The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1925-02-25
WOOL

The sharp advance in prices of raw
wool since last summer is a natural
result of the statistical position of
the commodity, states the current
issue Of the Guaranty Survey, pub
lished by the Guaranty Trust Com
pany of New York. For many years
the number of sheep in the world and
the production of wool have failed to
keep pace with the growth of popu-
lation. Exact comparisons are not
possible, but it is generally agreed
that there are fewer sheep in the
world today than a decade ago.
Although the threatened shortage
Of raw wool is therefore by no means
a new development, according to the
Survey, its natural effect has been
modified and it's real significance OBJ
scured by the irregularity of demand
resulting from special, and in part
temporary, conditions. Chief among
these, of course, was the war, with
us OuQuGA uEA1AaAAN0g NAO4CAlk PM
changes, government intervention in
the markets, rapid accumulation OF
stocks, and subsequent depression.
: Very important also were the changes
in fashion in many countries involving
the partial abandonment of various
e types of wooden garments.
The growth of demand in the last
: few years has been stimulated by
5 the ingenuity OF manufacturers IN de-
d vising new uses for wool and new
d fabrics and patterns to meet the
: ever-changing demands of style, and
;. by the adoption of western fashions
! In Oriental countries, with a greatly
> increased use Of wooden clothing.
le Causes Of Short Supply
q The rapid price movements result
- ing from these factors, together witt
L certain peculiar features Of the sheel
II raising industry, have prevented tn
g expansion which might natural,
IN have been expected in the output o
81 raw wool.
a. Another feature Of the industr
n which i~nterfeIes with the normal ad
eF justment between supply and deman
VI is the hazardous nature of sheer
ISL raising, particularly in frontier rC
W gions.
ur The increasing shortage In tn
TX world supply of wool is Of vital col
20 Germ to the United States in view
the ~inadequacy of the domestic on
a put. Sheep raising, especially thu
I'm which is carried on primarily for woo
is peculiarly adapted to frontier r.
gions, and has never competed vel
successfully with other agricultur
I'VE activities in thickly-settled district
at With the growth Of population al
for rising land values in this countr
wO raw wool production has been pusht
in westward, and for some years h
E. declined in volume.
With the revival Of world demar
er- the manufacturers of wooden goo
the have been forced to pay high pric
viii for their raw material, while the
ray markets, like those for cotton te
the tiles, have been restricted by the he
itancy Of wholesale and retail del
not ers to buy for any but the most il
on mediate requirements. The RESULT
in competition has been severe, and |
ing ~efforts of the manufacturers to avC
ate the expense and risk Of carrying {
rch inventories formerly carried BY d
i've tribuk0rs have prevented the priS
his Of their products from rising il
IN alignment vith those Of raw wool
and Like all ether economic NAL.
nstmet he disparity hokween r
Inc wool aha ts prices carSies
4fo o.l,n remedy w;fhe. So -e