The Glenwood post., 1903-12-26
Weekly Stock Letter.

South Omaha, Nebr., Dec. 23d.
Livestock shippers who, upon visit
ing the market at South Omaha, have
feared for their lives while crossing
the network of tracks to the Live
stock exchange, will shortly have no
cause for such apprehensions. The
Union Stockyards company has begun
the construction of an immense via
duct across the tracks, which will re-
move all chances of accident.
This is but one of many improve
ments to be made during the coming
season. The entire system of yards
will be so improved that stock can be
handled expeditiousiy.
The condition of the livestock trade
Throughout the country and what it
will develop into is subject of as
much concern to livestock interests
here as it is to the shipper. Why
such low prices as those of the present
should prevail in view of the knowl-
edge of a constantly lessening supply
is question the commission men
find it difficult to answer. Many are
ascribing it to the approach of pres
idential campaign and the conse
quent aversion of packers to load up
their storage houses in face of what is
usually claimed to be dull year.
Others declare the cause to be indus
trial conditions, which appear to be
again growing unsettled. because of
the growing tendency of employers to
refuse to recognize labor unions.
These two causes united would natur-
ally tend to restrict the operations of
the packers and cause them to handle
only sufficient stock to supply the cur
rent demand.
Whatever the cause, livestock men
here affirm the condition cannot con-
tinue much longer. The usual fall
ing off of range receipts has occurred
and receipts have shortened during
the past week or ten days A contin-
uance of the short supply must event
ually affect the market and create a
rise in prices.
The breaking out of a new and SO
far unknown disease among horses
about Hastings, Neb., is noted here
The affected horses die from disten-
tion of the stomach, which usually
bursts open. An investigation is in
progress and measures will be taken
to prevent the disease becoming epi
demic
The Wyoming sheepmen have held
a meeting since the previous CORE
spondence, with the state sheep com
missioners. The Natrona county
sheepmen failed in securing permis
sion to enter Converse county with
their Aocks and the commissioners or
dered all scabby sheep into quarantine.
Reviewing South Omaha market
conditions and those of the country
at large, James q. Dahlman, presi
dent of the American Commission
Co., says regarding the week preced-
ing date of this correspondence:
''While receipts of cattle have been
little short and the character of the
offerings about the same, the market
on fat cattle is in bad shape, declin
ing fully 40c. In many cases feeder
buyers are better bidders for the
warmed up stuff than the packers.
The COW market is also slow, the best
being quoted at So 80 to So. 50 with
fair to good at So 25 TO So. 75. Feeders
have remained steady, choices being
%. 35 to So. 75 with common to fair
grades ranging from 81. 20 to SO. %.
Hogs have declined about 15c, due to
overcrowding of the market. Sheep
receipts are lighter and prices are in
quite satisfactory condition. Good
feeders are in demand