Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-08-18
GROWERS Of WOOL
GET BETTER PRICES
Manufacturers Are Forced to
Pay More for Raw
Materials.
BY J. G. ROYLE.
cial Dispatch 70 The star

Special Dlgoatch 70 The star
NEW YORK. August 15-wool
growers now hold a decided trade adj
vantage over wooden goods manufac-
turers and. having been subject 70 the
latter in some previous years, are not
likely 10 release their advantage.
The WOODEN manufacturers no longer
have necessity or opportunity to dress
the world In WOODEN uniform cloth, and
the Kellogg peace proposals have done
nothing to increase the prospect Of big
Army and Navy orders. Consequently
the wooden industry is oversupplied with
mills. looms and men. The chances Of
adequate profits for the majority Of
the companies are slim. Some concerns
will make fine returns to shareholders,
but they will do so because they were
wide enough awake tn foresee the pub
lie demand and cater 10 II. The old So
called standard goods are selling today
at a price which means the smallest
margin OF profit known in years.
Loom and Spindle Capacity.
So far this year the loom and spindle
capacity of the WOODEN manufacturers
has been only IS per cent engaged.
Consumers. and especially the cutting
up trades, are offering strong resistance
to any advances in goods prices Each
advance is followed by drop in buying
until 1t Is rescinded. Higher prices for
Spring goods may result in wider profit
margins. but such prices in the pres
ent state OF competition, are unlikely.
In the meantime. raw wool prices are
today between s and 10 per cent higher
| than they were year ago, and the
wool growers are confident and I'M
willing to sell except at their own terms.
Moreover. they do not have to sell
since they are in sound financial DO
sition. They have alternatives. II they
cannot obtain the prices they demand
| for their wool, they can get the prices
| they demand for their sheep. There is
strong call for mutton and lamb In
I the packing house and stock yard CEN
| tiers. There is also a demand for breed
/ ing stock on the ranges.
! The WOODEN mills are now producing
I at rate of is per cent below the aver
! age established since 1917. There has
/ been some move toward eliminating un-
! profitable mills, but this has by no
( means gone far enough. The industry
/ Is still full Of plants with antiouated
/ machinery. which cannot be operated At
/ an economic production cost. More
/ over. the mills engaged are not all
! engaged on goods which the public
seems to want
| Change in Demand.
| WOODEN cloth is by no means so es-
/ Sertial IN the comfort and weliheing Of
! the ordinary citizen as II was IS wears
! ago. Houses and Offices are better
/ heated. and the demand for heavy
| WOODEN Winter clothing has been cut ex-
| cept in the extremely cold climates.
| This applies to underwear as we'll As
outer wear.
The knit underwear manufacturers
are endeavoring TO correct this to some
/ extent by seiZing on the opportunity for
| publicity offered by the Byrd Antarctic
expedition we'll selected committee
| is designing underwear which will meet
| the requirements of the subzero tenn
| peratures and provide necessary ventila-
| ton and other characteristics The
| scientific tests involved are counted on
! 70 provide a standard for wear at ex-
tremely cold temperatures and result in
standard for all such underwear
manufacture
| The WOODEN manufacturers have un-
| doubtedly been forced back BY the fur
| industry. II is possible TO buy a fur
| garment at prices approximating those
charged for WOODEN Winter coats. and
besides. most of the wonen's wool coats
are trimmed or adorned with furs,
which must be bought from a rival in
duStry
These facts may have an effect on
raw wool prices later in the year. but
for the moment The wool producer L In
strong position.