Evening star., 1922-12-01
INCREASE IN PRICE
OF WOOL IS LIKELY
Low Supply of Raw Ma
terials Expected to Boost
Retail Costs Next Fall.
BY J. &. ROYLE.
special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star
NEW YORK, December I.-Mothball.
and foresight may save the careful buy
ers Of the United States a lot OF money
next fail. Those who have regard 20
both price and quality in their clothing
would do well to take advantage of bar
gains which appear in woolen garments
this winter and utilize what sales
merchants may offer at the end OF this
season to supply their needs for next
fall and winter
Why: Raw wool is the answer.
Prices for the raw staple already are
high and there is decided scarcity in
America and other countries. especially
of those grades which enter into high
grade clothes. Mills are fairly well
supplied with wool for their needs
throughout the So-called lightweight
season. But supplies for the heavy
weight season in which the cloth for
next fall and winter is manufactured
are not now in existence in this country
and will not be until sheep are sheared
next spring.
Buying Far In Advance.
Dealers and manufacturers in many
instances. therefore. already are NOV
ing to contract for the wool yet ur-
grown which will be removed from
the Sleeps backs in 1929. All over
the sheep growing districts, from
Pennsylvania and Ohio to Oregon and
Washington. they are meeting with "A
determination among growers to de-
mand prices well abpv" any paid even
during the rush of this last success
full season. In the ma jority OF local
tiles growers are refusing TO enter Al
ALI into any commitments which VIII
ma q
their CIips
Both buyers and growers are gum
shoeins around. saying Hush as
frequently as the villain in a melo-
drama. They are equally unwilling
to tell what they are Offering or what
they are demanding. Boston reports
that one house there already has con-
fracted for over 100000 pounds OF
1923 wool, but they naturally will not
tell competitors what they agreed TO
pay. The easy terms on which money
is available undoubtedly Is fostering
the contracting movement. but many
eastern dealers are combating the
tendency for fear il will induce grow
ers to hold for even higher prices.
Their fears seem well grounded.
Western growers all are inclined to
optimism. Buyers who have pros
pected quietly among flock masters o.
Utah. Idaho and Wyoming have been
able to do no business even at prices
well over those OF 1927. according Ia
reports from salt Lake City. One
clip is said TO have been contracted
for in Nevada. but this could not be
confirmed.
Higher Prices in Contracts.
Some advance contracts are report
ed reliably to have been closed in
Montana at prices well above so cents
pound In the grease. or nearly three
times as much as was paid in 1921.
About 100000 pounds in varied lots
have been contracted for I'm Oregon.
Prices for these early commitments
have ranged from IS to 45 cents a
pound in grease. although Eia to as
has been paid in several cases. Cp-
tions have been taken for thirty DAYS
on large poundase on 50-cent basis.
and while no business is reported I"
have been confirmed at that price. al
the growers in the west seem 10 b-
talking 30 cents as minimum. and
most oregon sheep men are unwilling
to contract at all.
Texas growers are generally firm
in refusal 70 tie themselves up to fu-
ture contracts. according to WORD
from Fort Worth. and are counting
on prices of so to 60 cents a pound
next year. Seattle reports that Wash
ington growers felt they sold too
cheaply this year and are firm in re-
fuSing to make commitments which
will yield anything but the top fig
ureS in 1923.
These facts would seem to point un-
mistakably to higher prices for wool
en- and worsted cloths and a low sup
ply of materials of a high quality. In
tically certain and Buy 'em nov"
seems sound advice