, 1884-02-20
CHICAGO CATTLE.
A Careful Review Of the harket-Ths
Closing Prices ofLast Week.

-HN Ne@91Ns
Chicago, February 16.-The live
stock market shows tair activity In all
Its branches and prices average firm.
The week opened with q sharp de-
mand for shipping cattle, choice grades
being especially sought after. The
market vas active ard prices 10 g 15c
higher than at the close o last week.
The advances, too, were distributed
pretty evenly On nearly all weighes OF
cattle that were fat, and shippers, dress
ed beef operators and exporters took all
available cattle.
There was a good inquiry for cows
and mixed stock with the attendance
Of canners and city butchers fair. Buy
ers were not very willing to pay any
stronger rates because they considered
that prices were already high enough,
but the small receipts left them very
little choice in the matter. There WA
however no very material change In the
market.
Stockers and feeders were In meagre
supply and sharp demand. The market
was arm and values ruled about 10 cents
higher on good TO choice lots. There
were few good. well-bred cattle and
these were held at strong figures.
As the week advanced the market for
shipping cattle became slow. The
Eastern markets. however, were firm
and receipts considerably less than the
average; the lack OF activity. therefore
may be ascribed to the too firm views
OF holders. In view of the small supply
they were embolden to ask an advance
which they did not get. Had they
been content with prevailing prices
early clearances could rave been made
despite the unfsvorable weather and
slowness OF buyers whose orders were
not urgent to leave the shelter Of the
exchange for the sleet and rain which
usually prevailed. As it was few cat
tie were carried over on most days and
top prices were obtained for everything.
Yet the best on sale were scarcely n
grade better than good" Tho tops
were called choice by courtesy though
there WINS not a drove in the yard that
in ordinary seasons would be classed as
such.
The general market for cows and
mixed cattle dragged, and some stock
OF undesirable grades received no bids,
but the sales made showed little change
In price.
The stocker market was dull, not
because Of a lack Of demand, but coun-
trymen were not inclined to pay the
figures asked.
Toward the close of the week the
quality Of the offerings was slightly
better though, it was very far from be-
ing satisfactory, common to fair grades,
as for some weeks past. stituting the
major part OF the supply. There was
the usual attendance of buyers, bat
none seemed to stand in urgent need OF
stock, and therefore the firm view OF
holders had a quieting effect on trade
and the latter feeling seemed to be a
little weakish. There was however, NO
decline in any class receipts being very
light. Shipping orders were fewer than
usual and a large part OF the buying
done by dressed beef and Gamers,
although all decently fattened droves
we're quickly picked up by eastern ship
pers and exporters. No fancy heavy
cattle were offered. Sales ranged up.
ward from 49, 10 @ s 25 for rough half
fattened lots upward to $500 q ITO
for choice. Sales above SO. 90 however.
were very few.
For butchers stock the demand was
undated, and although there was
some increase in the supply, the market
lost none Of its lrmness. Trading was
active at So. 80 q Ats for poor to prime
cows and bulls and at S4.7 60 1915
for poor to common steers; scrub cows
and bulls sold at s2.40 CO 1926 while
choice cows and bulls were In demand
at $500 g 5.25.
The supply Of stockers and feeders
"oo q iibeAO DoSbcl bhAu uuIluR Lub early
part Of the week but there was not
enough good ones to meet the demand
which was very active. Prices were
steady; stockers were ssleable at "a. 90
g 4S5 and feeders at S4.s5 "a $50.
Receipts Of sheep are liberal but there
is an active demand from city butchers
and shippers at unchanged prices and
there are not enough good fat sheep to
supply the requirements of the trade.
The market is arm on a basis of SO. 90
@ 800 for common to choice though
few are sold above So 90, inferior
grades are qniet at $3.50 @ 1926.
McEwen's Oyster Ocean open day
and nisht~
The dishguring efuptions on the face,
the sunken eye, the pallid complexion,