Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-12-21
CATTLE falling OFF
Receipts Show Marked Decrease
For First Half Of Week.
Prices Higher
CHOICE LOTS VERY SCARCE
With Good Increase in Hog Shipments
Market Was Active and Demand
Brisk-Prices Averaged Lower -
Sheep Falling OFF Causing an Ad-
vance of From is to 25.

Chicago, Dec. 21.-There was an I'M
expectedly large falling Off in the mar
keting of cattle today. Receipts for
the first half of the week were only
$4,000, against $4,000 for the same time
last week. and today's run was 5000
less than last Wednesdays. Trade was
active today ait stronger to 10 cents
higher prices for desirable offerings
Cows and heifers were fairly active at
steady prices, stockers and feeders sold
largely at $2.5O@3.65. The supply OF
choice lots is falling off and there were
not enough to go around.
The run in two days this week totals
but 26,947-a decrease of 10000 COM
pared with the same period a week
ago, but this shrinkage In offerings has
failed to stimulate buying to any con-
siderable degree. One reason given by
the buyers is the fact that offerings
have been of such exceptionally poor
quality, they claiming that the proper
ton of choice steers here thus far this
week has been far under the require
ments, while too many common and
plain kinds have arrived despite the
decrease noted in comparison with re-
ceipts week ago.
Hogs.
Hogs supplies are large and increas-
ing receipts so far this week of 123,300
against 100000 last week. There was
a good demand today, and trade was
active. at about 5 cents lower.
Receipts for the week so far show
some increase over last week and a
slight gain over year ago. but there
is no denying the fact that the cur
rent receipts of hogs are disappointing
to packers.
Before hogs will sell much lower
they will go higher" was the way one
of the old traders here put 1t. "altho
admitting that the country is well
stocked. Offsetting this fact is pack
ers' cellars do not contain anywhere
near a normal supply of meats for this
time Of the year. and there is every
thing to encourage one in the belief
that the fresh meat demand will con-
tinue of the big, broad kind In this
country, as well as abroad"
Sheep.
Sheep receipts for the first half OF
the week were $4,000 against $4,000 for
the same time last week. Trade was
active at advances Of from 1925 cents
over yesterdays decline. Lambs sold
at s4.5O@7.00 for poorest to best. Sheep
active and salable at $3.50 a 900.
Nothing else could be expected oil
the sheep and lamb trade, when such
big proportion Of short fed offerings
were piled up on the markets durine
the past week or So brought about by
the high prices remarked seller in
| explanation Of the late decline In val
ues. 81 still predict higher prices later
on, altho whenever there is big bulge
| in receipts look out for a temporary
break in the markets"
| 1t does not seem to take much tc
overbalance the sheep market. Last
week under the influence Of mod
crate receipts the market took squirt
that made dealers dizzy, but this week
! with a. supply by no means excessive
but little larger than the demand
calls for there has been a strong set
back to the trade, and prices have de-
clined about as rapidly as they went
up. This is generally the case in the
sheep market when there is sudder
bulge in prices. The market yesterday
was slow and dull as we'll as some
lower. It was not the decline thai
worried statesmen as much as the dull.
ness of the trade, for it was hard tc
g.e. buyers to take hold even at the
reduction. Most of the sheep were
10 cent lower than Monday and the
medium to pretty good wethers were
more off than the good ewes. About
all the sheep are quoted 25@40 cents
lower than at the best time last week
and instances were cited yesterday
where the decline was more