The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1906-02-14

There 10 not q cloud Visible on the
wool market horizon; everything
points to an active demand for the
wool clip of 1906 at figures that will
be quite satisfactory to the growers.
The feeling among Boston wool
market experts is described in las,
weeks issue of the Commercial Bulle'
tin, which gives this review Of prev all
ing conditions:
"The market is extremely strong
and there Is unquestionably a better
tone to the stu alton. Dealers are
very firm on all their holdings. This
strong position, even with only q
moderate demand, may be attributed
to several causes. First, the strength
developed throughout the London
auctions which closed Thursday: Sec
ond, the successful opening Of goods
in New York. and third, the compare.
lively light stocks OF suitable wool
now available.
"The London position is simply a
reflection of Europe's need of wool.
The French, German and Russian
mills are entering on an era of pros.
perity, greater tn az for three or four
years, and that, too, with small sup
plies of the raw material. Not for
some time have those mills been SO
we'll occupied. At practically every
point their buyers have overcome
American competition. The demand
has been phen omenal, and will un-
doubleday continue sufficiently active,
for several months at least, to prevent
any decline in values in London or
on the continent. Naturally, a knowl.
edge of this imparts a feeling of con-
fidence to America. Not only are the
eastern wool merchants affected, but
likewise are the western sheepmeu.
1.-The territory sheepmen are elated
and happy over the strong position OF
London as we'll as Boston. Their
views on prices are still what eastern
operators call extreme. Considering
the general situation in all its phases,
the question may naturally arise,
"Are they really extreme::' The adj
ances in London, Australasia and
South America raise the possibility
Of higher values in America. The
question is one for the Boston
wool merchants and those from other
markets to determine. AS far as the
grover is concerned, the situation is
giving him no aus for worry. He
has money in the bank, and can easily
borrow it from the banks il necessary.
1t is only three months to clip time,
and the period dangerous to the sheep
may be said to have passed. The
wool is now too we'll grown to be at.
fected materially by any conditions
that might arise. Prices are being
held on a comparatively high basis,
but under the circumstances, the
sheepman feels that he will be able to
obtain them. The attitude of growers
in Wyoming who are asking %, 234,
"a and up to 25c, is appalling to buy.
ers. but they do not are whether they
sell now or not. Therefore no con.
tracing is being done, but every one
Is watching closely, and operations
on the part Of any buyer would be apt
to induce others to take hold. There
are but three Boston firms that have
contr acted any 1906 wool, and the
other firms r not going to allow a
corner on the new clip"
In view of the conditions thus de-
scribed, there is every reason to be.
lieve that many northern Montana
wool clips will soon be selling at the
rate of flour pounds for a dollar
and some may bring q price in excess
of that figure.