Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1903-08-19
MOVEMENT OF SHEEP.
Western Range Sheep POURING Into
Chicago In LARGE Numbers

S"'SeSo W large Numbers.
Ihls weeks movement of sheen
seems to Indicate that the flood tide
OF the marketing of this years cron
OF western range stock has set in
says the Chicago Drover's Journal
For the week to date arrivals stanj
close to $4,000 head. or nearly 9 o 1000
and $4,000 head above arrivals here
last week and one year ago This
week. II Will take less than 1000
head the next two days to break the
record for a weeks run thus far this
year, and a total of more than 100.
900 head this week is almost Ger.
tain.
1t was one week later than this last
year when the receipts for the first
time mounted above 100000 head. and
from that date on until the week end
ed December Goth, there was only one
week in which the marketing failed
to range above a volume of 1913. 500
head, the range running from that up
to l62, 459 for the week ended Octn-
Der 18th, last year. which stands the
record week in the history of the
sheep business at any market on
earth.
During the year 1901 there were on
ly eight weeks during the period from
September LIST to November 23rl,
when receipts of sheep here showed
a volume above 100, 900 head, the run
of 111,450 head the week ended Octo-
Der 9Th of that year, being the record
run of the trade up to that time, AMI
until the corresponding week last
year.
The year 1900 at no time showed
a week with more than 93,111 sheep
at this market. which was the week
ended November 18th. and there was
but six weeks during the period from
August 18th to December LIST that
year when arrivals swelled above go.
900 head.
With the general inclination of
ranchmen to make sure their profits
on their crops of sheep and lambs this
year, there is but little doubt but that
marketing will hold up to or rise
above the big volume of last year, and
this weeks big movement seems the
forerunner of the enormous business
that Chicago may expect from the ia
vor of the big western ranchmen
again this year. The remarkable
strength that trade has shown under
such increased movement is encour-
aging to all whose interests are on
the selling side.
Close to 10000 head landed here
Thursday, or about 5000 and 5000
increase on the marketing last Thurs
day and m year ago. yet prices are
holding up remarkably well under
such big runs. All classes of sheep
were slower than lambs today, but
the yearlings sold readily. good TO
choice western range yearlings land
ing at 81 to s4.25 and yearling feed.
ers selling as high as $3.50 to $3.50,
while the latter prices are about the
limit for straight heavy range weth-
ers. Demand continues good for a
desirable class of western feeding
wethers at a range of $40 to $500
for a fair to very good thrifty class.
Western ewes averaging 102 pounds,
fat and smooth. sold for slaughter 1T
SO. and a palmer class is quotable at
$3.50 to S2.S5. A choice to extra class
of native mutton ewes will sell at
1925 TO $3.50, while the rather plain
class sells down around s2.75 and the
very inferior old culls and thin ones
at LIS to 2.25. any below $3.50 being
undesirable for slaughter. A good fat
class OF bucks will land at $2.25 to
$2.40. inferior ones down around 81.
General trade holds remarkably good
tone in view OF the very heavy mar.
keting that is shown up this week,
as the forerunner of the enormous
volume of range business that may
be expected here from now until the
holiday season.