Evening times-Republican., 1903-12-23
Reduced Supplies Have Result
ed In a Good Demand For
Finished Cattle
BEEF STEERS ARE WANTED
Both Light and Heavy Are Now in De-
mand, But Buyers Must Be Fat-Ds.
mand for Hogs Was Fairly Ac-
tive-cattle of Desirable Kinds 10 to
20 Higher.

Chicago, Dec. 23-Cattle = Greatly
reduced supplies have resulted In 8
much better market. Today there was
an active demand and prices developed
increased firmness and cattle of a de-
sirahle kind were 10@20 higher. steers
averaging 30@4O above closing quota
tions las; week Beef steers are want
ed, but the better class of cattle are
showing a steady and startling falling
off. Both light and heavy are wanted,
but buyers insist that the animals
must be fat. Cow and heifer trade
was good and the best Gamers sell
freely. Calves are scarce and firm and
trade In stockers and feeders wers
very limited.
There is good ground for the belief
that fully fat weighty cattle have been
pretty closely marketed and that there
will not be enough of these to supply
demands from now on. but there is
handy a chance that the supplies OF
short-fed and immature cattle will not
be liberal during first months OF tnc
new year and it will require very con-
servative movements on the part OF the
country II the market for these Is 70
show any improvement.
In commenting on the market yes
terday morning, local man SAID:
"There are less cattle in the yards al
present than there have been in the
last two months This Is an encouras :
ing feature of the trade, and there is
rarely any show for improved prices
when there are any number of stale
cattle in the wards.
A feature that is causing some CONF
ment in hog market circles at present
is the sudden dropping off in weight
and quality of hogs coming. Monday
total of 4S.495 included larger pro-
portion of light weights than has been
usual for Mondays and Tuesday there
We're very few loads of strong weight
and smooth quality to be seen. A re
suit of this is very preceptible widen
ing out in the range of prices.
Hogs.
With $500 left over last night and
$4,000 received today there was a fair
Wednesdays supply and demand early
was active and prices we're about :
higher. The late market was dull and
the advance lost.
Sheep.
Lambs were in good demand at 3.25
@5.75. Western sheep were wanted at
2.O0G3.90, while yearlings sold actively
at 2.0OG475. Best native wethers sell
around 400
Stockers and Feeders.
There has been very little doing In
the stocker alleys this week. Prices
have been about on level with those
paid the latter part of last week. Some
eastern buyers have been on hand and
purchased some medium steers at 1910
@3.25. but since the international ex-
position there has not been much in
quiry from the east. Western inquiry
has fallen off also, SO that in point oil
volume trading has been light recently
Lockers have complained of the quail
ity, which they claimed was poor, ano
the majority have wanted something
that they could finish without toe
much feed. There is strong disposi-
ton to buy them lower, however. fol-
farmers say that the price of gooe
feeders is too high to suit the condition
of the fat cattle market Most OF tn,
selling has been at $2.60@3.40, with Sc
lected feeders of good breeding at 1885,
M3.75 and the thin light ill-bred stoci
at s175m225