Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1906-01-26

a year ago 1t was exactly the reverse
Then the advance in sheep and wool
had just bgun and the growers not
being able to tell that they would get
above normal values accepted prices
which at that time seemed exception
ally good to them. Then the situa
ton relative to sheep was not such
as to give them the information that
wool would go much higher. Thus,
whereas twelve months ago, the state
was covered with wool buyers who
were contracting in advance at prices
from II to 20 cents, and even under
the former price there are but few
here now. At present, howevr, wool
is at such price that buyers believe
they can just as well wait until the
season is further advanced and pur-
chase wool at the same prices as now
and not run as much risk. This is the
explanation given for the lack of buy
ers. A year ago the earlier the con-
tract the better it was for the buyer.
AT the present time, with values stiff.
fened, there is nothing to be gained
by early contracting, it is believed" /"
The Eastern Wool Markets.
The current issue of the American
review of conditions in the leading
wool markets:
Boston market-Since the holiday
season, consumers of wool were
around the market looking for such
lots as the merchants might wish to
sell, and when a manufacturer has
been fortunate enough to book some
good sized orders, it is soon known to
the sellers, from the increased size of
the line of wool purchased. Compar.
atively small sales in any class of
washed fleeces during the past month
are recorded. A few small lines of
fine and medium domestic, unwash-
ed fleeces were sold, and these include
the combing and short woods. Terri
tory f1eeces were not moving as free
ly as during previous weeks, as the
larger mills were quite well supplied
for the time being. Pulled wool suit
able for the combing machines was
taken about as fast as offered, and
the shorter stock met with some re-
quest when of the best offerings. Cal
ifornia wool was in evidence, and a
number of small sales were made
when Of good length staple, but the
short woods we're not of interest to
any extent The finer grades of pull
ed stock were salable when asking
price met the views of the purchas-
ers while for the time being the low
Ell grades remain quiet. There was a
little doing in the Australian medium
c1ossbreds. also in similar South
American wool. Carpet stock is
steady. though little business is re-
corded: however, holders are by no
means ,1ismayed, and say they can hold
the wool until it is wanted. Some OF
the largest wool firms probably carry
more wool than they had last year
at this date. and other local houses
less: still, the canvass Of this mar.
ket at the end of the year gave the
amount of wool offered for sale as
above forty million pounds, of all
kinds. The local supply of wool
seems likely to be ample for all de.
mands and the action of the manufac.
turers with reference to stocking up
would indicate that they realize the
fact that wool is sure to be plentiful
in nearly all grades until the new clip
is available"
philadelphia market-The opinion
among the dealers seems to be that
if it were not the custom of the man.
ufacturers in general to enter the new
year with as small stocks of wool as
possible, much more business would
have been transacted. Sampling has