East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1906-07-24

The following review of the wool
situation in Wyoming and Idaho, at
the close of the season, is from the
American Shccpbreeder of Boston. and
gives a comprehensive understanding
Of the market. The Sheepbreeder
saw:
Satisfactory conditions continue to
prevail IN Wyoming, and the flock
masters are happy 4 result. Fully
So per cent Of the 1906 clip has been
gathered and the shearers are now
busy harvesting the balance. Very lit
tie wool now remains unsold. in the
state. Some has been consigned and
a few clips are being held by owners
for better prices. And the general
opinion is that those who are holding
win get the advanced prices desired.
The condition of the eastern wooI
markets show that Wyoming fleeces
should have brought from one to four
cents more per pound than was re-
ceved and the situation also strength
ems the belief that combination
among the buyers deprived the Wyom-
ing growers of the full market value
of their clips. Another year the game
will not be worked so easily in Wyom-
ing fer the woolgrowers will be or
ganized and prepared to combat the
combine.
Idaho's Experiences.
The disastrous outcome of the at
tempt of the Idaho woolgrowers to
sell direct to the manufacturers will
cut no ice here in Wyoming. The
Idaho growers were defeated by cir
cumstances as much as ANYTHING. A
portion of their wool ha1 been dis
posed of, and the attempt to ignore
the buyers came too late in the sea-
son.
! The eastern markets We're already
supplied, and the desired advances
could not be secured. 1t is charged
also that the buyers Influenced the
eastern money market against the
Idaho flcckmasters, thing that was
very easy to do at this late hour. An
other year, however the buyer will
be up against it, so 10 speak. and the
manufacturers, if they desire to pur-
chase at all. will be only too glad to
treat with the growers direct.
The failure of the Idaho attempt
to shin direct to Boston was due to
no fault of the Idaho association or
its president. Hon. Fred w. Gooding,
who was sent to Boston to make the
arrangements. but rather to buyers
themselves who, being perfectly fa-
miliaf with the plans of the 1dahoans,
simply pulled the wires before Mr..
Gooding could reach Boston. The in
cident will have one good result that
of acquainting the flockmasters with
the workings of the buyers trust and
they will be the better able to combat
the octopus another season.
AS soon as the Idaho growers real
lied the situation they unloaded their
wool at the figures offered by the
buyers on the ground, and shipments
are now speeding eastward at lively
rate.
Wool Not Up to Standard.
One fact that should not be over
looked in summing up the Idaho sit
, uation, and which prevailed for time
, in wyoming, is the condition of the
WOOL The Idaho clip, or rather the
woods around Boise, We're not up to
standard in grade, and some growers
were unreasonable enough to believe
that they should receive as much for
their poor wool as others got for
, vastly superior article.
, The inability of some growers to
+ grade their wool entered into the
trouble to a great extent, and this is
true in all wool-growing sections.
: However, the Idaho and Wyoming
t growers had just cause to believe that
? the prices offered were a few cents
= below the full market value. both for
the fine clips and the poorer grades.
The annual summer and fall inn
e por;ations of sheep to Wyoming from
/ Oregon. Idaho and Montana will this
wear equal If not exceed the same
, shipments last year, which was
: banner year in thi straffic Already
e upwards Of 10000 sheep and 5000
, bucks have been imported. To date
, not Il single case of disease has been
e found in these importations. The
e state authorities are taking no
chances. however, for all are submit
ted to the most rigid inspection, and
Il all are given one thorough dipping
end then placed in quarantine for a
period of 80 days following the dip
ping.
i We were in hopes that we would in
= this letter be able to give close esti-
mate Of the number of sheep shorn in
: wyoming and total clip, but reports
. have been coming in slowly and we
will be compelled to deny this infor-
nation to your readers for another
:, month. It is safe to predict, how
:, ever. that the total clip will aggre-
=. gate in excess of So,O00,oOO pounds.
r. Twenty-Five cents is about the average
price received for the wool, and
~ pounds the average weight per fleece.
: The wool is the finest on the average
@ in the history of the industry in this
d state.
e The lamb crop will average better
" than 75 per cent. In many instances
,e where the lamb crop was less than
6a per cent a year ago it will exceed
10 and SIS per cent this season.