, 1885-05-31
OUR INTEREST.
The Regular Cattle Report
From Chicago.
Encouraging and Buoyant at
the Start.
Listless at the Close-Buyers
and Sellers Apart.
Last Week,a cattle Market.

haSt Cattle Market.
Special Dispatch To THE LEADER,
CHICAGO, May 30.-The live stock
market during the past week has been
very irregular. Receipts on the early
days we're light, and with reports from
the east encouraging, trade was active
and the feeling buoyant. Exporters,
eastern shippers and the dressed beef
men we're all free buyers, and the result
ing competition made it possible for hold
ers Of desirable lots to obtain somewhat
better prices than prevailed at the close
of the previous week. The advance was
scarcely more than Toe in any instance,
and the average improvement only about
Sc; but even that %trifing gain was most
welcome to drovers, who for weeks past
had been doing business on an exceeding
ly small margin. or at an actual loss.
Many of the offerings were exceedingly
choice in quality, and a few lots weighed
over 1900 pounds; but extra choice
beeves were only nominal. Some corn
fed Wyomings averaging 1875 pounds
went at So. IS, some Nebraskas averag-
ing 1889 pounds, at IS. 40 and some
Colorados averaging 1904 pounds at
1910.
With limited supplies of butchers
stock and a brisk demand, the market
was very stiff. Buyers at first were
what inclined to hold of and get along
with as few cattle as possible until re-
ceipts should increase, hut they finally got
to work and offerings fell a good deal short
of the trade requirements. Desirable
grades were especially scarce and cores
pondinRly strong, while the general mar
ket was 5@l0c higher. Some light grass
Texans sold at $500 and some which had
been fed a little corr at 81. 60.
The stocker and feeder trade was not
satisfactory. Offerings were not particu-
larry numerous, but business was slow and
prices showed considerable weakness, as
country buyers were few in numbers and
those present showed no disposition to
purchase.
As the week advanced and the number
of arrivals showed no increase, statesmen
did not see any reason why they should
have at least steady prices. it was
soon found. however, that buyers were
determined to hold of for concessions.
Bids we're from i092Oc lower, but the
average decline was not more than lOc.
Shippers took very few, and exporters
none, and $3.50 was not reached except
in one or two instances. Montana cattle,
averaging 1904 pounds, brought $4.25,
Wyomings averaging 1868 pounds, $40.
Butchering and canning cattle were
about 15c lower owing chiefly to the in
creased supplies of Texans. Inferior
grades were abundant and neglected.
Thin old cows at such prices were not
tempting to buyers. They were tired of
them and wanted Texans. These latter
averaged about I5(G20c off, though a
bunch of cattle with calves sold at 81. rs
for the cattle and $500 for the calves.
Stockers and feeders continued dull,
Country buyers were present in fair
numbers. but they we're not inclined to
pay former prices, and their purchases
were few, while yard dealers were afraid
to do business.
Toward the close Of the week the mar
ket for shipping stock became %listless.
Offerings were large and trade exceeding
ly slow. Bids on certain grades of COM
mon light and choice heavy lots, we're in
many cases IA great deal lower, and some
buyers did not seem to want the heavier
stock at any price. Ono dealer could
only get So. so for a drove which he
thought was better than some sold Mon
day at So. 20. However, values were I'M
even, some claiming they obtained nearly
steady rates, but the average loss was
about l0c.
Cows and mixed lots declined another
5@1Oc, and the market for common tc
fair old COWS was very dull. Buyers are
ready to desert native stock as o as the
supply of Texans increases.
Scarcely anything was done in stockers
and feeders. with bids 10000 lower.
The supply is light, but nobody appear
DESTROYS of buying.
Closing quotations ranged as follows: