Evening star., 1924-01-31
ATTENTION TURNED
10 WOOLEN SALES
Clothing Trade Is AnxiousIy
Watching Prices Offered on
Fall Lines.
BY j. {. ROYLE.

NEW YORK, January 3l.-The re-
ception which is given the fall lines
of the American Woolen. Company
which were opened today will be
closely watched by other manufac-
turerS and by dealers and consumers
"f the clothing trade. But the open
ing is not expected to affect the atti-
tudc of the raw wool growers 10 any
marked degree The latter feel that
they arc i'll an exceptionally strong
position and give every evidence that
they will hold ont firmly in the mat
!, ter of prices for the 1924 clips.
1t is admitted that there is a strong
resistance TO any advance in the
prices Of wooden and worsted fabrics,
md manufacturers are taking that
Tact into consideration. But the wool
SroWerS declare that just as many or
more people are wearing and buying
clothing in this country as ever be-
lore, and that consequently the wool
en- and worsted mills will run. and run
I" large extent on American raw
WOOL. SO long as that demand con-
tinucS.
Consumption at High Rate.
rms sentiment is borne out by the
IacL that consumption at pre- ent is
various experts at between $1,000, GOO
ana 6i,5O0,00 pounds q month In
i"25 the amount used in this country
closely approached $4,000, 600 pounds.
I-Ncn though there should he a slight
lalllng off from this total in 1921 the
position OF the holder of raw woods
VIII be strong one
STOCKS OF foreign woods held in Bos-
loh at the beg inning of this year
amounted to only 26.000, 900 pounds.
as compared with 100000 pounds a
) year ago. American mills have been
3ctiVe buyers in the foreign mar
abroad is in general higher than that
obtaining in this country at present.
STOCKS abroad also are low The Brit
1Hh Australian Wool Realization Asso-
cation had ON hand and afloat at the
beSlnrinS of this month only o1O.6SO
paics, compared with alS.aGO bales a
Year ago. The Australian elm is as
SSrted TO be 100000 bales short and
IN" export duty placed on .trgertine
Wooi is restraining shipment OF rhat
/ product to this country. Stocks of
sdomoStic wool held in Boston are an
!hoA'hlatclH 2n.00o.eG0 pounds heavier
ihan a; this time last year. but total
STOCKS are 100000 pounds lighter,
Wool Values mt High Mark.
Wool values are higher today than
a. any time in the last six months
rms fact has led manufacturers to
substitute the medium grades for the
inner wools where it was possible to
do SO and still give a satisfactory
product to the cloth buyer. The de-
| lnand for medium qualities therefore
I is extremely strong.
Mills are now at high percentage
OF capacity operation. and strong ef-
forts are being made toward the cut
ting OF costs in order that manufac-
turcrs may not be forced to make
any sharp advances in cloth prices.
Other manufacturers are waiting for
ilH results of the 4 AmpTirar, lEEp1an
offerings before deciding Just what
level OF prices they feel can be main
tanned
Growers Well Organized.
Growers are more effectively or
EaniZed than ever before. There has
been Il distinct expansion of Coop
! erative marketing. Some contracting
for wool on the sleeps back has al
ready made it's appearance in Nevada
and Arizona. Shearing has already
started in the latter state and reports
indicate that bids for early lots have
ranged around 43 to as cents in the
grease. Strong efforts are now be-
ing made to bring the wool growers
Son into a closer union for marketing
the 1924 clips of those states, accord
ing to T.. n. Weinbaum. agricultural
manager of the Portland Chamber of
Commerce. He predicts that this
year the Pacific Co-operative Wool
, Growers Association will handle 15,-
100000 pounds from California s.
100000 pounds from Nevada and g.
100000 pounds from Oregon.
Lower Rates Sought.
These cooperative associations in
the west. from Texas to Washington
are making strong efforts to secure
lower freight rates on wool. Vein
baum said today that if such reduc-
tionS could be obtained, Portland
would become the greatest wool mar
ket in the country. Frank J. Hagen
, barth. president of the National Wool
\irowers' Association. is urging the
manufacture of woolen products in
the west. Some western woolS shrink
as much as 65 per cent in weight
when secured, and he takes the posi-
ti9n that the west is paying freight
east on this waste product as we'll
rs west on finished goods