Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-06-08
WOODEN INDUSTRY
IN UPWARD TREND
Various Branches Are Ap-
parentIy Coming Back After
Recent Slump.
BY J. C. ROYLE.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
NEW YORK, June 8.-Textile and
wool men expressed the belief today
that wool and woolens had bumped
bottom" Not only that, but whereas
in the past wool has bumped with a
Sickening thud, this time it shows signs
of bouncing back, like a rabbit ball.
Wool men assert this is true despite
the gloomy representations of many
who have become accustomed to allude
to the wooden industry as one which
has passed to the other side and with
which communication is only possible
by psychic means.
Raw Wool Prices.
It is true that raw wool prices are
on a decidedly lower level than they
were year ago. But goodly tonnage
of wool has been absorbed from the
clips of Texas, New Mexico. Arizona,
Utah, Nevada, Idaho and wyoming.
Oregon woods are moving steadily, If
slowly, and California clips are more
than half sold There still remains con-
siderable tonnage in the range States,
but it is being taken off the market
by Eastern buying as the auction days
come around.
percentage of some of the famous
pools, like the Jericho in Utah, have
come East on consignment, but these
shipments have been well absorbed in
the East. Stocks in this country and
afloat are heavy. They are estimated
at between and per cent larger than
a year ago. For a time these stocks
hung almost stationary, since wooden
manufacturers were struggling against
the handicap of unfavorable weather
to get rid of large inventories they had
ill
commencing to melt and raw staple is
required to permit commencement of
production of goods for next Fall and
Winter. Orders for the Autumn and
Winter of 1929 are satisfactory so far.
Imports from Australia, Uruguay and
Argentina are increasing, but it must
not be forgotten that America does not
grow sufficient wool for its own needs
and some imports are essential. Prices
in the foreign markets are relatively
low, but so are costs of production.
The growers have gotten an average
of between 2 and 3 cents pound on
SO grades less than they received in
1928. But they have cut costs and i'm
proved methods The remark made to
the writer six years ago by one of the
big wool men of Rock Springs, Wyo.,
has become classic in the industry. He
said: II have found that a man can't
nerd Sheep from an autom0Dlle. Inc
industry has taken this to heart and
bought fewer automobiles and put more
energy into herding. So the loss to
growers from last years levels has been
less than 1t seems.
Room for Improvement.
The wooden manufacturers are In
better position than they were year
ago, although they still have ample
room for improvement. They have
done decidedly larger volume of bust
ness so far this year than in the CORE
spending months of 1923, and the de-
mand shows no signs of diminishing.
The industry is admittedly overmilled.
Much of the machinery is obsolete, but
the process of scrapping this old equip
ment and of consolidating and elimi-
mating the less productive units is max
ing progress.
The consumption of wool Tbs year
probably will total near to 350,O00,000
pounds, not counting carpet woods. This
is above the amount used in 1928. The
manufacturers look for little aid from
proposed tariff changes, but it is ap-
parent that not all the wooden COM
panieS are in position to complain.
Those whose arrangements have ad-
justed themselves to style changes and
adopted new methods Of merchandising
are doing remarkably WELL