Daily Yellowstone journal., 1886-03-23
CHICAGO LETTER
Giving Some Points as to the
Present and Prospective
Cattle Market.
An Enjoyable Evenings Enter
tainment-A Random Shot
A Broken Arm.
A Full Grist of Small Items of
Interest Gathered by
Our Scribe.
OUR STOCK LITTER.


Special Correspondent Of YELLOWSTONE JOURNAL
Union STOCK YARDS, CHICAGO, /
March 20, 1886. !
A number of buyers for the Atlantic
coast markets have just returned to
the yards from the western range
country where there they have been
making contracts with ranchmen for
future delivery. They state that less
than the usual number of animals are
being fed this year as compared with
one year ago; and from their observa-
tions they consider it probable that
higher prices will be realized before
the first of June, than now prevail.
Nearly 1900 more cattle were re.
ceived here during the past week than
for the week before, the figures being
26, 500 aud 4,2i0 respectively; this Is
an increase over the corresponding
week in 1885 of about loo. All kinds
of cattle sold at good prices until the
close of the week, when break OF
l56 zoe was experienced all around.
A variety of causes may be named for
this decline, the principal one, per-
haps, being that they are coming in o
little too freely for the beginning of
the Lenten season. Large receipts
have been expected by dressed beef
men and eastern shippers, as a nat
ural result OF the good prices recently
prevailing; and when each day
brought in a round number of animals
they offered slightly reduced prices,
which bought the cattle. Unless I'M
nsuslly heavy receipts continue to ar.
rive, dealers here anticipate fair prices
In the cattle market. Range cattle
are beginning to come especially from
the southwest. The present railroad
difficulties on the Gould system are
just now keeping back many that
would otherwise be here. The long
horns have sold at satisfactory figures,
and dealers expect good prices
to prevail. Extra corn-fed native
cattle with an average weight
Of 1850 to 1850 pounds command
prices ranging at S4.75@5.50, with
here and there sale of something es.
pecially nice at even higher figures.
One drove averaging / ,449 pounds sold
to-day at $3.50. Eastern butchers,
through their buyers here, take good
many cattle weighing 1.100@ 800
pounds, for which they pay "a. 25@ ASS;
this class of cattle also being in great
demand by the dressed beef houses,
makes the bidding quite spirited. as q
natural result of brisk competition.
For the months of January, Febru-
airy and the first half of March there
have been shipped from these yards to
the country nearly twenty-five thou
sand light weight steers for feeding
purposes; this looks US though farmer,
and live stock men had confidence In
the future values of cattle. For thest
feeders weighing from 700 to 800 and
1000 pounds, the general prices pait
have been $3.00@415.
Montana sheep are beginning TO ar
rive. the first shipment of the season
amounting TO several hundred head
coming in few days ago. As far a
st. Paul they were carried in double
deck cars over the Northern Pacific
and at that point transferred to singl,
decks, the rules of the freight associa
tons interested in the northwestern
roads prohibiting double deck cars
For some time past strong efforts hav,
been made here TO do away with THU
unjust ruling. Unless satisfactory
arrangement can be effected TIL,
Northern Pacific road proposes I,
transport the stock by water from
Duluth to Chicago. thus leavinS
the roads out entirely. This or soml
other fact has caused the manage
ment Of the Illinois Central Jus
now to give notice that 1t will
hereafter use double decks fol
sheep when desired. This move
in the right direction will bring
the competing roads into line, and
thus materially lessen freight charges
on that class OF stock.
The recent high prices for sheep
have lost some strength, the decline
for the past week being 25@40c per
hundred pounds. The lessened de-
mand for all kinds Of meats, which is
inevitable during the forty days Of
Lent, of course Affects the sheep
market. This, coupled with the large
receipts OF the past few weeks, has
caused the falling o6in prices. West
ern sheep sell at higher figures than
other grades. and although ESQ 4Oc
lower than . week ago, are still more
than 81 higher than this time last
year. An extensive ranchmAn OF Ne
braskA Just sold the laet Of hls drove
Of some $500 head originally. This
tall end, numbering $50, with an aver
age weight Of ia, sold at tS-26 In
Illinols and Wisconsin cell at SS.26(G
400; good to choice. with average
weights Of 70 70 100 pounds are quot
able at N.2S@I75. while Westerns,
such - Oregon. Montana and Nebras-
ka-fsd, Weighing 90 70 lbs pounds, ssll
at SA76(a5.500.
The measure recommended by the
western and northwestern railroads 10