Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1906-03-08
DECREAslNG WOOL IMPORTS.

From the figures furnished tk'
'Wool & Cotton Reporter" by tn
deputy collector of the custom
houss at Boston, it appaars tha
there was very marked falling OF
in the volume Of foreign WOO
brought into that port during tn
month of January, this year, il
comparison with the import move
ment of January, 1905. This fall
ing off is very noticeable in eacl
of The three classes of wool, Glass
showing decrease of 2,17O,34e
pounds, Class 2 q decrease of l.
S73,361 pounds, and Class 3 de
crease of l,s1O,372 pounds, th'
total imports for the month being
9,147,1O9 pounds, against 1901,
l91 pounds in 1905, showing {
total decrease of 5,S54,0S2 pounds
The figures for the entire coun'
try covering the month of January
are not yet available, but from
what is already known of the pur
chases made abroad for American
account, the total import movement
into the United States seems quite
likely to show corresponding
falling off. The large supplies OF
foreign woo.s existing here towards
the close of 1905, as was evidenced
by the large amount of wool in
bond, reported by US, which was
far in excess Of that of the CORES
ponding time in the previous year,
and the unsatisfactory margin of
profit realized on many of the
wools imrorted during the year
1905, have been the chief causes OF
the decl eased purchases OF wool
made in Australia and South
America for American account,
which are now being reflected in a
falling off in imports into this
country. But if importers had
been anticipating strengthening
on wool, it is hardly con-
even after allowing for
the supplies carried over, that they
would not have continued to buy
on fairly liberal scale, as the sup
plies of domestic woods, barring
some of the short clothing and felt
ing wools, were very small. The
wool trade were evidently appre-
bpnsive AS to the future and were
determined to buy within con-
limits; and they did so.
The question now suggests itself
whether the importers of wool
have been over conservative In
heir purchases made abroad;
whether they have correctly gauged
he future needs of the market;
whether the requirements of con-
'umers will not be such as to
Justify the securing of more foreign
WOOL than has been arranged for.
Total imports for the year ending
December 81. 1905, were close to
L5O,OOO,0OO pounds, but if the cur
'ent import movement is con-
;inued, relative to last year, the
otal volums of imports for the
year 1906 will fall consider ably
hort of that amount.
A feature Of the situation has
,een the thorough cleaning up of
he new foreign woods in primary
the rapidity with which
hey were taken, Notwithstanding
be backwardness of Americans in
operating. The rest of the world
wanted the woods and they took
hem; and with the limited selec-
ions to be offered at the London
.uctions, many are coDgratuIating
that they did so. OF
curse, with the prices of wool on
heir present high level, it may
ot be that we shall see any
urther rise of consequence; but .
upplies are SO well in hand, and {
he textile industry is so we'll en-
loyed both at home and abroad,
be needs of English and con-
nenttl consumers being evidently I
, large, that it is natural that the 9
onsensus of opinion in London at
resent, ss expressed in cable ad-
ices received this week, should be
lat wool values are to remain firm q
n,,r V4rL -