The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-04-24
PRICES
ANTICIPATED
OUTLOOK I'M WOOL MARKET CON.
sIDERED ENCOURAGING.
Low MARK IS REACHED
More Settled Feeling Evident In Wool
Market Than at Any Time since the
First Of Year-1oston Men Leaving
for West.

While the market is much quieter
than during the previous fortnight
there is maintenance Of Improvement
in the way of a more encouraging
tone, says the Boston Commercial
Bulletin. There is not the same hope
less feeling that previously prevailed
and, Notwithstanding the fact that
manufacturers have failed to continue
large operations, it is believed that
bottom has been struck. Good staple
territory wool a be bought on the
secured basis Of SO to 60 cents and
good clothing stock at SO to So cents,
according to quality. Buyers are said
to have fixed ubon so cents as about
the basis for half blood, but their
recent operations have been at 81 to
So cents, on which basis something
over a million pounds were taken up
by a large New England mill. Small
er sales this week are on the basis OF
SO to 81 cents for half blood and ."bet-
ter" These are low prices compared
with a year ago and with the figures
obtained in the early part Of the
marketing Of the 1907 clip, but the
fact that influential buyers have to
some extent covered their require
ments leads to the belief that they
represent the low point in the depres-
sion. Any change in the future 1t 10
not improbable will be to q higher
basis.
The Mills.
Values, however, are not expected
tn change n way or the other in the
immediate future. Dealers will be sat
isfiedI if a trading basis is reached and
will look for an advance. They have
been cropping about for this basis for
some time and with its establishment
a distinct gain will be made.
Improvement in the fabric market
is slow and there is much machinery
still idle in the wool consuming in
dustry. 1t is a significant fact that
the mills which are sold up, even the
fancy worsted mills, are few and far
between. It is true that the majority
of this class feel that the future bust.
ness Of the a upon which they
can calculate with more or less as,
surance, will put them in a fairly com.
Portable position, but this business is
all in the future and is merely spec
ulative. Much depends upon the trips
of clothing statesmen during the next
few weeks. If they should find the re.
taller in a comparatively contented
frame of mind and willing to place q
normal amount Of orders for fall cloth
ing, these reports are likely to have 9
very palpable effect upon operations
in the primary market.
In the event of larger orders fol
goods the demand for raw materia.
will expand, for manufacturers are
carrying small stocks as a rule. But
under the. circumstances expectations
are that at the best the demand will.
only be for immediate requirements
There is no Involvement to speculate
Buyers will doubtless adhere to theil
handlto-mouth policy.
New Clip Moves Slowly.
Representatives of Boston dealer:
are leaving daily for the west, where
shearing is making satisfactory prog
ress, though trading is slow. A grea'
deal Of the Arizona early woods ha:
been moved on consignment and re
ports from Nevada, Utah and othel
sections are that supplies are also be
ing consigned in lieu of a satisfactor,
price agreement between buyer ant
seller. Advances Of 5 to 10 cents arr
being made in Nevada. In western
idaho growers r said to be asking
16 to 10 cents. Reports from severa
sections state that the woods arr
heavier this season than last. 1t re
mains to be seen whether grower.
will as a rule be willing to consig1
their wool, for 1t is reported tina
many are disposed to hold supplies
rather than sell them at the prices