The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-05-04
THE LIVESTOCK MARKETS
CATTLE QUIET AND WITHOUT VI
PORTANT CHANGE IN PRICES.
Hogs in Small Supply and Five to Ten
Cents Higher-Sheep Quiet-COn-
dition OF Other Markets.

UNION STOCKYARDS, INDIANAPOLIS.
May S.-Cattle-Receipts light; shipments
small. The marketing Of cattle this week,
considering the disturbing influence in
the trade, has been of good volume, the
total indicating a decrease of only about
300 compared with last week, $50 compared
with the same week a year ago and an in
crease Of over LOO compared with the
corresponding week two years ago. Thus
far this year the receipts are over 1900
larger than the same period last year.
From the beginning of the week a feeling OF
uneasiness pervaded the market and values
have been uncertain. but generally very
unsatisfactory. The influence of the beef
trust agitation has been the greatest fac
tor in forming prices, and without any
doubt is responsible for the sharp decline.
which has placed values below country
cost. Ordinarily such conditions would have
checked the receipts. but evidently shippers
have anticipated a further reduction In
prices, and 1t appears that they have sent
forward more cattle on that account. This
agitation has greatly reduced the con-
sumption Of meat, and the requirements OF
slaughterers have been of much smaller
volume. Consequently it has been very
difficult TO consumate sales at current
prices, and statesmen have had the hardest
weeks work in many months. Amidst their
trying situation it was not unusual for
statesmen to claim that they were having
to accept 81 per 100 pounds reduction from
the high time, but this was probably put
ting it a little strong. There seems n be
no question, however, that in extreme cSses
there was zoe decline, and both buyers
and sellers admitted that the average at
the close Of this week is soc lower than
the high time. All kinds of fat cattle have
suffered, but, Of course, the medium grades
are the weakest. The market for stockers
and feeders has also been irregular, and a
decline of probably 25c was registered COM
pared will former prices. The demand on
that basis was about equal to the supplies.
High prices reported this week were S6.75
for steers, 500 for heifers, So. 40 for COWS,
$5.35 for bulls and $3.50 for calves. There
were not many fresh arrivals of cattle to-
day, and naturally the market was quiet,
but statesmen made a clearance at quot
ably steady prices compared with the way
equal kinds sold yesterday. Representa-
tive sales indicate the class of stock on
sale. The week closes with the outlook
uncertain. but probably a majority of deal
ers are expecting reduced supplies in the
near future, and the natural result of this
is a rally in values, but on account of the
trade disturbance at his time the outlook
is not as encouraging as it would be ordi-
narily. Quotations.:
Good to choice steers, 1850 lbs
and S6.30O 6.60
Plain fat steers, 1850 lbs and up
ward....".... ........"..".... 6OOQ 6.S5
Good to choice 200 to 1,3OO-lb
steers Il NM Is N
Plain fat 1900 to i.5OO-Ib steers. $50 go
pf steers g. q, = is5.jTT6 :;.sr: s- Ssss 500
bs......"~@.... .......-..,... ALSO 800
Good feeding steers. 800 to LOO
bs........~-.... .............. 45O0 40
bs............ .................... 4OOa $50
Common to good stockers........ $50 AS
Good to choice heifers............ ASA $50
Fair to medium heifers............. 4.25V 40
Common light heiferS.............. 3.25H 400
Good to choice cowS.............. 4.50g 500
Fair to medium lows. $3.50 4.35
Common old ows...-........... l.50Q 800
Veal 5000 6.25
Heavy calves 3.Gq 500
Prime TO fancy export bulls 4.50Q 800
Good to choice butcher bulls. 1000 4.35
Common to fair bulls. .............. 5000 3.75
Good to choice cows and calves. 35.00450.00
Common to medium COWS and
calves. .............. A.VUu0U.VV
Hogs-Receipts. 1900: shipments small.
This weeks receipts of hogs have been of
fair volume, showing "a gain of about $500
over last week, a decrease OF over $500,
compared with the same week a year ago
and over 2,N0 compared with the cor
responding week two years ago. Thus far
this year there Is a decrease of a little
less than $1,000 compared with the same
period last year. For the week ending yes
terday local packers bought a total of To-
4ES, against 1910 the preceding week and
D,2A the same week a year ago. During the
same period the shipments were 1.779,
against 1853 the preceding week and 4,15S
the corresponding week a year ago. There
has been almost a general decline in prices
this week and the average at the extreme
close OF the week is l5QDOc lower than the
opening. Influences which caused this were
an exceedingly limited demand from out
side sources and increased receipts here
and elsewhere. Local packers were practi-
ally alone In the market most of the week
and they took advantage of their oppor-
tunfty 10 press prices; most Of the decline,
however, was made in two days. There
ward the close of the week and with quite
a falling off in the receipts prices rallied
5qlOc from the low time. which was on
Thursday. The quality was fairly satisfac-
tory compared with the average recently,
but there was quite a scarcity Of prime
heavy hogs. Buyers Disseminated more
against light mixed hogs and pigs than 9TH
er grades and pigs in some instances We're
possibly SOC lower The highest price paid
during the week was $40 and the top at
the low time was SID. The receipts to-day
were considerably smaller than the average
at this time in the week and show a de-
crease Of over 1000 compared with a week
ago and were not quite half so large as a
year ago. The market opened with a con-
tinued limited demand from shippers and
on account of the small supply packers
were not free bidders, but intimated from
the start that they would pay better prices
than yesterday. Statesmen generally were
asking at least 1c advance and rather
early IN the day succeeded in disposing. Of
their consignTnents at fuzzy 5Q1oc gain over
yesterday. The Improvement was most on
the lighter grades. but this probably would
not have occurred had there been a larger
supply of good heavy hogs. Sales ranged
from $6.6081.D. Quotations:
Good to choice medium and heavy. SIS. 90d7.2O
Mixed and heavy packing ........... 6.50G705
Good TO choice light weights. 665d6.e0
Common TO fair light weights. 6.40Q6.60
Common TO good pigs.............. 5.65d6.Io
fNOuSnS OUVQO.JV
Sheep and Lambs-Receipts lSht; ship
ments small. About 100 more sheep arrived
this week than last. There is very little
change to note compared with the same
week a year ago and an increase of nearly
700 over the corresponding week two years
ago. Thus far this year the receipts are
nearly $500 larger than the same period last
year. On account of moderate receipts the
early part of the week the market was
quiet and there was not much change re-
ported in prices. but if any different there
was an upward tendency for the strictly
fat stock and strong prices for an average