The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-10-10
CATTLE MARKET SHORT.
But Montana Beef Commanded Bet
ter Prices Last Week Than
Last Year.
strong Prospects OF an Advance
In Figures Before the sea-
son Closes
Gooa Montnns Cattle VIII Bring Good
Prices Under Amy Ci~reumstances-
Texans Sold Low.

The prevailing dullncss in the cattle mar
ket springs from many causes. Prospecti
were never better than they were thu
spring, but the spring was late and a Ions
period of wet weather really protraoted thu
winter half way into the spring, say
the Stockgrcwers' journal. lnes'
continued rains made n soft and watery
grass which could make no solid flesh. Iher
came the period Of intense heat which driec
up and wiltsd the grass and deprived ~ o.
its fattening qualities. Cattle consequently
could not pus on fat and being light OF
flesh when shipped lost heavily in transi'
and vent on the market in poor shape.
Medium and common cattle came Int
competition with cattle from the Indian
Territory and from Texas. The market
was porged with cattle from Texas for a
while and. as demand regulates supply,
prices went down with u rush.
Then our people were a year ahead
Of their cattle and three-yoar-olds
hook the place of four-year-olds to she
great detrimsnt Of prices. All desirable
cattle sold we'll and still sell we'll. but the
eommon grades were not wanted except at
very low rates. Last Tuesday week good
Montana cattle sold better than they did a
year ago, the market figures having gone up
10 to Is cents.
There 10 q strong prospect that before the
close of the season prices will be much
more satisfactory and there is good reason
to expect an Improvements. The frat meas
ure to effect this most desired consumma-
ton is the reduction of the supply. And
We think eastern buyers are going to fool
themselves sadly in this regard. They
counted on an average run from Montana
but they won't get it. Disguised at the
state of the market, some of our biggest
stockmen have decided to stop shipping.
Shipments east of Miles City are about
over. There may be some struggling ship
already. Shipments hereafter for the
remainder Of this season will be
mostly from Miles City and points west
and the end of October will probably wind
them mp. The season will be Il short one.
Good corn-fed beef lie getting very scarce.
Quite a number of Montanas have been
used for export both dressed aud alive.
The shipments last year over the Northern
Pacific and Great Northern were about two
hundred and fifteen thousand. This year
the run will not be over one hundred thou.
sand head for the Northern Pacific and
fftv thousand for the Great Northern and
the Burlington. So that the market will
have a shortage in the supply Of sixty-fve
thousand head. The good cattle will all be
snapped up and buyers will have to take
what they can get. for the American peo-
pie must have beef. 1t 10 even possible
that the prices will improve so much that
those who have decided TO ship no more
this season may be induced to gather up
again whatever they may have ft for mar
ket. Good Montana cattle will bring good
p, ices under any circumstances, and the
short supply az we'll rs the withdrawal of
competing cattle will cause even medium
and common cattle to bring prices beyond
the most ~sanRuins expectations.