Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-08-10
LITTLE HOPE SEEN
OF BIG WOOL RISE
Industry Carrying "oregon
Boot" on Each Leg in Pas
sale and British Strikes.
BY j. c. ROYLE.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

NEW YORK, August 10.-Any
stimulus which comes from the open
ing Of some of the fancy Spring
lines Of the American Wooden Co
and other wooden manufacturers in
the next few days will not suffice tc
spur wool prices beyond their pres
ent slow but steady rate of advance
That is the opinion of the most con
servative authorities in the wool and
textile industries.
The wool industry is carrying an
Oregon boot on each leg. One is the
Passaic wooden mill strike and the
other Is the English coal strike. The
Passaic mills are factors in the WOO
trade of considerable importance. The
mills are working. but under unfor
tunate and cramped conditions. Some
of them make highly specialized prod
ucts and the garment trade is loath
to jeopardize future business by max
ing heavy orders which mills may not
be able to fill.
Effects of British Strike.
The London and Liverpool markets
which deal so extensively in Ameri
can, Australian and Argentine woods
naturally are affected by the British
coal strike. That struggle has cut
down home consumption, has ham
pered mill operation and has an adj
verse psychological effect on the whole
business situation of Great Britain.
A further factor in the situation
lies in the fact that increased breed
ing has shown that wool supplies vii
be adequate for world needs. This is
shown in the prices for lambs now OBJ
tanning in the live stock markets
which are we'll under those for the
corresponding period of last year.
That is the dark side of the picture
which lights up considerably wher
viewed from other angles. Prices for
Spring fabrics are extremely likely
to be most attractive to garment
manufacturers.
Orders for Spring lines are not eX
pacted to be remarkably heavy, for
while manufacturers, distributors and
retailers are we'll convinced of the
continuation of prosperity for some
time to come, they are never sure OF
what may happen six months ahead
Recorders are likely to be sufficiently
heavy in consequence to keep the
mills buying raw staple steadily, al
though in small lots and running al
a finer rate Of production.
Improvement Expected.
Improvement in the British strike
situation Is confidently anticipated
The Passaic strike is nearer a set
Element than at any time in its long
drawn.out existence. But it is impos
sible to view the Passaic situation
and not realize that for months there
will be room in the mills for only 20
to IS per cent of the workers now out
Some Of the latter confidently expect
that the workers who did not go out
or were brought in to fill strikers
places will be discharged to make
room for old employees. Any hope to
that effect Is a forlorn one.
The ranges have been in good con
dition in most of the breeding sec
tions Of the West. Clips have been
heavy, and while prices have been
low many growers were able to mar
ket advantageously, and little 1925
wool remains in first hands. Prices
are moving slowly but steady to
stronger positions. The mills prob
ably will be we'll engaged during this
month and September and October
aided by the flip which fashion has
given to wooden goods requirements.
The Wool Council of America. now
in process of formation. may serve to
do much to straighten out the jumbled
wooden textile situation. but while it
may determine and announce just
what is wrong with the wooden in.
dustry. 1t is like a law without an
enacting clause. 1t can only advise.
and no successful method of Undue
ing human beings to take good advice
in large medicinal quantities has yet
been developed.