The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1911-03-07
SHEEP SHFAR|NC
Will SOON BEGIN

Sheep shearing will begin about the
Goth of the present month in Hum
boldt county, unless weather condi
tions shall prevent. While at pres
ent time sheep are little thin, owing
to the fact that the cold weather of
the past month set the grass back, the
wool is in fine condition. The f1eeces
are long, clean and of continuous
growth, being much better than last
year, when the growth had been check
ed by the cold weather, forming prac-
tically two fleeses, which were jointed
together. 1t is estimated that fleeces
which last year weighed six pounds
will this year come up to eight pounds.
Last year at shearing time, wool was
quoted at about IA cents, while today
it is around 12 cents Considering the
difference in weight and prices, the
clip this year should net about Is per
cent more than that of last year.
The principal shearing stations in
Humboldt county this year will be at
the Winnemucca corrals on the north
side of the river, Golconda, Paradise,
McDermitt, DEMO, Jungo, China creek
and Rye Patch.
In speaking of the outlook for the
new clip, Justice, Bateman & Co., the
Philadelphia merchants, in their trade
letter dated March l, have the follow
ing to say:
The Tone Of the Market.
The wool market, since the first of
the year, has been quiet, and prices
have declined, particularly on poor
staple unattraetive territory woods, of
which there is a larger supply than
usual in dealers hands at this time
of the year. The stock of unconsumed
wool in the country is believed to be
light, but owing to the fact that manu-
facturers are carrying very much small
Ter stocks than year ago, and the
bulk of the woods are now in dealers
hands, and are being pressed for sale
to make room for the new clip at a
time when the demand is light, prices
have been forced to a lower basis than
is seemingly justified by conditions in
this country, or the cost of competing
foreign woods.
Manufacturers as a whole have had
poor business during the past twelve
months 1t is not easy to understand
the lack of demand for goods, or the
ability of a prosperous country with
good crops, and an increasing popula-
ton, to get along without more goods
being made 1t can only be accounted
for on the theory of economy of the
consuming public, partly enforced by
the high cost of food supplies, and
partly from the belief that prices for
goods are unreasonably high. This be-
lief is chiefly the result of a series of
inaccurate articles attacking the wool
manufacturing industry and this sec
tion of the tariff, with which the news
papers and cheap magazines have been
filed.
The wool market and the goods mar
ket are unfortunately closely tied up
with political conditions and vitality
affected by them and the rapid shift
ing and changes which have taken
place in the political outlook during
! the past few months have upset all
calculations based on commercial con-
ditions and preeedents. The proposed
reciprocity agreement with Canada,
brings with it the probability of an
extra session of congress in the near
future, with the opening of the tariff
discussion much sooner than had been
thought likely.
Manufacturers are undeniably dis
couraged; they are simply buying wool
from hand to mouth until the clouds
in the goods situation pass away, and
activity ensues. The continued agita-
ton for a revision of Schedule "K, -
is declared by buyers of goods to be a
veritable nightmare.
Prospects for 1911.
AS the new clip is rapidly approach
ing, wool growers are interested in the
prospects at shearing time.
Statistically, wool is in a strong
position; but with buyers of goods
afraid to contract for any stock ahead
for fear they may be caught with high
priced goods at the time of a reduc-
ton of the duty, and with manufac-
turers unable to get orders to keep
their machinery running, stocks of
wool are more than sufficient, and the
supply exceeds the demand.
Our imports of foreign wool are very
much smaller than in an average year,
and the coming American clip will un-
doubtedly show a decrease from last
year, so that return to good bsuiness
on the part of manufacturers, would
no doubt mean a sudden change in the
wool market.
/ The territory clip of 1910 was below
the average, both as to condition and
staple, owing to the severity of the
preceding winter. Reports from all
sections now indicate splendid winter
weather on the range, which promises
much improved clip this season.