy.
NO BUYERS IN THIS COUNTY
Their Operations Thus Far Confined
Men May be Here Soon.

When Fraser Brothers, of Billings,
recently opened their wool buying
campaign, and some Boston buyers
arrived in Montana, there were pre-
dictions that next years clip would
soon be largely cleaned up, as the
growers would be willing to contract
at from % to % cents. The Fergus
county authorities are either better
judges of the situation or else have in
side information, for they all agreed
at the time the hurrah started that no
very large part of the clip could be
secured at such price, and they ap-
pear to have had the right tip. The
wool SO far contracted for is nearly
all in northern Montana, and while
some estimates place the amount un-.
der contract at 100000 pounds, prom
inent Lewistown growers who have
been keeping tab do not think it will
be very much more than a million
pounds. A significant fact in this
connection is that the contracting on
that basis seems to be about over.
The few timid ones who feared the
market would show a falling off in
prices next season have made their
contracts, but students of the wool
market are certain that wool will be
just as high next summer as it was
last June and July, and in this section,
at least, will not contract at lower
prices than they then obtained, and
very few OF them are eager to contract
at all. It is believed that before this
month is over, some OF the Boston
buyers will look over the field in Fer
gus county, but they know in advance
that offers OF % and % cents will not
bring out any wool that brought "a and
25 cents last summer.
The Latest Quotations.
The market in the eastern centerS
is rather quiet just now, but wool is
strong and firmly held. The latest
Associated Press quotations from Bos-
ton are as follows:
Although the wool market is
strong, business has fallen off notice
ably. Sales have been in small guam
titles, ranging from 25,OOO to 10000
pound lots, and have occasionally
reached 100000 pounds. The territory
woods continue to attract general in
terest, and are in good demand. In
pulled woods the demand has been for
long staple coarse grades. Foreign
wools are active. Territory quota
tions:
"Idaho-Fine, 22@24c; heavy fine.
19@21c; fine medium, 23@24c; me-
"Wyoming-Fine, 22@23c; heavy
fro 1OmCna. medium, CCmO1n.
medium, 27@2Sc; low medium, $50
29c.
Utah and Nevada-Fine, 23@24c;
heavy fine, 10000; fine medium, 23
@24c; medium, 27@28c; low medium,
2S@29c.
"Montana-Fine choice, 26@27c;
fine average, 24@25c; fine medium
choice, 26@27c; average, 27@28c;
staple, 28@30c; medium choice, $50
3Oc"
Dun's Wool Review.
Following is Dun's current review of
the wool market:
''The eastern markets are without
alteration in prices or other develop
ment. Consumption is known to be
on a large scale, but the mills are not
taking much raw wool at the present
time. Domestic quotations are I'M
changed. The London auction sale
aroused brisk competition, and good
prices were readily paid. A consid
cradle amount of wool was taken for
America.
"Boston-Trading in wool is fairly
active on the part of the smaller mills,
who have been buying in lots OF 15,-
600 to $4,000 pounds each and paying
full previous prices. A few transac.
tions in territory wool in the original
bags are also reported, and one good
sized block of medium three-eighths
blood unwashed fleece has been trans
ferred. The market is very firm and
stronger, If anything, since the open
ing of the London auction sales at
prices showing an advance of five to
ten per cent from the July closing
rates. Shipments continue to exceed
the receipts, the former being $780,
81 pounds, against receipts for the
week of 1,999,52O pounds.
"Philadelphia-The wool market is
very dull. Manufacturers are samp-
ling and testing WOOL but show little
inclination to buy in advance of i'm.
mediate needs. The value of fine me-
dium and fine fleece has been strong
ly held, but quarter and low woods
have continued weak to sell. Good
sized lots have been offered to buyers
at 33 cents, but some holders are still
standing out for "a and IS cents, and
they are firm in the belief that they
will get these prices some months lat.
er. Sales in the local market are very
small, including unwashable delaine
at 80 cents; quarter and three-eighths
unwashable Ohio, sample lots, "a and
IS cents; original Montana, q cents,
aad Territory of medium and fine me-
dium, 72 and IS cents, clean"
The Cattle Market.
The cattle market continues fair
and small shipments continue to &c
out from this county. Among the
shippers who were on the Chicago
market during the week was Oscar
Stephens who sold at from 1925 to
$3.50 for steers and $2.65 and 1910
for cows. The Butte Miners Chicago
market special says:
"A slight appreciation in values has
been noted for the range steers in the
past week. but the advance of large
ly 10c scored over the level in force
a week ago has in nOwise lent strong
encouragement to views OF continued
stronger sales. The gain was due en-