Great Falls tribune., 1922-04-22

AoptGidi 10 IHN 4 lIlUuHc.
Butte. April 21.-The fine staple
woods of which the Montana clip con-
sists generally have been practically
exhausted and will result in the Mon
tana woolgrowers receiving excellent
prices for their 1922 clips is the opti-
mistic view Of the wool situation as told
BY Matt Staff, formerly of Helena. now
president Of the National Wool Ware
house & Storage company, of Chicago.
Mr.. Staff attended the recent conven-
ton of the Montana Stock Growers
association ia Butte and while there
told the wool men that they are likely
to receive from IS to 40 cents per
pound for. their clips. that Montana
wool may bring a premium in the fall
and it may reach 80 cents on the Bos-
ton market
May Offer IS to 40 Cents
He told the wooigrowers that the
eastern buyers would probably offer %
to 40 cents this year for Montana woods
but that they will not offer such prices
if they think they can get in at the
back door and take advantage Of the
distress Of the grower, and that If the
grower weakens he will not receive the
price to which he is entitled.
Fine wool. the Montana kind, is al
most extinct said Mr.. Staff. Aus
tralia, which heretofore has been Mon
| tana's principal competitor in the pro-
! ducing of this class of wool some time
ago went into the raising Of lambs and
as a result has greatly reduced its fine
| wool production.
I'VE ordinarily carry from 3OO,WO,-
| 600 to 35OOOO. 600 pounds Of wool in
| this country on the first of the year.
| On Jan. 1, 1922. the reports showed
$50, 100000 pounds on hand while the
| coming crop is estimated at only 25O,-
| 100000 total of 6OO.OOO,OOO of do
| nestle wool for this years consump-
, ton. We consume around 6OO.Wo,O0O
per year in this country. Consequently
on Jan. l. 1923, there should be no wool
! on hand except that which has been i'm
ported.
Shortage in Production
There was shortage of 550,0O0.00O
pounds in the world production this
year. A few mills are shut down from
labor troubles but some of the largest
consumption in January was 63.0OOOO0
pounds and in February it was 65,OOO,-
900 pounds. far above normal
Mr. Staff places much stress upon
the return to normal conditions in the
industrial world as an indication of
continued improvement in the wool bus
mess. In this connection he said:
"A year ago | came through Butte
and was very much depressed. Today
am told there are 10000 miners at
work and that condition prevails else
where. The automobile business has
recovered and is thriving. The steel
business a few months ago was work
ing at 20 per cent of its capacity.
Reports today show it to be working
at 65 to IS per cent capacity. The
is beginning to show signs of life.
Troubles Overestimated
The textile industry, killed at one
blow in 1920. came back sooner than
any other industry--probably too soon.
The wool men took their losses at one
jolt. The wool business has come back
very rapidly. You heard in 1921 we
had a two-years' supply on hand. APP
proximately 4OO.0OO.OO0 pounds has
disappeared. Our troubles were over
estimated and liquidation was forced
THE buying power of the American
consumer is being restored through the
confidence of the people. Gold is being
Drought DdGh luto SlJCuhtioH through
restored confidence. Men in this coun
try have bought very few suits Of
clothes lately. In Europe the people
have bought no clothes for four or
five years and they are now compelled
to buy.
Tariff viii Help
"In addition to this increased de-
mand for wool the wool men will be
benefited by the wool clause Of the new
tariff. l don't speak of the tariff AS
a political issue but as an economic
one. This country is the first and only
cash market in the world A tariff
measure is now being drafted in Wash
ington which will not only give pro-
lection to the consumer but also the
producer.
''As it passed the house the tariff
bill carried % per cent tariff on the
secured wool content An effort is be-
ing made in the senate to make this !
33 cents. 1t certainly will not go below |
o5 cents and in any event the wool |
producer will have ample protection I
against the dumping Of foreign wool !
on the market.
Already one large outfit located |
near the border of this state has sold |
its 1922 clip at 35 Is cents. In Ari-
zona sales have been made at from "a /
TO 81 cents Growers in Utah are hold
ing firmly for higher prices. The
fleece wool states are now organized /
and cannot be exploited as in former
years. / believe these conditions will