Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1906-05-22
THE MONTANA
WOOL MARKET
Buyers Are Still Steering Clear Of This
state and Situation Remains
Unchanged.
GROWERS ARE NOT WORRIED
How the Famous "Round Robin
Edict Is Viewed in Northern
Montana.

clear of Montana, and they are not
now expected to put in an appearance
before June l. and possibly later The
Montana woolgrOwers are suffering
from the effect produced on the buyers
by the eXorbitant prices asked in some
other localities. In this section of the
state. while the flockmasters know
that they should receive at least as
much for their wool as they did last
year. and in some cases a bit more,
as the general market is undeniably
higher than it was a year ago, they
are not making any such absurd claims
as have been put forward in some
parts of Wyoming, for instance. The
buyers always visit those other locali-
ties first, and they seem to have con-
cluded that the sentiment prevailing
there would be encountered here. For
that reason they appear. from the re-
ports published in the Boston trade
papers, to have decided TO keep away
from this section until the growers
came to a more reasonable frame of
mind. But there is not going to be
any particular change in conditions
here. The growers are all intelligent
men. who follow the market closely
and know just what they should get
as well as the buyers do. They have
not been carried away by sensational
reports as few sheep men in other
localities appear to have been. and
they will be glad to see the buyers
at any time and talk business to them
on a basis that will result in con-
tracts. Our growers have always been
treated fairly by the representatives
of the great eastern houses, and have
confidence in them. 1t now appears
likely that there will not be many
wool sales, if any, in this locality un
I'll after shearing, but the prices then
Will be just what they are now.
Great Landing Season.
Thanks to the mild weather that has
prevailed, combined with the extra
precautions taken everywhere OWNS
to the unprecedented high price OF
lambs, the flockmasters of Fergus coun
ty will probably have the most sue
cessful lambing season ever known
here. That is, the percentage of lambs
saved is, according to well informed
sheep men, greater than ever before
Reports from every part of the count.
show that there have been no seriou!
losses at all, while somee growers have
saved very close to 100 per cent O
their lambs. The season is pretty wei
over now, but lambs will continue t.
drop until June 10. Shearing will be
gin June 20, and there is great bustl,
and activity at all the sheep ranches
In Northern Montana.
The Great Falls Tribune, discussin,
the situation in northern Montana
with especial reference to the etlic
of the wool buying houses, says:
There is not sheep man in north
ern Montana, it is believed, who will
contract his wool at less than % cents
and as shearing time approaches it il
probable that very few will confirm,
at that price. The slogan of "fou
pounds for dollar" is a year behint
the times Every buyer who has at
tempted to make deals at less than 2:
cents, except in a few instances ir
Fergus county, has been turned dowr
cold, and there seems to be a genera
determination among the growers no
to let their wool go until it may of
fered on the floor of the exchange
with competition among the severa
buyers. The sheepmen have lost heap
of money in the past by not contrac,
ing, without realizing any advantage
and they are fully aware of this fac
There is not sheep man in norther
Montana who is at all uneasy, and thi
year, as in many years in the pas
the sheepmen will hold their wool III
til it may be offered in the regula
way, and they will come to market
sell their clip for the best price o
tainable in open competition.
"The announcement sent out in tt
last few days by combination
Boston dealers, that they do not inten
to buy wool in the west unless til
growers prices should be material
reduced, has been received with deri
ion by the growers of northern Mo-
tana, who regard it as intended I;
Montana consumption only In ever
olner state OF the west buyers are
this minute taking all the wool the
can get, at prices equivalent to MOI
than rs cents for an average mort
ern Montana clip. and NOTWITHSTANDING
the round-robin announcement iro
Boston, the growers expect the san
buyers to be skirmishing for the ..
100000 pounds of Montana wool wit
in month. Representatives of Il
Boston houses have already been
the state, eager to close deals, and
is known that many deals have bee
put through, but the growers genera
ly refuse to contract at ALL
Not many years ago the grove
of northern Montana might have be,
forced to sell, but such conditions
longer obtain. With sheep at Sc, u