, 1888-09-30
The Cattle Market.

CHICAGO, Sept. 29.-"It is the great
number of medium range cattle received
here that is taking the life out OF the
market" said a leading dealer this morn
ing, and his views are seconded by every
body connected with the trade. Choice
fat shipping and export beeves are still
quoted high, owing to their extraordinary
scarcity, but for all other grades, whether
from stock or range, values favor the
buyer. Shipping orders are liberal and
the beef packers take hold freely. the lat
ter getting the bulk of the offerings, but
supplies have been so much beyond the
wants of the trade that the pens could not
be emptied from start to finish. Last
weeks run was unprecedented, and this
weeks arrivals will equal, if not exceed,
the total for that period. The trade
started in well stocked up with beef and
cattle left over, and even concessions in
prices do not seem to stimulate business
much. About two-thIrds of the offerings
are rangers and many statesmen find com
mon Westerns hard 10 dispose of, it being
generally necessary to shade quotations to
do it.
Everybody appears to be looking for
the best steers in the pens, and over all
others they do a great deal of haggling.
Still, while prices are weak and undoubt.
edly tending downward, no material de-
cline can be quoted. The truth is that
TOR low grade and medium stock, either
natives, Texans or rangers, prices are
now so low that it seems impossible for
them to go any lower, but there is no
cling what may happen if the run keeps
Ip to the recent volume. Statesmen may
ae glad to get what now seems bed rock
figures. The premium commanded by
choice beeves over common and fair lots
was never greater. As noted above, the
yards are filled with common cattle, and
while such drones are weaker, prime
natives are selling for more money. A
few cars seem to satisfy the call for choice
stock, but for these few cars buyers are
willing to pay a good figure. The top of
the market is about Sc. 25(66. so, these
prices being paid for several lots of about
LAPS to LAS lbs. weight. Between
these figures and So so, scarcely a sale is
made, and so comparatively few natives
fetch about $500 that many dealers quote
this as practically the top.
Dressed beef men seldom pay above
81. 70, and get the bulk of their ordinary
killing stock at 81. 00(94 60, with COM
mon to fair natives at SO. 100000. The
bulk of the common to choice Westerns
go at about SO. 2503.S5. Although Col
orado corn-fed lots bring around 81. 25
and some Montana grassers brought
81 70, the latter being an exceptional sale.
Montana, Colorado, Nebraska and Wyo-
ming wintered Texans averaging $50 to
1850 lbs, go principally at 81. 1908. 10,
with through Texans chiefly at 50. 400
2.7O.
Butchers and Gamers stuff remains at
the bottom figures of the season. The
supply is bountiful and many lots of COWS
have been sold this week which barely
paid expenses and some that did not even
do that. For Texas cows, butchers and
canners pay 81. 5000 90, and for steers
81. OO@3 800.
In stockers and feeders trade has i'm
proved considerably and offerings of good
quality sell at steady rates. For prime
stock indeed buyers are willing to give a
small advance over last week.