The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1918-01-11
AUSTRALIAN WOOL
MARKET IN BOSTON
mrnEsruqa ACCOUNT or THE
SALE GrvEn BY LOUIS HoRK-
HEmER, WHO ATTENDED IT.
Eirh+y-f1vs District Parcels OF Woo.
Sold At Fair Prices ~ An EnSnsn
Auctionasr.

An interesting account Of tho first
Austrian wool auction ever held IN this
country has been prepared by LOUIS
Horshelmer, who has just returned from
Boston, where he attended tho sale. MI
Aorkheimer's story follows:
The wool market during the first week
Of 1918 was not very active as far as
sales Of domestic woods are concerned. {.
The uncertainty as 10 what action the
government will take. is keeping manu-
facturers and dealers on the anxious
scat
Tho first Austrian auction sale n
America WAS held in Boston on Janu-
any 8. was q much-looked for event.
Four hundred and eighty-five distinct
parcels Of wool were sold by Mr.
Windler, the English auctioneer who
oame here for this purpose, in three
hours. The prices realized apparently
we're high. Considering the class and
character Of the woods sold. however,
not any higher than the prices current
for domestic woods Of similar descrip-
ton. The larger portion Of these woods
went to dealers. Tho total amount of
these four hundred and eighty-five lots.
totaIled not over 100000 pounds.
Tho impression made by this sale on
tho market will be little as the quantity
offered was small. but there are fifty
thousand bales, or ten times the guam
tity sold. to be offered from now on
every fortnight and 1t Is the current
belief BY tho wool trade in general that
1t the next sale lower prices VIII be in
evidence.
The action Of tho government In az
acting an option on all South American
woods imported into America after De-
cember 18th, 1917. at prices prevailing
July S0th. 1917. less percent. Is felt
very keenly and strong efforts are being
made to buy foreign woods so as to be
able to sell them at reasonable margin
on this basis.
Quotations on our domestic woods to-
day arc all above this parity. and manu-
facturers in general believe that they
will get wool cheaper later on.
Another factor which 10 holding the
market is the fact that II takes so much
money to carry q stock Of wool. All VI
the larger mills have wool enough Tor
months to come, and will only buy when
offered bargeinh
Tho stock of wool held by dealers in
America January / Is s9,51o,S?7 pounds,
as compared with January l, 1917. 49,
sos, 4S4 pounds, showing an increase OF
approximately 100000 pounds.
From present indications. America Is
we'll provided with wool for tho year
1913 When we consider the new clip
the stocks held BY manufacturers. and
only normal inportations from South
America there Will be no scarcity Of
wool. notwithstanding the unusually de-
mand OF the government.
Tho general attitude Of the wool trade
Is a waiting policy to sec what tho gov.
eminent may do as to control Of wool
supplies and prices. At no time since
the beginning Of m. vnr has the un-
certainty been greater. It Is under
stood that bill has been drawn up and
will be presented to congress and
pushed through II possible, to fix a
price on wool. Now this can be accom-
plished to regulate wool prices and al
low the cotton growers to continue ex-
plotting their products at the expense