The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1920-12-01
MARKET NEWS LETTER


Publication of the Market News
Letter by the College of Agricul-
ture. University of Kentucky. is re-
sumed with this issue after sus-
pension of several months. The pur-
pose of this publication is to bring
to the attention of farmers and
others, matters of interest in con-
nection with the marketing of farm
products.
Wool
when will the wool market re-
cover and what are the prices going
to be-" This question naturally is
in the minds of wool growers at the
present time, while there is no def
mite answer the information which
is available throws some interest
ing side lights on the situation.
A large share of the 1920 wool
clip of the United States is still in
the hands of the producers or in
cooperative wool pools at central
points. heHluChs NOOi SiO"SiS
should not lose sight of the fact
that growers all over the country
are confronted with the same prob
lem.
he fgues regarding the monthly
consumption of wool by manufac-
tuyers in the United States have
shown steady decrease since last
spring except that the amount in
August was slightly larger than the
July consumption. The September
consumption was less than that or
August but the Bureau of Markets
in publishing these figures calls at
teution 10 the fact that reports from
a few manufacturers were not re-
ceiyad in time to be included in the
September total.
The quarterly reports of dealers
and manufacturers stocks of wool
on hand indicate that the dealers
had larger stocks of wool on hand |
on December 81. 1919, and March |
81, 1920. than on December l. l9-
Is. and March 81, 1919. The re-
ports for June so and September so,
1920, however. show considerably !
smaller stocks on hand than on the
sam dates last year.
The Census Bureau complies
monthly reports of the active and
idle wool machinery in the United |
States. The percentage of idle wool |
machinery has been much higher
during the last few months than
last fail or the early part of 1870. |
Thus. 49, per cent, of the wooden 1
spindles and % per cent. OF the
worsred spindles were reported idle .
on October ! of this year, while on
October l. 1919, the idle wooden
spindles were only ~ per cent. and !
the idle wor.yei spindles per
cent. of the Iotai.
One reason given for the shut
down of mills is the cancellation OF
orders and the falling of in amount
of orders for finished goods. One
publication states that orders re-
ceived by manufacturers up 10 the
latter part of October for wooden /
and worsted piece goods for 1921 !
spring season. are estimated to be
only ten per cent of the volume of
orders M TO the corresponding date /
in 1919. This publication states
further that the industry as whole |
Is :urning at about thirty per cent
OF its capacity. The consumer ma
turally is unwilling TO buy clothing I
at nigh prices when the trend Is
dow award and many persons are
restrcting their purchases to sheer
necessities. This situation makes
itself felt in the wool market the
present season.
Wool growers who have their
wool in pool should remember
that the present stagnation is not
due To any weakness in this method
of marketing out is the result OF
conditions outside of the control OF
those who are In charge of wool
pools.