, 1885-03-15
OLD AND THIN.
The Cattle Trade Begins with
Miserable offerings.
A Poor Week Ends with Little
Improvement.
Changers Help the Market by
Unwise Purchases.

special INpatch TO THE LEADER
CHICAGO. March 1.-THE past week
in the cattle market has been rather an
unsatisfactory one all around. Shipping
stock started very slow. Receipts were
surprisingly light, and the British and
Eastern consuming markets were reported
higher-in fact, all the surroundings of
the market we're favorable to increased
strength. Buyers, however, insisted that
the supplies Of the early days were not to
be taken as an indication of what receipts
would be later on, and all joined in the
prediction that arrivals would show a big
increase. Hence, when statesmen asked
al advance at something like 20d25c,
they refused to pay it. Naturally trade
dragged. and wen when holders came
down loo l5c, nobody appeared at all
anxious to take hold. The quality of the
offerings was poor-miserably so. Not a
lot of choice beeves could be found, and
good ones were terribly scarce as compared
with the amount of common stuff.
Cows and mixed lots sympathized with
shipping cattle and sold higher. There
was no improvement in the demand,
neither butchers or Gamers buying with
their accustomed freedom, but the sup
plies of such kinds as are sought by the
local trade was so meagre that sellers
found it an easy matter to get an advance
Of about l0c.
Stockers and feedsEs were the only class
that showed any activity. Country buy
ers were present in larger force than usual,
and the purchases OF yard spectators
were fairly liberal. Quotations gained
5@IOc.
As the week advanced the expectations
of buyers were fully realized. Re-
ceipts nearly doubled, and
with the demand even smaller than
before, sellers were at a disadvantage.
Excepting for good to best grades, for
which prices were fairly well sustained.
the market was weak and ;rregularly
lower. Much of the common stuff was
sold at l0c, but there were many lots for
which buyers could not be found at hat
reduction. Scarcely any animals weighed
as much as 400 pounds but there was a
fair number of desirable cattle averaging
1900 pounds and upward which were
readily taken.
The supply of butchers stock was all
wanted, and quotations were firm. Local
butchers and Gamer were on hand each
day to take all desirable lots, and though
the poorer grades moved somewhat slowly,
they We're usually all gotten rid of.
Stockers and feeders continued in good
demand and sold as high as at any time
this season After paying relatively higher
prices than fat cattle command, it is not
easy to see how farmers expect to get out
whole.
Towards the close of the week there
was another falling off in receipts, and sales
men tried to regain lost ground. Buyers,
however, only had light orders, and west
ern markets were full of cattle with lower
prices, while New York was reported on
the down grade. Buyers and holders had
some difficulty in getting together, and
when they did it was on a basis of barely
steady rates for the choicest kinds, while
commonto fair and the best heavy offer.
ings were comparatively neglected. Fat,
well fed, LOO to 100 pound stock wa!
in demand, but grades above and below
were very hard to sell at anything like
satisfactory prices. Sales were mad,
rather more evenly than previously, but
there were many inferior to fair grade
which were hard to work off.
Butchers stuff was a little slow. Tn,
canning demand was rather weak, anC
two many thin, old COWS came in. Prices
however, were about steady, and the bcs
lots were in good demand.
In stockers and feeders, too, buyer
made some efforts to secure a reduction
but holders were firm, and as few countr,
buyers were here, and spectators ha,
about all they cared to take, the marke
was inactive. Present prices are c%ertainl.
pretty stiff.
Closing sales ranged as follows:
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