Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-12-17
Poorer Grades of Cattle Bring
the Bottom Price of the
Twelve Months
BEST SCARCE MARKET FIRM
Hogs Were in Active Demand at
Strong Prices-cIose Was a Shilling
Hiqher Than Last Week - Bulk of
Sales 4.45 to 4.60-sharp Reaction
in Sheep, Prices Ruling Lower

Chicago, Dec. 17.-Catt1e - Today's
arrivals were mostly common and sold
accordingly. There has been the US
nal predominance of mediums and
common grades this week with only
a small percentage of choice cattle.
The medium grades sold at the lowest
prices OF the year, being 10 q 20 lower
tina last week. The lowest grade has
reached about as low a point as they
ever sold, but the best cattle were firm,
owing to their scarcity. Cows and
heifers sold largely 15@25 over.
stocker and feeder trade has been very
large, the bulk sales being at $3.50 @
$50.
A few export orders and also fair
buying by shippers cleared the smail
offerings Of good fat steers.
The run in five days this week has
totaled 76,95S, against S0,9S9 In the
same period a week ago, 69.03S a year
ago and 51,277 two years 60. Offer
ings Of decreased number compared
with a week ago, have been badly
needed this week, and had a larger
proportion of well finished kinds been
included in arrivals in the past few
DAYS selling would have ruled more
freely, buyers having fairly liberal or
ders for these classes, and particular
ly exporters, who have operated quite
extensively since Wednesday. the prfc-
es abroad ruling the highest In sew.
eral months and allowing a good mar
| gin Of profit for the export operators.
Local slaughterers have had their cool
ers well filled with beef for the past
month and their needs for medium
grade steers have been small, the
poultry season cutting down consump-
tive demand to a point which has re-
ouired careful buying Of the half-fin-
ished steers.
A larger number of plain and light
cattle have been taken this week at
prices ranging under 81 than at any
time this season. tho values for these
have shown small change from the lev
ell ruling a week ago, local packers taxi
ing these kinds in the absence Of lib
eral offerings of western range steers,
tho the freer buying should not encour-
age heavy marketing in the near. future
as demand calls for a smaller number
rather than increased supplies, and
until the poultry trade receipts of
the common steers should be trim
med down to less liberal proper
tons.
Choice fat steers show a steady range
compared with a week ago, while me-
dunn classes nave lately ruled largely
Is cents lower with a considerable
number at 25 cents decline, these grad
es meeting slow demand from all buy
ers. The eastern operators have want
ed a good class principally while ex-
port orders have called for a better
grade thar the mediums, and local
houses have met with small competi-
ton. while being able to get these at
comparatively low figures. Uneven
ness has marked the whole trade, and
many lots Of medium steers have sold
close to country cost, having been
bought too high by shippers.
Hogs.
There was an active demand today
and prices were strong. The bulk of
sales was at from $4.45@4.60. The
week closes with prices 10@12h high
er than a week age.
A better demand prevailed for light
weights and the proportion Of light
among the offerings was more liberal
than a week ago.
Sheep.
Sheep and lambs We're unchanged to-
day. Both We're marketed this week
more freely on account of the high
prices offered, but receipts were still
insufficient late in the week after buy
ers were well stocked up. There was
a sharp reaction, prices ruling much
lower. z
The breaking Of the market for
sheep and lambs is only a forerunner of
what will occur next week, and coun-
try shippers would do well to act ac-
cordingly, or they will suffer some Sc
we're losses" suggests a commission
a The ~consumptive demand will
be none too big next week owing to
the abundance of poultry and game on
the market, and supplies should not
be too LIBERAL"