New-York tribune., 1914-11-16
MILLS AWAITING
EXCHANGE OPENING
Cotton Men Expect to Catch To-
day Hopeful Glimpse Into
Future of Trade.

Fall River, Mass, Nov. 15.-In the
cotton goods markets last week the vol
ume of business was smaller than in
the two preceding weeks. While inquiry
was somewhat light, there was suifi-
cent number of buyers on hand to give
life to the market, and their takings in
a few special cases were large enough
to insure a reasonable amount OF conf
dence among manufacturers and brok-
ers.
For some Of the styles wanted the
mills are well cleaned up, and buyers
naturally turned their attention to tut
ure needs. They contracted for goods
we'll into the new year and in a major
ity of cases up to June.
Conditions in the cloth market are
sound enough, and it requires only a
moderate amount Of inquiry to stimu--
late business and give to mills and
brokers larger orders. 1t is true that
some mills, particularly the narrow
goods concerns, have fairly large sup
ply of cloth on hand, but those mills
operating on 36-inch cloth of low count
have been very successful IN getting
good prices and fairly large orders for
their output.
Some of those same mills which make
odd count in 3S12 inch goods have done
a good business, and their storehouses
are devoid of cloth because for the past
several months wide and medium wide
cloths have been in moderate demand.
There have been times when orders
came in steadily for certain construc-
tions, but this demand is going down
quite little and the call is limited in
most cases.
Relative TO bandage cloth, the market
is only fair, because some of the larg-
est houses in the country who deal in
hospital supplies came into the market
a few weeks ago and engaged consid-
cradle proportion of the looms in some
mills which are equipped TO handle low
count goods.
Because of the limited demand for
some goods prices have gone off lie of
a cent per yard in some cases, but IL is
believed that this recession is tempo
rary and that higher prices will prevail
later. When buyers began 10 suggest
lower prices manufacturers displayed
lack of interest, and smaller bids than
prevailing quotations were ignored in
most instances.
The narrow end of the market has
lapsed into quietness, and quotations
are again nominal Some factors dis
played interest in twills and sateens,
and fair amount of business was ac-
cepted. For the moment, mills max
ing fancies Of medium count yarns re-
port lull in business, although the
market for these constructions is by
no means fiat
The opening Of the New York Cot
ton Exchange tomorrow Will bring
some changes in the cloth market, but
just what these changes will be and
how they will work out cannot be
foreseen just now. According TO ad-
vices, trading will be conducted with
out restrictions, this condition differ
ing from the Liverpool exchange,
which named basic quotations as d
foundation. The opening OF the Cot
ton Exchange will without doubt lend
some stability 20 trade in cotton, and
m inufacturers and brokers will be
in a better position TO know where
they stand relative to cotton prices.
Since the closing of the exchange
cotton quotations have been irregular,
and business in the raw material has
not been conducted along strictly busi-
ness lines in some cases. In certain
specific instances some mills have been
benefited, while others would probably
have done better If they could use the
exchange quotations as a barometer.
The total sales Of cloth last week
are estimated at 10000 pieces, Of
which about $4,000 pieces were spots
The quotations: 2S-inch 64-64, &c nomi-
nal; 2s-inch $500, 27sc nominal; 81
inch $3.50, 2lsc; 27-inch $3.50. , 5-l6c;
27-lnch 56-52, 2sc; 3sl2 inch 6i-64,
4c; 38l2 inch 60-52, 3lsc; 3Sls ls-lnch Ca
50, S7se; 39.inch, 65-72, .Isc.